My rating:
add to my books
Loading...
Matala
by
Craig Holden
Darcy Arlen, a beautiful young American, is dangerously bored. Though she's on a very pricey tour of Europe, she's already sick of museums and ruins, and eager for distraction. After slipping away from the group one afternoon, she meets Will, an attractive young drifter who carries about him the scent of true adventure.
Will invites Darcy back to the hostel where he's been
...moreHardcover, 180 pages
Published
December 26th 2007
by Simon & Schuster
(first published 2007)
There is a good chance some of your friends read this book. Sign in to see!
sign in »
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
This book is currently not featured on any Listopia lists.
Add this book to your favorite list »
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
54)
Who is Matala? What is Matala? Where is Matala?
Matala is a small village kon the Greek Island of Crete and becomes the end destination for this book.
Darcy Arlen is a young spoiled American girl and is on a tour of Europe. She finds herself bored with the tour and the tour group she is with. Darcy finds herself exploring the sites of Rome by herself and becomes involved with a young American, Will, who is bumming around Europe.
Darcy finds herself involved w...more
Matala is a small village kon the Greek Island of Crete and becomes the end destination for this book.
Darcy Arlen is a young spoiled American girl and is on a tour of Europe. She finds herself bored with the tour and the tour group she is with. Darcy finds herself exploring the sites of Rome by herself and becomes involved with a young American, Will, who is bumming around Europe.
Darcy finds herself involved w...more
On her nineteenth birthday, Darcy Arlen is bored. She's on a tour of Europe on her parents' bill, and she is sick of museums and ruins and art. And then she meets Will. He's worldly and road-weary, and has the smell of adventure on him. When Darcy recklessly ditches her tour to travel with Will and his older lover, Justine, it's the beginning of a journey of deception.
The trio meet up with Maurice, a shady character who gives them a package to smuggle to Crete. Along the way, th...more
The trio meet up with Maurice, a shady character who gives them a package to smuggle to Crete. Along the way, th...more
(Reprinted from the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography [cclapcenter.com]. I am the original author of this essay, as well as the owner of CCLaP; it is not being illegally reposted here.)
As I've said here before, I'm a fan of sometimes picking up and going through just completely random books, found through completely random means, for two main reasons: professionally, because it keeps the list of books reviewed here at CCLaP closer to the list of books available in most re...more
As I've said here before, I'm a fan of sometimes picking up and going through just completely random books, found through completely random means, for two main reasons: professionally, because it keeps the list of books reviewed here at CCLaP closer to the list of books available in most re...more
According to mythology, Zeus raped the princess Europa on the small island of Matala, so it is the ideal setting for Holden’s dark, erotic, noir-thriller. Filled with tough, cynical characters, Matala is a short, crisp read that demonstrates the sharp contrast between the haves and have nots. The line between sensuality and violence often blurs, melding the two into a shapeless, symbolic raping of innocence that changes both the con and the mark at the very core of their being.
A comb...more
A comb...more
This was a really enjoyable mystery. You think Darcy is getting conned, but then it turns out that she is doing the conning. At least she thinks she is. Loyalties change and betrayers become the betrayed. Holden keeps you guessing until the very end about who is really in charge and who is really doing the conning. A fun, sexy read.
RATING: 4.25
When a couple of grifters meet Darcy, a bored young American girl on a tour of Europe, they entice her into traveling with them on an "adventure," but they soon learn that Darcy is not the innocent she pretends to be.
A sharp, sexy read that takes the reader on a trip to the dark side of human nature. Not for the squeamish.
A sharp, sexy read that takes the reader on a trip to the dark side of human nature. Not for the squeamish.
A dark story, set in Italy & Crete, about a couple of grifters who meet their match in a deceptively "wholesome" young American blond rich girl. A quick, engrossing read, with layers of relationships and deception. Dark and disturbing; reminds me in some ways of The Talented Mr. Ripley.
I'm having trouble admitting I liked this book because it takes a dark and disturbing turn toward the end. I guess I should've known that was coming; I've read another of his novels. I had to give it 3 stars because of the way it took off and captured my attention right away.
Another ok vacation read, but Craig Holden, you have no idea how to write female characters.
Bob
marked it as donated-books
(uncorrected proof)
Judy
added it
Kasey Holman
marked it as to-read
Linda
added it
Elie
marked it as to-read
Michelle O'flynn
marked it as to-read
Lindsay
marked it as to-read
Shannon
marked it as to-read
Becky
marked it as to-read
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
