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Two
This story begins when a seven-year-old boy is found murdered in his bed with a cross sign carved in his forehead, a month later, in the other side of town, two brothers are also killed in their sleep, bearing the same carved cross on their foreheads, with the bloody sign linking the two crimes the Angel of Death is born. Baptized by the sensationalist media the brutal assassin catches the public eye, immediately getting the competitive and eager for fame NYPD serial killer s investigators to fight for the case. Catherine Thornton, young and successful serial killer investigator and her partner Robert Trentini, get it eventually thanks to her somewhat controversial but efficient investigating methods or as her colleagues believe thanks to her pretty face, but she might find she bit a little more than she could chew. Catherine was adopted by the age of ten after the death of her abusive mother, being separated from her siblings, including her twin sister Crystal. She struggles to keep her dark past to herself but once she learns the murdered children were also abuse victim s old memories starts haunting her, getting in the way of the investigation. As if the memories werent disturbing enough Catherine still have to deal with another issue from her past, her identical twin sister, born mute, reappears and starts living with her after being gone for 12 years. The dynamic plot that travels fast from gore crime scenes, to romance and mystery taking unexpected turns will make even the most experienced suspense reader hold their breath up to the last page, leading them into a journey where justice was never blind, but sure was dumb.
404 pages, Paperback
First published January 12, 2013
15 people want to read
About the author
Carla Natali
1 book15 followersI´m a 35 year-old mother who decided to quit her job in order to pursue her true passion, writing.
I wrote my first novel about 5 years ago, since I was turned down by all the Brazillian publishing houses I sent my manuscript to, I decided to tranlate it and try my luck abroad.
I self-published my book through Amazon´s CreateSpace and it´s currently for sale on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Carla-Natali/e/... in two formats, kindle and paperback.
The story falls into the mystery/crime/thriller category.
If you´re interested in that kind of reading you should definately give this one a try. Two, is a dinamic, well knitted plot with no annoying loose ends. A dark, disturbing story that will ratlle your nerves and have you holding your breath, up to the very last page!
I wrote my first novel about 5 years ago, since I was turned down by all the Brazillian publishing houses I sent my manuscript to, I decided to tranlate it and try my luck abroad.
I self-published my book through Amazon´s CreateSpace and it´s currently for sale on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Carla-Natali/e/... in two formats, kindle and paperback.
The story falls into the mystery/crime/thriller category.
If you´re interested in that kind of reading you should definately give this one a try. Two, is a dinamic, well knitted plot with no annoying loose ends. A dark, disturbing story that will ratlle your nerves and have you holding your breath, up to the very last page!
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 6, 2018
My reviews are also available at my blog:
https://flaggfan.wordpress.com/2018/1...
DISCLOSURE: I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.
A high-profile case. A killer on a mission. A brazen detective with a reputation to uphold. An unrelenting media, spearheaded by the mysterious Hawk. A series of brutal child killings. A mayor feeling the pressure. A city's terrified denizens, desperately seeking answers. Inexplicably, these forces diverge, resulting in an ambitious and engaging thrill ride from start to finish, culminating in several jolting plot twists and an end you won't see coming.
Catherine Thornton was a complex character. On the surface, she was respected by her peers and was one of New York's finest detectives, despite being just thirty-three years of age. Her defenses were in place, 24/7/365. No one, not even her partner of two years, Michael Trentini, could break those fortified walls.
Existing in a predominantly male workforce, she had more to prove than most, both to herself and her fellow investigators. In those moments, Natali wasn't only writing about another cliched narrative; she had something earnest to say about a woman's rights, their place in society, and the need to be strong willed and liberated.
There were parts of the investigation that were hard to endure; the epitome of a faint-hearted read. With that came a decent rendering of sadness and empathy. That was refreshing because, in my experience, mystery thrillers often lack heart. It was also impressive, given the vivid details. However, the lives of the victim's and their families could've taken on a larger presence if they'd been developed further.
Throughout Two, there were fascinating elements, as well as interesting insights into the human condition. Parts of it harkened on the philosophical. What did it mean to be free? How was freedom achieved? And if one achieved it, at what cost? Were there sacrifices to be made? What was the truth? Whose truth? What made it true? Lines between reality and fiction were blurred.
Those questions were never explicitly asked, yet I felt their presence anyway, in ways that felt almost interactive. I've never experienced anything quite like it, and I doubt I ever will. They were subtle because Catherine's development and the intricate plot took precedence.
The novel was those things, and so much more. It was primarily character-driven. There were elements of a thriller/noir mystery, in addition to feminine empowerment and a treatise on ethics in a professional setting, and morality in general. There were vibes of metafiction, post-modernism, and minimal paranormal activity systematically thrown in. It was psychological and erotic. At times, it bordered on a concurrent dimension. Nothing was as it seemed, reality was off-kilter, and in those respects, I wouldn't want it any other way.
But the prose was unrefined. There were truly awe-inspiring moments (rare glimpses into the author's greatness,) which were very appealing. I only wish those moments were consistent. Instead, there were incomplete sentences, comma splices, and awkward dialogue.
And while several scenes were clear, there were others that lacked clarity and/or exposition. Incidentally, almost nothing was “told.” Natali transported the reader directly into the character's heads and “showed” the unfolding events. More exposition would've gone a long way, to the benefit of all. A minimum of one revision would've cleaned up a large percentage of its wordiness.
Verbose, yes, but simultaneously the whole was less than the sum of its parts, as a lot of pages contained very little words. Others were blank. The result was a much breezier, almost lighthearted read. Almost.
With those constructive criticisms in mind, it's very likely that the author accidently sent me the unedited version. That would explain a lot. I know for a fact that she revised it at least once, and Catherine DePasquale was her editor. Another factor was that Natali is Brazilian. Unable to hire a translator, she painstakingly translated it from her native Portuguese to English. For that alone, I have the utmost respect and admiration for her.
http://catherinedepasquale.blogspot.c...
This was one of the hardest reviews I've written, because as the above disclosure indicates, Carla and I've known each other online (first through Goodreads and later as Facebook friends,) for five or six years. And though our communications were sporadic, we've always considered one another friends. Reviewing as such can be tricky. My intent has long since been to be honest and fair. I think I've done that here. The last thing I'd want is to sabotage our friendship by hurting your feelings; worse yet, to discourage your writing. I'd sincerely loathe that, Carla.
I wanted more from these characters. The chief of detectives, Tobias, along with Michael and some others, like Hawk and Dr. Roth. Mostly Catherine, though. We knew about her horrific childhood, and her father's endearing qualities, and yet, I craved more. Like flashbacks to her high school days, followed by her experiences in the Academy. It would be interesting to see how she climbed the ranks, to know precisely how she became the infamous serial killer investigator. To recognize the good with the bad.
So while the story was quite dark, it was also surprisingly addictive, as Natali explored some serious issues with a refreshing depth of humanity and pathos. Combine all that, and she delivered an amplified precision of detail, visual stimulation (invoking all the senses,) and a tautly crafted plot. I genuinely cannot imagine what Two could've been, if it was properly revised and researched. With multiple rewrites, one inevitably discovers their artistic voice, and intimate insight into the characters; in turn, cement them in realism.
With a diabolical denouement that completely slayed me, this could have easily gone from a strong three stars to five. Easily.
https://flaggfan.wordpress.com/2018/1...
DISCLOSURE: I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.
”I know her very well indeed, but we are not the same person in different bodies...some people think… Suppose that identical twins are no more than one person split into two halves… There are two of us, you know? We're two different individuals…”
A high-profile case. A killer on a mission. A brazen detective with a reputation to uphold. An unrelenting media, spearheaded by the mysterious Hawk. A series of brutal child killings. A mayor feeling the pressure. A city's terrified denizens, desperately seeking answers. Inexplicably, these forces diverge, resulting in an ambitious and engaging thrill ride from start to finish, culminating in several jolting plot twists and an end you won't see coming.
Catherine Thornton was a complex character. On the surface, she was respected by her peers and was one of New York's finest detectives, despite being just thirty-three years of age. Her defenses were in place, 24/7/365. No one, not even her partner of two years, Michael Trentini, could break those fortified walls.
Existing in a predominantly male workforce, she had more to prove than most, both to herself and her fellow investigators. In those moments, Natali wasn't only writing about another cliched narrative; she had something earnest to say about a woman's rights, their place in society, and the need to be strong willed and liberated.
There were parts of the investigation that were hard to endure; the epitome of a faint-hearted read. With that came a decent rendering of sadness and empathy. That was refreshing because, in my experience, mystery thrillers often lack heart. It was also impressive, given the vivid details. However, the lives of the victim's and their families could've taken on a larger presence if they'd been developed further.
Throughout Two, there were fascinating elements, as well as interesting insights into the human condition. Parts of it harkened on the philosophical. What did it mean to be free? How was freedom achieved? And if one achieved it, at what cost? Were there sacrifices to be made? What was the truth? Whose truth? What made it true? Lines between reality and fiction were blurred.
Those questions were never explicitly asked, yet I felt their presence anyway, in ways that felt almost interactive. I've never experienced anything quite like it, and I doubt I ever will. They were subtle because Catherine's development and the intricate plot took precedence.
The novel was those things, and so much more. It was primarily character-driven. There were elements of a thriller/noir mystery, in addition to feminine empowerment and a treatise on ethics in a professional setting, and morality in general. There were vibes of metafiction, post-modernism, and minimal paranormal activity systematically thrown in. It was psychological and erotic. At times, it bordered on a concurrent dimension. Nothing was as it seemed, reality was off-kilter, and in those respects, I wouldn't want it any other way.
But the prose was unrefined. There were truly awe-inspiring moments (rare glimpses into the author's greatness,) which were very appealing. I only wish those moments were consistent. Instead, there were incomplete sentences, comma splices, and awkward dialogue.
And while several scenes were clear, there were others that lacked clarity and/or exposition. Incidentally, almost nothing was “told.” Natali transported the reader directly into the character's heads and “showed” the unfolding events. More exposition would've gone a long way, to the benefit of all. A minimum of one revision would've cleaned up a large percentage of its wordiness.
Verbose, yes, but simultaneously the whole was less than the sum of its parts, as a lot of pages contained very little words. Others were blank. The result was a much breezier, almost lighthearted read. Almost.
With those constructive criticisms in mind, it's very likely that the author accidently sent me the unedited version. That would explain a lot. I know for a fact that she revised it at least once, and Catherine DePasquale was her editor. Another factor was that Natali is Brazilian. Unable to hire a translator, she painstakingly translated it from her native Portuguese to English. For that alone, I have the utmost respect and admiration for her.
http://catherinedepasquale.blogspot.c...
Robert felt shadows closing in on him, crawling into his heart, flooding his soul when he, once again, looked at Catherine.
This was one of the hardest reviews I've written, because as the above disclosure indicates, Carla and I've known each other online (first through Goodreads and later as Facebook friends,) for five or six years. And though our communications were sporadic, we've always considered one another friends. Reviewing as such can be tricky. My intent has long since been to be honest and fair. I think I've done that here. The last thing I'd want is to sabotage our friendship by hurting your feelings; worse yet, to discourage your writing. I'd sincerely loathe that, Carla.
I wanted more from these characters. The chief of detectives, Tobias, along with Michael and some others, like Hawk and Dr. Roth. Mostly Catherine, though. We knew about her horrific childhood, and her father's endearing qualities, and yet, I craved more. Like flashbacks to her high school days, followed by her experiences in the Academy. It would be interesting to see how she climbed the ranks, to know precisely how she became the infamous serial killer investigator. To recognize the good with the bad.
So while the story was quite dark, it was also surprisingly addictive, as Natali explored some serious issues with a refreshing depth of humanity and pathos. Combine all that, and she delivered an amplified precision of detail, visual stimulation (invoking all the senses,) and a tautly crafted plot. I genuinely cannot imagine what Two could've been, if it was properly revised and researched. With multiple rewrites, one inevitably discovers their artistic voice, and intimate insight into the characters; in turn, cement them in realism.
With a diabolical denouement that completely slayed me, this could have easily gone from a strong three stars to five. Easily.
Read
June 26, 2013Catherine and her identical twin sister Crystal grew up in an abusive household and were separated when put into foster care. Catherine overcame her past to end up a respected police officer investigating serial killings. Crystal, on the other hand, became a reclusive mute. Catherine and Crystal reunite as adult roommates, and Catherine is drawn into a new case involving murdered abused children. When signs point to Crystal as the killer, Crystal suddenly disappears, causing fellow investigators to wonder if the reclusive twin sister ever existed, or if Catherine is the real murderer.
More psycho-thriller than traditional cop story, Two centers on Catherine’s struggle with her own past, as well as with Crystal, and ultimately with the justice system Catherine is used to seeing from the other side. Natali offers up enough plot twists and turns to make Two an intriguing read.
More psycho-thriller than traditional cop story, Two centers on Catherine’s struggle with her own past, as well as with Crystal, and ultimately with the justice system Catherine is used to seeing from the other side. Natali offers up enough plot twists and turns to make Two an intriguing read.
March 21, 2013
I would rate this book 4.75.
I absolutely loved this book and hated to see it end.
This story is about twins. One is a very successful police detective, and this is her story of childhood abuse and mental illness. The twists made the story very readable and the pace never slowed down.
I am proud to recommend this book. Bravo. Well done.
I absolutely loved this book and hated to see it end.
This story is about twins. One is a very successful police detective, and this is her story of childhood abuse and mental illness. The twists made the story very readable and the pace never slowed down.
I am proud to recommend this book. Bravo. Well done.
May 11, 2013
This is a well-planned and executed psychological thriller. It is definitely a mystery too, as the protagonist searches for a serial killer that may be closer to her than she really thinks. I wasn't sure exactly where the story was taking me, and I was not disappointed with the final outcome. There are twists and turns, that you may not expect.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews