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Oblivion
Nick Petrov was a world-famous private investigator -- until a brain trauma destroyed part of his memory and changed who he is forever.
Now a killer is on the loose, looming up from a past that Nick can no longer remember.
Now a killer is on the loose, looming up from a past that Nick can no longer remember.
Hardback, 384 pages
Published
April 1st 2006
by Harpercollins
(first published April 12th 2005)
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This is a thriller that everyone was raving about a while back—Entertainment Weekly gave it an A+, etc. Maybe I’m just a cranky bitch, but I don’t see why. Admittedly, Abrahams treatment of amnesia—a central plot point—was really well done; we fanfic writers could learn a thing or two from his descriptions of Nick Petrov’s post-accident confusion. Yet it’s frustrating, because I think we’re supposed to be as shaken as Nick is about how this has changed him, changed his personality, but we can’t...more
Jan 18, 2010
Khaya
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
thriller fans
Recommended to Khaya by:
Mintzis
Shelves:
mysteriesthrillers
This was a pretty decent thriller, although not quite the outstanding book I was expecting given all the critical acclaim it seems to have received from "The New Yorker" among others. Nick Petrov, a private investigator, begins fast and furious work on a missing persons case only to be derailed by the discovery of his unsuspected brain tumor and some resulting unfortunately timed amnesia. The rest of the book describes Nick's efforts to put the clues together despite his memory loss.
As another r...more
As another r...more
Nick Petrov is a private detective who takes on the case of a missing teenager. We travel with him on the investigation until a brain tumor unexpectedly stops him in his tracks and he forgets everything he already found out about the case as a result. Now he must retrace everything he already did to solve the puzzle while dodging someone who now wants to kill him for taking the case.
This was an interesting book. Before the brain trauma, the character is referred to as Petrov, and it is obvious h...more
This was an interesting book. Before the brain trauma, the character is referred to as Petrov, and it is obvious h...more
What a ride! This is everything I want in a thriller and well written and plotted to boot. Naturally it wasn't on my list of what I'm supposed to be reading this year. This is the third book by Abrahams I've devoured in the last couple of years. Oblivion is actually from earlier (2005). Heck if I can remember who recommended it. Doesn't matter.
Shortly after Nick Petrov takes on a missing person case, he wakes up in a hospital bed with his memory of the last two weeks gone. There's a strong 'meme...more
Shortly after Nick Petrov takes on a missing person case, he wakes up in a hospital bed with his memory of the last two weeks gone. There's a strong 'meme...more
I found the writing to be choppy. Even though I realized, as I was reading, that it was intentionally choppy in order to convey the main character's state of mind, I don't think I should have had to keep reminding myself of that just to keep reading.
Peter Abrahams has a reputation as a great suspense writer (even Stephen King apparently thinks so as that fact is plastered on the front of all of Abraham's book), so I will read a couple more of his before deciding whether I agree with the general...more
Peter Abrahams has a reputation as a great suspense writer (even Stephen King apparently thinks so as that fact is plastered on the front of all of Abraham's book), so I will read a couple more of his before deciding whether I agree with the general...more
I went into this with lowered expectations in spite of the positive EW review that put this on my list. There are so many serial killer thrillers that inevitably many of them are bad, so I don't often dip into that genre.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that Abrahams has a deft touch with both prose and plotting -- the story zips and zooms, and while a point-by-point, death-by-death recitation might seem outlandish, he sweeps you along with no time to doubt the plausibility of the callous cri...more
I was pleasantly surprised to find that Abrahams has a deft touch with both prose and plotting -- the story zips and zooms, and while a point-by-point, death-by-death recitation might seem outlandish, he sweeps you along with no time to doubt the plausibility of the callous cri...more
OBLIVION (Private Investigator-Los Angeles-Cont) – Okay
Abrahams, Peter – Standalone
HarperTouch, 2006- Paperback
Private Investigator Nic Petrov is asked by Lisa Rummel to find her daughter Amanda. The missing person case leads to murder and presents Nic with more questions than answers. The case keeps cycling back to a Hollywood movie made about Nic and the capture of a serial killer. But putting the clue together keeps getting harder as Nic’s mental abilities degrade and when amnesia requires th...more
Abrahams, Peter – Standalone
HarperTouch, 2006- Paperback
Private Investigator Nic Petrov is asked by Lisa Rummel to find her daughter Amanda. The missing person case leads to murder and presents Nic with more questions than answers. The case keeps cycling back to a Hollywood movie made about Nic and the capture of a serial killer. But putting the clue together keeps getting harder as Nic’s mental abilities degrade and when amnesia requires th...more
I love his Echo Falls YA thrillers, so I thought I'd try his grown up novels. This one deals with a private investigator who develops amnesia in the middle of a missing persons case. He has some type of brain cancer which leads to the amnesia. His personality changes along the way and he has to solve the mystery before everything falls apart. Of course someone is trying to kill him, and frame him for murder, and there are lots of improbable coincidences. A little more violent that Nerve Damage.
Oblivion is a mystery book that will keep you reading all night long. The main character, a man named Nick Petrov, is a middle aged Russian man in great shape. Mr. Petrov lives alone and work as a private investigator.
When a mysterious case pops up, Nick quickly finds the answer. Later he wakes up in a hospital, memory of the case and the events of the past two days before he was hospitalized, erased. With just a few clues, Nick Petrov must solve one of the most heart stopping cases in his care...more
When a mysterious case pops up, Nick quickly finds the answer. Later he wakes up in a hospital, memory of the case and the events of the past two days before he was hospitalized, erased. With just a few clues, Nick Petrov must solve one of the most heart stopping cases in his care...more
I really liked this book. The only criticism I have is that the ending was a little contrived. But the writing was excellent, the mystery was set up very well, and the premise was mesmerizing. It reminded me of the movie from a few years back, Memento, about a man who lost his memory. There are quite a few books on this theme out right now and I intend to read them as well.
It took me a little while to really get into the story but I then loved how the illness of the main character affected his ability to do his job and how he attempted to work round it. It made the storyline unpredictable which was great and I did wonder how the author would deal with the ending. Strong characters and a plot that was a little unusual make this a worthwhile read if you enjoy suspense novels.
Language. Very complex story that starts out simple - find a missing girl but ends up to be very interwoven with lots of murders. And to make matters worse the investigator has a..... No not going to tell you but let's say it adds another layer onto the solving of the case.
Would have like it a lot more with out the language.
Would have like it a lot more with out the language.
I really liked this book. The writing style made it so easy to imagine what Nick was going through with his memory loss. Speaking from experience, I can tell you, his reactions and thought processes are very true to life. Also, it ended right without being forced.
A little over the top in terms of credibility. Man with brain tumor and deteriorating brain function solves murder after losing his memory several times and having to start all over again. Murderer is obvious long before hero can figure it out. Blah!
While I did sort out whodunnit well before the big reveal, and though the ending was just a touch rushed and tidy, this was a page turner. I could not wait to get back to it, thus it mertis 4 stars.
The plot was interesting enough, but they way the story is told is what made this a truly good read.
The plot was interesting enough, but they way the story is told is what made this a truly good read.
I heard a lot of hype about this book, but I have to be honest... it took me forever to get through. I found the situation the main character was in quite fascinating, but the story just didn't thrill me until the last few chapters. Some books I find difficult to put down and just have to finish, but this wasn't one of them. Decent, but not remarkable.
Fast paced thriller about a private detective on a missing person's case who develops amnesia after a brain tumor and then attempts to retrace his steps and figure out what he was working on and what clues he had found after being released from the hospital.
This came from a bookswap and OK so far...1/30 Finally got to the plot twists & the (requisite) explaination of how all the ends were put together which really stretched my inagination. Finished on 1/31 Just "OK"
Interesting detective thriller. Some time ago I downloaded a list of books that Stephen King has read. Peter Abrahams was on the list. This is the third I have read.
Lucky I had a long weekend to finish this book because I didn't want to put it down. Easy read, interesting plot with enough twists and turns thrown in to keep me guessing. I suspect this is the precursor to the Chet and Bernie series. Good book.
I didn't really care for this book. I got about halfway through before it was due back to the library, and I just didn't feel the need to renew it so that I could finish it.
Jan 23, 2009
Jan
added it
I enjoyed this book - kept my interest. The cover summary kind of gave away the end, but there was a twist at the end that I hadn't anticipated.
Enjoyed it- was an engaging thriller. Would have given it 3.5 stars if possible. Will definitely read some other books by same author now. Yay, love it when I discover a new author!
I like Thrillers, but this story was ok, predictable and sometimes boring , i finished quickly because i had nothing else to do.
This is a great fast summer read. Detective novel, suspense, unlikely but great ending.
Maybe I would have liked this more if I had read it as opposed to listening to the book. I didn't care for the narrator as he seemed to use the same tone of voice throughout the book.
Smart thriller. Interesting main character with brain 'issues.'
a quick-paced, satisfying thriller read today in one giant gulp.
Good story of a detective with a memory problem. Someone is trying to kill him, who? Took this one from Cassie.
Sad and triumphant.
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Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Peter Abrahams is the author of numerous novels, including End of Story, Oblivion, and Lights Out, which was nominated for an Edgar best novel award. He also writes the best-selling Echo Falls series for younger readers. He lives on Cape Cod.
Peter Abrahams is also writing under the pseudonym Spencer Quinn (Chet...more
More about Peter Abrahams...
Peter Abrahams is the author of numerous novels, including End of Story, Oblivion, and Lights Out, which was nominated for an Edgar best novel award. He also writes the best-selling Echo Falls series for younger readers. He lives on Cape Cod.
Peter Abrahams is also writing under the pseudonym Spencer Quinn (Chet...more
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Jan 17, 2010 07:18am