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Shut Your Eyes Tight (Dave Gurney #2)

3.9 of 5 stars 3.90 · rating details · 1,697 ratings · 310 reviews

When he was the NYPD’s top homicide investigator, Dave Gurney was never comfortable with the label the press gave him: super detective. He was simply a man who, when faced with a puzzle, wanted to know. He was called to the investigative hunt by the presumptuous arrogance of murderers – by their smug belief that they could kill without leaving a trace. There was always a t...more When he was the NYPD’s top homicide investigator, Dave Gurney was never comfortable with the label the press gave him: super detective. He was simply a man who, when faced with a puzzle, wanted to know. He was called to the investigative hunt by the presumptuous arrogance of murderers – by their smug belief that they could kill without leaving a trace. There was always a trace, Gurney believed.

Except what if one day there wasn’t?

Dave Gurney, a few months past the Mellery case that pulled him out of retirement and then nearly killed him, is trying once again to adjust to his country house’s bucolic rhythms when he receives a call about a case so seductively bewildering that the thought of not looking into it seems unimaginable—even if his beloved wife, Madeleine, would rather he do anything but.

The facts of what has occurred are horrible: a blushing bride, newly wed to an eminent psychiatrist and just minutes from hearing her congratulatory toast, is found decapitated, her head apparently severed by a machete. Though police investigators believe that a Mexican gardener killed the young woman in a fit of jealous fury, the victim’s mother—a chilly high-society beauty—is having none of it. Reluctantly drawn in, Dave is quickly buffeted by a series of revelations that transform the bizarrely monstrous into the monstrously bizarre.

Underneath it all may exist one of the darkest criminal schemes imaginable. And as Gurney begins deciphering its grotesque outlines, some of his most cherished assumptions about himself are challenged, causing him to stare into an abyss so deep that it threatens to swallow not just him but Madeleine, too.
Desperate to protect Madeleine and bring an end to the madness, Gurney ultimately discovers that the killer has left a trace after all. Unfortunately, the revelation may come too late to save his own life.

With Shut Your Eyes Tight, John Verdon delivers on the promise of his internationally bestselling debut, Think of a Number, creating a portrait of evil let loose across generations that is as rife with moments of touching humanity as it is with spellbinding images of perversity.(less)

Hardcover, 509 pages

Published July 12th 2011 by Crown (first published 2011)

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May 30, 2011 Randy rated it 5 of 5 stars

John Verdon has constructed a clever little puzzler here, a blending of two genres, thriller and police procedural.

here's the set-up. Spoiled rich girl marries celebrity psychiatrist twice her age. Shortly before the celebratory toast, she's found in the gardener's cottage sitting in a chair, decapitated, head sitting on a table facing the body. The Mexican gardener is missing, along with the neighbor's wife. The bloodhounds followed a trail behind the cottage leading back into the woods for a...more

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Nov 11, 2012 Ricardo Mendes rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: tenho

Não Abras Os Olhos foi muito aguardado por mim desde que virei a ultima página do antecessor “Pensa Num Número” e finalmente chegou à minha mão. Na ânsia de não me desapontar baixei bastante as expectativas em relação a este livro na esperança de me surpreender. E foi mais ou menos isso que aconteceu.

O segundo trabalho de John Verdon tem quase tudo o que é exigido de um bom policial/thriller, contudo Não Abras Os Olhos ficou ligeiramente a perder em relação ao anterior.

Mais uma vez o escritor cr...more

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May 15, 2013 Filipa rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

John Verdon consegue surpreender-me com mais este livro.
Adorei o seu primeiro "Pensa num número" e estava desejosa de ler este, para começar a capa é simplesmente. . . maravilhosa.
A história deste "Não abras os olhos" (sendo esta frase a solução do último enigma do livro) é excelente, tem um enredo brilhante e o que o inspector aposentado David Gurney tem para descobrir são histórias enredadas noutras histórias, ficando o leitor envolvido numa trama que se adensa a cada capítulo novo.

Ao longo d...more John Verdon consegue surpreender-me com mais este livro.
Adorei o seu primeiro "Pensa num número" e estava desejosa de ler este, para começar a capa é simplesmente. . . maravilhosa.
A história deste "Não abras os olhos" (sendo esta frase a solução do último enigma do livro) é excelente, tem um enredo brilhante e o que o inspector aposentado David Gurney tem para descobrir são histórias enredadas noutras histórias, ficando o leitor envolvido numa trama que se adensa a cada capítulo novo.

Ao longo de todo o livro somos transportados de um lado para o outro à medida que Dave Gurney vai deslindando as possíveis pistas, vamos acompanhando todos os seus pensamentos e teorias.
Á medida que isso acontece vão surgindo novos elementos na investigação que nos fazem questionar toda a veracidade do caso que temos entre mãos. . .

Fui de tal forma imersa para dentro do livro que fiquei embrenhada e tentava acompanhar toda a lógica do que se estava a passar.
Resultado? Desconfiei dos maus da fita e agarrei-me a essa certeza até ao fim, sendo que estava certa.

Há meandros obscuros, somos violentados ao sermos confrontados com o mundo de psicopatias sexuais, incesto, crianças que são sujeitas ao pior desde pequenas e que têm de viver com isso na vida adulta. . .

Agora perguntam? O que tem isto a ver com a sinopse do livro em que uma noiva é decapitada??
Tudo. . .

O que mais me fascina nos livros deste autor é mesmo a quantidade de enigmas aparentemente sem solução que ele cria. São uns atrás dos outros mas, se tivermos atenção, conseguimos ter um vislumbre do que se esconde por trás. . .

Adorei o livro mas achei que tem demasiadas páginas para a sua resolução e tem carência de ritmo, só ao fim comecei a devorar as páginas e só ao fim havia muito para descortinar. Suponho que é para criar o maior suspense possível.

Agora. . . uma pergunta. . . Será que o ser humano não é demasiado influenciado pelas histórias que ouve? Acredita mais no que ouve ou no que vê?? Poderá a minha realidade ser transformada por algo que me contam e passar a ser ESSA a minha nova realidade?
Resposta: Sim. . .

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Dec 31, 2012 Elizabeth rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is the second book I've read by this author and the plots are gripping and the main character (although conforms pretty closely to the stereotypical male lead that bores me) isn't at all annoying.

There is one thing that bothered me in this book and in the first and I felt compelled to RANT about it. The main character's relationship with his wife doesn't make any sense to me. According to him, she is insightful and loving and beautiful and perfect. To me she's a horrible communicator, want...more This is the second book I've read by this author and the plots are gripping and the main character (although conforms pretty closely to the stereotypical male lead that bores me) isn't at all annoying.

There is one thing that bothered me in this book and in the first and I felt compelled to RANT about it. The main character's relationship with his wife doesn't make any sense to me. According to him, she is insightful and loving and beautiful and perfect. To me she's a horrible communicator, wants him to change what is fundamental to his nature and is SO passive aggressive! He's no prize either - he keeps making major decisions without talking them through with her and he seems completely incapable of remembering anything she tells him about what she's doing or when they're throwing a dinner party and instead of oh I don't know, I'll go out on a limb here and suggest something crazy like he write it down on a calendar or that they have a family calendar where they both write stuff down he just keeps forgetting. Over and over again. And he talks about how he's forgotten. Again and again. The only time he remembers where she's going is when she goes to her sister's house because their house was broken into by a crazed serial killer. That's so sweet that he remembers where she is when their lives have been threatened. But back to her...when he does talk with her about major decisions or problems he's wrestling with, she either tells him he's going to do what he's going to do, which is such a helpful comment when someone is asking for an opinion or she says "what difference does it make?" In this second book about halfway through she finally apologizes to the main character for exactly what had me rolling my eyes at her and he just makes excuses for her and then concludes, yet again, that she is the most wonderful creature to walk the earth. I kept waiting for them to decide to get divorced they were so out of tune with each other. In fact that thought is what I remember most about reading the first book. It might be nice in the next book if she goes on some sort of extended trip on the first page and leaves a huge note on the refrigerator door where she's gone so we don't have to deal with their relationship. (less)

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Jul 14, 2012 Sara rated it 5 of 5 stars

I will say that I'm pretty good at figuring out who actually did it, and I nailed it this time, but the reasoning behind... holy good lord it was creepy. And kind of frightening. Which made this book hard to put down and kept you on the edge of your seat. I realized shortly after starting it that this is the second in a Dave Gurney series (Think of a Number was the first) but it didn't matter, I didn't feel like I missed any key information to keep me out of the loop on this story since there wa...more

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Apr 14, 2012 Pat rated it 5 of 5 stars

After reading a series of fairly forgettable books, this was a pleasant change. I loved John Verdon's first book (Think of a Number) and I loved this, couldn't put it down. I won't rehash the plot, there are plenty of summaries available.

What impresses about John Verdon is his intelligent writing, the focus is not on blood and guts but rather the subtle clues and nuances in the case. I read an article recently about philosophy and the teaching of rational thinking - this book picked up on those...more

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Nov 17, 2011 Gloria Feit rated it 4 of 5 stars

In his second appearance, retired NYPD detective David Gurney faces an ever-shifting set of “facts” in his effort to solve a bizarre murder case. A bride is found decapitated within moments of her marriage ceremony, and there is absolutely no forensic evidence available. As only a “consultant,” retained by the mother of the bride to find the murderer, Gurney not only faces the challenge of an ingenious adversary, but also the official police investigators who have failed in four months to make a...more

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Nov 04, 2011 Tony rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: thrillers

SHUT YOUR EYES TIGHT. (2011). John Verdon. ***.
With an over the top plot and a sufficient number of misdirections to choke a horse, Mr. Verdon offers his second thriller/mystery. Verdon is an excellent writer. He knows how to pace his story, slowly spinning out his clues which his protagonist, Dave Gurney, an ex-detective on the NY police force (and also the hero of Verdon’s first novel, “Think of a Number”), enters into his calculating mind in order to put them into the right place. The plot l...more

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Sep 15, 2011 Mo rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery, thriller

From ReadingWithMo: http://www.readingwithmo.com/2011/07/...

When Dave Gurney put his retirement on hold to assist in solving the Mellery case, he thought it would be the last time. But when his old friend, Jack Hardwick, asks him to meet with the mother of a recent murder victim, Dave finds his curiosity hard to deny. He soon finds himself investigating not one murder, but the murders of several young girls who had been treated for sexual deviances.

I will warn you now, this one is a page turner....more

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Aug 08, 2011 Lynne Perednia rated it 2 of 5 stars

Dave Guerney's second outing follows the same lines as his debut, Think of a Number. Guerney, a celebrated homicide detective whose wife wants him to stay retired, is tantalized by a seemingly impossible crime scene. In this case, a bridegroom enters a tiny cottage at his wedding ceremony to discover his new bride has been decapitated. It's all on videotape, yet the person who the victim went to see is never seen leaving the cottage.

Verdon's formula continues with Guerney promising his patient,...more Dave Guerney's second outing follows the same lines as his debut, Think of a Number. Guerney, a celebrated homicide detective whose wife wants him to stay retired, is tantalized by a seemingly impossible crime scene. In this case, a bridegroom enters a tiny cottage at his wedding ceremony to discover his new bride has been decapitated. It's all on videotape, yet the person who the victim went to see is never seen leaving the cottage.

Verdon's formula continues with Guerney promising his patient, passive-aggressive wife that he isn't cheating on her with his love of detection and that the quiet country life she adores is just what he wants as well. The reader knows Guerney's lying the minute he meets the psychiatric genius who was the bridegroom. He wants to step in and solve the case.

This is a great set-up. Unfortunately, the book is more than 500 bloated pages of Guerney's doubts, his conflicts with his wife and the official police investigating the case, and recapping the little that is known over and over and over again. Guerney, the great NYPD detective, is taken in by the promise of fame and fortune by an art collector who he never even Googles before going to the stranger's house. He keeps crucial information to himself, pretends to be Tony Soprano on an unauthorized interrogation and manages once again to be in jeopardy at the climax. His wife turns on a dime with no reason given. If Verdon had stronger editing and worked on the show, don't tell, this could have been an even stronger novel than his debut. If Verdon cuts the recaps and unnecessary information (a paragraph devoted to an open window late in the story kept me wondering who was going to come through it), and builds up the connection between the motivation in the case and his own emotional journey, the result would be fantastic.

Verdon has a great character with the potential for a fascinating personal journey through his wishes and dreams as they are shown through his personal and professional pursuits. But for that journey to take place, the formula of the first two books in the series needs to be left behind. Verdon has shown he can do this in such scenes as the initial class sessions in this second outing. That's the Dave Guerney who is most believable as a top cop who won't let go of a murder until it's solved.
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Aug 06, 2011 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery

Book Overview

Detective Dave Gurney, who readers first met in Think Of A Number, is back with another case—despite promising his wife Madeline that he really was retired after the events of the Mellery case. However, the reality is that Gurney is not cut out for retirement and a quiet life in the country. He needs a challenge and a puzzle to keep life interesting. So when an old colleague requests his help on a case, Gurney is easily drawn back into the fray.

Although the case appears to be open a...more Book Overview

Detective Dave Gurney, who readers first met in Think Of A Number, is back with another case—despite promising his wife Madeline that he really was retired after the events of the Mellery case. However, the reality is that Gurney is not cut out for retirement and a quiet life in the country. He needs a challenge and a puzzle to keep life interesting. So when an old colleague requests his help on a case, Gurney is easily drawn back into the fray.

Although the case appears to be open and shut, the police have been stymied for months. The facts seem cut and dry: At her wedding reception, a young bride is found beheaded in the cottage of the live-in gardner just before the congratulatory toast. Based on where the murder took place, it seems obvious that the gardner is the murderer—especially since video footage from the wedding accounts for everyone else’s whereabouts and the bride was seen entering the gardener’s cottage moments before the toast. Although the police have identified the murder weapon and the perpetrator, the gardener seems to have vanished off the face of the earth.

As Gurney gets drawn into the case, he begins to discover that things (including the bride and her groom) aren’t quite as they seem. In fact, it seems that Gurney may have stumbled onto a much larger conspiracy that involves a possible serial killer. Besides the case of the beheaded bride, the book also focuses on Gurney’s increasingly strained personal life and an unexpected development in his art career.

My Thoughts

I read Think of A Number last year—drawn in by the seemingly “impossible” scenario. I ended up being intrigued by Gurney and the tragic back story hinted at in the first book. So when I was offered this book for review, I jumped at the chance to read it. After all, it featured another “impossible” case—plus I wanted to get to know Gurney more. Unfortunately, I think Verdon suffered a bit of a sophomore slump as this book didn’t grab me as much as his first one.

Part of the problem has to do with the sprawling and complex plot. Verdon seems determined to create another puzzler that leaves readers scratching their heads, but the scenario just isn’t as compelling in this book. In a way, this book sets up a classic “locked room” mystery. However, with almost no cast of characters to get to know and investigate, readers must rely on Verdon to provide the clues and plot developments instead of trying to puzzle things out on their own. This led to a less active reading experience. In addition, the plot got so convoluted and complicated that I started to lose the core of the story. In fact, thinking back now, I would have a hard time explaining to you exactly what happened!

In addition, the relationship between Gurney and Madeline wasn’t as fully developed as it was in the first book. In fact, Madeline was barely present in this book—often just passing by as Gurney was doing his stuff. I was also bothered by some of the decisions that Gurney made and his choice to keep critical information from Madeline. It seemed inconsistent with their relationship.

Despite my complaints, Shut Your Eyes Tight isn’t a horrible book. Readers who enjoy mysteries and thrillers would probably like it, and it is well-suited for a summer read (lots of thrills; not too much thinking). However, it is uncharacteristically long for these types of books—clocking in at just over 400 pages. Still, I wouldn’t write off Dave Gurney and John Verdon yet. Think of A Number was Verdon’s first book, and I think it is common for authors to have a bit of a slump in their follow-up, especially when pressured to come up with another “impossible” scenario for their super-detective.(less)

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Jul 30, 2011 Kimmel Tippets rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book was fascinating. I loved the idea of a murder that appeared to be perfect, with no trace evidence and contradicting facts. Detective Gurney was an interesting character. It was easy to see how serious he takes his job. It is obviously difficult for him to live a normal life without a puzzle to solve.
The relationship with Gurney and his wife, Madeleine was also amazing. Verdon does a great job at building the tension between them. I could really feel for her. She didn’t want to change w...more This book was fascinating. I loved the idea of a murder that appeared to be perfect, with no trace evidence and contradicting facts. Detective Gurney was an interesting character. It was easy to see how serious he takes his job. It is obviously difficult for him to live a normal life without a puzzle to solve.
The relationship with Gurney and his wife, Madeleine was also amazing. Verdon does a great job at building the tension between them. I could really feel for her. She didn’t want to change who Gurney was, but she longed for him to be able to be happy living a simple life. It created an interesting dynamic. Particularly when she would help Gurney work through pieces of the puzzle. As the reader, you knew she didn’t want to be a help, but she couldn’t stand to see her husband get frustrated over it. She truly loved him and I loved that.
The mystery part of the book was well written, but I guessed how it ended about a third into it. It almost became frustrating to me that the characters hadn’t reached the same conclusion that I had. When I finally finished, I received a great deal of satisfaction that I had been right and relief that the characters finally caught up to me.
However, a large key to me figuring it out was the fact that I became invested as I read. I found myself thinking about the case for hours after I had put the book down. I wanted to beat the brilliant Gurney to the solution, and it turns out I did.
That being said, I feel I have to mention the amount of language that was used. The use of the ‘f’ word felt extreme and unnecessary most of the time. There was one character where it felt natural that he swore a lot, the rest just felt excessive. If I hadn’t been reading it as a review, I would have put it down halfway through and not finished it, even though I loved the intriguing plot. I just don’t like reading that much language.
If language doesn’t bother you and you crave a good mystery, Shut Your Eyes Tight will satisfy that craving.(less)

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Jul 24, 2011 Ronald Roseborough rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery-adventure-thriller, murder, dave-gurney

John Verdon has done it again. In this his second book featuring retired NYPD detective Dave Gurney, Verdon has once again fashioned a suspenseful, tale full of twists and a clever plot that will have you rushing through the pages trying to keep up with Gurney and get one step ahead of the killer. Getting one step ahead is going to be hard as the victims have all been found with their heads cut off. The first victim, was a young woman whom her mother described as a self centered, uncaring, sexua...more

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Jul 13, 2011 Luanne Ollivier rated it 4 of 5 stars

Verdon is back with his second book, Shut Your Eyes Tight, featuring retired NYPD detective Dave Gurney. But retired may be a misnomer for Dave. He and wife Madeleine moved to the country, settling in on an idyllic piece of property. Madeleine is happy, but Dave is restless. In the first year, Dave was asked to 'consult' on a case. He agreed, but working again took it's toll on both Dave and the marriage.

When old friend Detective Jack Hartwick stops by to 'visit' and just happens to mention a ta...more Verdon is back with his second book, Shut Your Eyes Tight, featuring retired NYPD detective Dave Gurney. But retired may be a misnomer for Dave. He and wife Madeleine moved to the country, settling in on an idyllic piece of property. Madeleine is happy, but Dave is restless. In the first year, Dave was asked to 'consult' on a case. He agreed, but working again took it's toll on both Dave and the marriage.

When old friend Detective Jack Hartwick stops by to 'visit' and just happens to mention a tantalizing case that could use Dave's insight, he finds himself inextricably drawn in....yet again...

A young woman has been murdered at her wedding reception in a truly horrific manner. Held on the grounds of her own home, she went into the gardener's cottage to ask him to attend. Jillian never came out and the gardener can't be found. Gurney takes on the case, drawn deeper into an ugly world that goes much further than 'just' the one murder. And he does so, knowing that his wife will not be happy.

"His acceptance of the case would prove that his obsession with solving murders, even in retirement, was intractable and that their future together would be clouded. His rejection of the case, on the other hand, would signal a changed, the first step in his transformation from a workaholic detective into a bird-watching, kayak-paddling nature enthusiast. But, he argued in his imagination, as though she were present, black-and-white options are unrealistic and lead to lousy decisions, because by definition they exclude so many solutions. In this instance the most tenable course would surely lie in a middle ground between black and white. He would accept the case, but with a strict time limitation - say one week. Two weeks maximum."

I loved the enigmatic character of Madeleine in the first book and have come to appreciate her even more in this second novel. She says volumes without uttering a word. Verdon has done a fantastic job with this character. I find this secondary storyline and exploration of their marriage and relationship just as engrossing as the mystery.

And the mystery is good. What sets Dave Gurney apart is his careful, analytical mind. It is intriguing to follow along with his thought processes as he links together seemingly disparate incidents and clues.

"The thing of it is, the whole damn case is like that. Everyone connected with it is either a genius or a lunatic or...a pathological liar or...I don't know what."

As I said when I reviewed Think of a Number, I wasn't sold on Dave Gurney. I still haven't embraced him as a character I can say I really like, although we are shown a little more of what makes the man tick this time. But this isn't a bad thing at all. Verdon has created an interesting, flawed protagonist that doesn't fit a mold. Just as Gurney is unable to resist the pull of an unsolved case, I am hooked by Verdon's characters and writing. I am very much looking forward to the next chapter in Dave Gurney's life.

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Apr 09, 2013 Joan García rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books

Pues a mi, la verdad es que me ha gustado mucho mas esta segunda parte que la anterior, no creo para nada que sea previsible, ya que te dan un sospechoso al comienzo y no salen de ahí hasta bastante avanzada la trama, los que dicen que lo adivinaron a las 25 paginas, no se… Meteros a detectives… Jajajaja! Pero la verdad es que la trama es mucho mas buena que la del primer libro mas completa y compleja, y llega este momento en el que hay como tres casos, por un lado Jill Perry, luego esta todo el...more

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Aug 15, 2011 Denise rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.0 out of 5 stars "Don't we...place ourselves in the positions in which we find ourselves?"

Not long after I had read and reviewed the debut novel in this new series, Think of a Number (Dave Gurney, No.1) (A Dave Gurney Novel), I had the opportunity to obtain this one as an ARC through the amazon vine program. The premise of the new book was really compelling: a bride, newly wed to a famous psychiatrist, is beheaded shortly after the ceremony! Ostensibly retired NYPB detective Dave Gurney is onc...more 3.0 out of 5 stars "Don't we...place ourselves in the positions in which we find ourselves?"

Not long after I had read and reviewed the debut novel in this new series, Think of a Number (Dave Gurney, No.1) (A Dave Gurney Novel), I had the opportunity to obtain this one as an ARC through the amazon vine program. The premise of the new book was really compelling: a bride, newly wed to a famous psychiatrist, is beheaded shortly after the ceremony! Ostensibly retired NYPB detective Dave Gurney is once again drug into a case that proves to be a complex mystery needing his special deductive skills.

The police originally believe that the murder of the beautiful but reportedly sociopathic bride, Jillian, was committed by a missing Mexican gardener who had apparently lived in the cottage where the body was discovered on the property where the wedding was celebrated. Dave is hired by the bride's super rich mother to find out the truth when the police haven't found a trace of the absent gardener after 4 months of investigation.

The narrative focuses on the techniques and thought processes used by Dave Gurney to discover and solve the mystery of who killed Jillian and why. I found some of the book quite slow and plodding and had to suspend disbelief a few times with some of the more unbelievable approaches or "ah ha" moments Dave manages to use to his advantage. The revelations about the complexities of the case are indeed like peeling an onion...layer upon layer. The denouement was not wholly unexpected, just took about 500 pages to get there. By that time, however, I was sick to death of Madeleine. I didn't want to read any more about her and Dave's marriage and I didn't care what she thought about anything nor did I want to hear any of her brilliant "insights" into the investigation. Dave seems to be an introverted intellect and I'd much rather see him tackle future cases alone without all his angst over his home and hearth. The book covers many different criminal elements (don't want to reveal any spoilers) with lots of super bad guys thrown in for good measure. I was ready for the end long before it finally came.

The story is definitely a multi-layered mystery, but really not a suspense thriller. I can't decide if I want to read another in this series or not.
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Feb 09, 2013 Harry rated it 5 of 5 stars

It's 9PM and I'm thinking: "I'll lay in bed for a bit, read and call it a night. Gotta get up early, wake my daughter up, fix her lunch, get breakfast ready and then take her to school." The book I'm reading is John Verdon's latest: Let the Devil Sleep. The plate that sits on top of the chimney on the roof sends the sound of rain - like soft staccato bullets - down the chimney chute into the bedroom. I hit the power switch on my Kindle and focus on the page before me.

After reading a few hundred...more

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Dec 20, 2012 Cindee rated it 4 of 5 stars

John Verdon continues to dazzle me with his words. Furthering his intelligent protagonist, Dave Gurney whose retired life should be perfect and peaceful however he has yet to enjoy the serenity of it all because his mind craves for a puzzle.

This time, the puzzle came in the form of a beheaded bride on her wedding day, a series of contradictory clues and a Spanish gardener who seemed to hold all the answers. I loved the supporting information behind the murder. There was a focus on sex crimes on...more

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Nov 16, 2011 Sharon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery-suspense

3.75 stars
At the end of Think of a Number (Dave Gurney #1) things ended on an upswing for our reluctantly famous detective. The case was solved and there was hope that Gurney's mental health and personal relationship troubles were behind him. Alas, that positive vibe didn't last long. Thank goodness. Book two finds Gurney back to his old obsessions- risking health, sanity and his marriage on another twisted battle of wills with a sociopath. Yay!
All the fun of the first novel is present in this...more

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Oct 08, 2011 Matt rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook

This book is an exceptional mystery thriller, perhaps one of the best I have read in a long time. Verdon not only brings the characters to life, but also makes the reader feel each and every turn of the plot and storyline. Main character David Guerney is taken along an amazingly cluttered path in the hopes of helping to solve a truly grisly murder of a bride decapitated on her wedding day.

What seems like a simply open and shut case leads us down many paths the reader may not want to explore, fr...more

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Oct 27, 2012 Mike Van Barneveld rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Geweldig boek waarvan pas op het allerlaatste moment de knoop ontrafeld wordt. Heel onverwacht misschien, maar toch goed getimed. De spanning blijft op een redelijk hoog niveau het hele boek lang. De personages zijn duidelijk neergezet en ruim voldoende uiteengezet. Begin-, tussen- en eindstuk lopen goed in elkaar over en de auteur heeft een zeer fijne schrijfstijl waardoor het boek lekker wegleest. Echt een boek van een hoog niveau en zeker leuk is voor de lezers die van een klein beetje puzzel...more

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Jul 23, 2011 Linda Branham Greenwell rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really like John Verdon's books. The two I have read are intelligent and peppered with interesting psychological insights...even describing personality styles (which is always a good point for me )

Dave Gurney is a "retired" NYPD Homicide detective - who made quite a name for himself as detective. But Dave and his wife Madeline decide to retire to the country - Dave is 48 - for a quieter life.
Madeline loves the new life of country life... but Dave needs to be able to solve crimes... especially...more

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May 29, 2012 Mauricio rated it 5 of 5 stars

Great follow up novel from John Verdon to Think of a Number. Gurney is a very well developed character that does not fall into being an all powerful and knowledgeable hero, but a more human and vulnerable old guy. The relationship with the wife also cracks me up.
Story wise, I think it is much better than Think of a Number. I went through this book rather fast because it is really easy to get hooked and just continue reading.

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May 15, 2013 André Nuno rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Em Não Abras os Olhos, Verdon leva-nos a revisitar Dave Gurney em mais um caso pleno de pormenores intrincados, complexos e, tal como em Pensa num Número, aparentemente impossíveis.

Neste livro voltamos a entrar no cerne da investigação criminal através do olhar do mais famoso criminalista de Nova Iorque - que continua na condição de aposentado.
A aceitação por parte de Dave de resolver, na condição de consultor, mais um insólito homicídio vale-lhe (mais) uma tensa situação com a esposa, Madeleine...more Em Não Abras os Olhos, Verdon leva-nos a revisitar Dave Gurney em mais um caso pleno de pormenores intrincados, complexos e, tal como em Pensa num Número, aparentemente impossíveis.

Neste livro voltamos a entrar no cerne da investigação criminal através do olhar do mais famoso criminalista de Nova Iorque - que continua na condição de aposentado.
A aceitação por parte de Dave de resolver, na condição de consultor, mais um insólito homicídio vale-lhe (mais) uma tensa situação com a esposa, Madeleine, que não vê com bons olhos esta aposentação tão pouco efectiva.

No segundo livro de Verdon, Scott Ashton, vê a noiva assassinada na sua festa de casamento. A preciosa cabeça de Jillian é cortada e deixada em cima de uma mesa voltada para o tronco ao qual minutos antes estivera ligada. Da casa do desaparecido Hector Flores os cães detectam um rasto que os leva no seu encalço até uma faca semi-enterrada e ensanguentada, onde tal rasto misteriosamente termina, deixando caninos e humanos perplexos sem saber que direcção tomar e como é possível que alguém pura e simplesmente evapore.

A partir deste ponto estão lançados os dados para uma fantástica perseguição onde muito pouco é o que aparenta ser e em que a vida de Dave Gurney e Madeleine parecem estar ameaçadas.

Dado que havia lido o primeiro volume publicado de John Verdon é incontornável fazer comparações, até porque esse primeiro contacto com o registo deste autor me deixou maravilhado e até com algum receio de que Verdon pudesse não ter mestria de surpreender após uma obra de estreia tão auspiciosa como Pensa num Número.

Tecendo uma consideração global à obra, até porque alongar-me numa opinião casuística ou demasiado específica obrigar-me-ia a revelar partes fundamentais do enredo que, a bem do interesse de futuros leitores, deverão permanecer desconhecidos, posso afirmar que gostei bastante deste Não Abras os Olhos.

Caindo na tal eventual armadilha da comparação não me sinto desiludido com este livro... mas gostei mais do primeiro. Atribuo 4* a ambos, o que indicia que a diferença de simpatia não é substancial, todavia, não me senti devidamente surpreendido e sustentava essa expectativa.

Tendo gostado bastante das duas obras, permanece em mim a sensação de que neste segundo volume as ocorrências relativas aos crimes e respectiva investigação serão menos credíveis do que havia encontrado no primeiro. Não detecto o mal de chegarem a ser forçadas, notem, contudo, como referi, essa sensação ficou-me.

Descontando muito facilmente esta e outras questões de pormenor, não desconsidero este livro nem o seu autor e confesso-me bastante ansioso por poder reencontrar Verdon, Gurney e Madeleine numa futura edição portuguesa - que deste modo peço execução de forma veemente - de Let the Devil Sleep, o terceiro livro do autor.

Boas leituras a todos.

http://libriscogitare.blogspot.pt/201...(less)

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Jun 14, 2011 Katy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Katy by: Amazon Vine

Shelves: vine-book

In this sequel to "Think of a Number (Dave Gurney, No.1)," Verdon outdoes himself - his first book was very good - this one is AMAZING!!

Dave Gurney, retired homicide detective with the NYPD, is approached by Jack Hardwick from NYBCI (NY Bureau of Criminal Investigation) with a request. Four months prior, a young woman (Jillian Perry) was murdered on her wedding day - her head cut off with a machete - and while Hardwick originally was running the investigation, a disagreement with his commanding...more

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Aug 23, 2011 Banner rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery

Well he did it again! I wasn't for sure if John Verdon was going to be a one hit wonder or not. I enjoyed his first book (Pick a Number# and I was wondering how he was going to suprize me again, but he did. He is able to accomplish a complex mystery that can keep you guessing, but also when all is revealed you don't feel that he tricked you,the details were there for you to have figured it out. BTW, you don't need to read the first one to understand this one, but I think you would enjoy the char...more

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Apr 15, 2012 Barbara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: action-adventure, drama, mystery, serial-killers, social-issues, thriller

I read the first Dave Gurney thriller "Think of a Number" and loved Verdon's multilayered plotting and descriptive writing, so when the library had a copy of the second book in the newly minted series, I picked it up.

Retired NYPD homicide detective Dave Gurney was always a clever puzzle solver when on the job. Now he's retired, at forty-eight, his wife, Madeleine, and he living on an eighty acre place in New York. He occasionally lectures at the police academy in Albany, but his biggest thing t...more

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Jul 26, 2011 Dorie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: crime-fiction

What I enjoy most about this author’s books is that his protagonist’s thought process always seems to be one step ahead of the reader’s. His books would appeal to those looking for crime fiction of a more cerebral type.

The mystery involved Dave Gurney being hired by the mother of a bride who was found decapitated on her wedding day. It’s assumed that the gardener who occupied the cottage where the body was found was the killer, because he fled the area and no one has been able to locate him. It...more

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Sep 22, 2011 J. Luis rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Tras la decepción que para mi supuso el último libro me fui directo a algo que sabía que me iba a gustar. No había leído el anterior libro de John Verdon (queda apuntado como futura lectura) y casi que lo he echado de menos por las continuas referencias al mismo en este libro, dicho lo cual me gustaría aclarar que no es necesario haberse leído esa primera aventura del detective Gurney para seguir este libro pues son totalmente independientes.

El libro consigue enganchar desde el principio aunque...more

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Jul 17, 2011 Linda rated it 3 of 5 stars

Book number two of a series from John Verdon, book number one in the series being his first novel. Another psychological thriller. A much more of a sensationalist novel than the first with more gruesome murders. An interesting story, even if highly improbable. The ending is a little over the top, well, more than a little. Even so, I was glued to the book and could not stop reading until I finished it. I can say the same thing about this book as I said about his first book, it's a good read if yo...more

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About John Verdon

JOHN VERDON has held several executive positions with Manhattan advertising firms, but like his protagonist, he recently relocated with his wife to rural upstate New York.

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“This case is complex. It's got layers to it, Davey. It's a fucking onion... You're a natural-born onion peeler -- the best that ever was.” — 11 people liked it

“The stories people tell you about themselves seem to retain the possibility of being false. But what you discover about them by yourself seems to be the truth.” — 7 people liked it

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Shut Your Eyes Tight (Dave Gurney #2)

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