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Katie Maguire #1
Τρομερή Ομορφιά
Σ' ένα αγρόκτημα στη νότια Ιρλανδία ανακαλύπτονται σε ομαδικό τάφο τα οστά έντεκα διαμελισμένων γυναικών, θαμμένα πριν από 80 χρόνια. Η αστυνόμος Κέιτι Μαγκουάιρ είναι συνηθισμένη στο αίμα και τη φρίκη, όμως αυτό το μακελειό ξεπερνάει κάθε φαντασία.
Όταν αρχίζουν να εμφανίζονται νέα θύματα, δολοφονημένα με τον ίδιο τελετουργικό τρόπο, όλα δείχνουν ότι κάποιος ανέλαβε να συνεχίσει το έργο έπειτα από οκτώ δεκαετίες. Κι έχει διαλέξει την Κέιτι ως το επόμενο θύμα του.
Ό,τι κι αν είναι αυτό που συνέβη κάποτε σ’ αυτό το γραφικό χωριουδάκι, συμβαίνει ξανά. Και δεν είναι απλώς μια σειρά από ειδεχθή εγκλήματα. Είναι μια απόκρυφη παράδοση.
Ο Graham Masterton παντρεύει τους παλιούς θρύλους της Ιρλανδίας με τη σύγχρονη σκληρή αστυνομική λογοτεχνία και δημιουργεί ένα αξέχαστο μεταφυσικό θρίλερ.
Όταν αρχίζουν να εμφανίζονται νέα θύματα, δολοφονημένα με τον ίδιο τελετουργικό τρόπο, όλα δείχνουν ότι κάποιος ανέλαβε να συνεχίσει το έργο έπειτα από οκτώ δεκαετίες. Κι έχει διαλέξει την Κέιτι ως το επόμενο θύμα του.
Ό,τι κι αν είναι αυτό που συνέβη κάποτε σ’ αυτό το γραφικό χωριουδάκι, συμβαίνει ξανά. Και δεν είναι απλώς μια σειρά από ειδεχθή εγκλήματα. Είναι μια απόκρυφη παράδοση.
Ο Graham Masterton παντρεύει τους παλιούς θρύλους της Ιρλανδίας με τη σύγχρονη σκληρή αστυνομική λογοτεχνία και δημιουργεί ένα αξέχαστο μεταφυσικό θρίλερ.
400 pages, Paperback
First published February 25, 2003
638 people are currently reading
4031 people want to read
About the author
Graham Masterton
422 books1,966 followersGraham Masterton was born in Edinburgh in 1946. His grandfather was Thomas Thorne Baker, the eminent scientist who invented DayGlo and was the first man to transmit news photographs by wireless. After training as a newspaper reporter, Graham went on to edit the new British men's magazine Mayfair, where he encouraged William Burroughs to develop a series of scientific and philosophical articles which eventually became Burroughs' novel The Wild Boys.
At the age of 24, Graham was appointed executive editor of both Penthouse and Penthouse Forum magazines. At this time he started to write a bestselling series of sex 'how-to' books including How To Drive Your Man Wild In Bed which has sold over 3 million copies worldwide. His latest, Wild Sex For New Lovers is published by Penguin Putnam in January, 2001. He is a regular contributor to Cosmopolitan, Men's Health, Woman, Woman's Own and other mass-market self-improvement magazines.
Graham Masterton's debut as a horror author began with The Manitou in 1976, a chilling tale of a Native American medicine man reborn in the present day to exact his revenge on the white man. It became an instant bestseller and was filmed with Tony Curtis, Susan Strasberg, Burgess Meredith, Michael Ansara, Stella Stevens and Ann Sothern.
Altogether Graham has written more than a hundred novels ranging from thrillers (The Sweetman Curve, Ikon) to disaster novels (Plague, Famine) to historical sagas (Rich and Maiden Voyage - both appeared in the New York Times bestseller list). He has published four collections of short stories, Fortnight of Fear, Flights of Fear, Faces of Fear and Feelings of Fear.
He has also written horror novels for children (House of Bones, Hair-Raiser) and has just finished the fifth volume in a very popular series for young adults, Rook, based on the adventures of an idiosyncratic remedial English teacher in a Los Angeles community college who has the facility to see ghosts.
Since then Graham has published more than 35 horror novels, including Charnel House, which was awarded a Special Edgar by Mystery Writers of America; Mirror, which was awarded a Silver Medal by West Coast Review of Books; and Family Portrait, an update of Oscar Wilde's tale, The Picture of Dorian Gray, which was the only non-French winner of the prestigious Prix Julia Verlanger in France.
He and his wife Wiescka live in a Gothic Victorian mansion high above the River Lee in Cork, Ireland.
At the age of 24, Graham was appointed executive editor of both Penthouse and Penthouse Forum magazines. At this time he started to write a bestselling series of sex 'how-to' books including How To Drive Your Man Wild In Bed which has sold over 3 million copies worldwide. His latest, Wild Sex For New Lovers is published by Penguin Putnam in January, 2001. He is a regular contributor to Cosmopolitan, Men's Health, Woman, Woman's Own and other mass-market self-improvement magazines.
Graham Masterton's debut as a horror author began with The Manitou in 1976, a chilling tale of a Native American medicine man reborn in the present day to exact his revenge on the white man. It became an instant bestseller and was filmed with Tony Curtis, Susan Strasberg, Burgess Meredith, Michael Ansara, Stella Stevens and Ann Sothern.
Altogether Graham has written more than a hundred novels ranging from thrillers (The Sweetman Curve, Ikon) to disaster novels (Plague, Famine) to historical sagas (Rich and Maiden Voyage - both appeared in the New York Times bestseller list). He has published four collections of short stories, Fortnight of Fear, Flights of Fear, Faces of Fear and Feelings of Fear.
He has also written horror novels for children (House of Bones, Hair-Raiser) and has just finished the fifth volume in a very popular series for young adults, Rook, based on the adventures of an idiosyncratic remedial English teacher in a Los Angeles community college who has the facility to see ghosts.
Since then Graham has published more than 35 horror novels, including Charnel House, which was awarded a Special Edgar by Mystery Writers of America; Mirror, which was awarded a Silver Medal by West Coast Review of Books; and Family Portrait, an update of Oscar Wilde's tale, The Picture of Dorian Gray, which was the only non-French winner of the prestigious Prix Julia Verlanger in France.
He and his wife Wiescka live in a Gothic Victorian mansion high above the River Lee in Cork, Ireland.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 727 reviews
September 6, 2017
1. Set up your blender and make sure it is unplugged.
2. Throw in a pile of 80 year old bones from 11 women that have been stripped of all flesh.
3. Add little “dollies” with old screws and nails in them threaded through holes drilled in the tops of the thigh bones.
4. The recipe also calls for two more young women, and the flesh must be stripped before death, if possible.
5. The recipe also calls for a live woman – someone in a position of power, like Detective Superintendent Katie Maguire.
6. Add drownings and near drownings.
7. Add a car bomb and exploding people.
8. Add a person in a coma and another person anchored by their arms while a car takes off with the feet attached to it.
9. Include some throat slicing and one dead of it, one survivor of it.
10. Add in ancient myths, the bombing of the Lusitania, and a pinch of magical realism.
11. Shake ever so gently or stir with care.
This is White Bones and it will scare you silly. The writing is excellent; the pace is so fast, your metabolism will double its normal rate and you will lose 5 lbs.
Whatever you do, do not plug in and turn on your blender.
2. Throw in a pile of 80 year old bones from 11 women that have been stripped of all flesh.
3. Add little “dollies” with old screws and nails in them threaded through holes drilled in the tops of the thigh bones.
4. The recipe also calls for two more young women, and the flesh must be stripped before death, if possible.
5. The recipe also calls for a live woman – someone in a position of power, like Detective Superintendent Katie Maguire.
6. Add drownings and near drownings.
7. Add a car bomb and exploding people.
8. Add a person in a coma and another person anchored by their arms while a car takes off with the feet attached to it.
9. Include some throat slicing and one dead of it, one survivor of it.
10. Add in ancient myths, the bombing of the Lusitania, and a pinch of magical realism.
11. Shake ever so gently or stir with care.
This is White Bones and it will scare you silly. The writing is excellent; the pace is so fast, your metabolism will double its normal rate and you will lose 5 lbs.
Whatever you do, do not plug in and turn on your blender.
April 28, 2023
My first Graham Masterton book and he is quite the master :) An easy five star. I often hear Masterton referred to as a master of horror but this book was basically a thriller to me. I have to admit it has some very grisly parts though.
The story starts out with the discovery of 11 women's bodies but the bodies are discovered to be from 1915/16. In the thigh of each women are little dolls with hooks on them. Katie Maguire is the lead detective of the Irish Garda on it.
Speaking of things Irish I am now going to read a books front pages as well as back pages too prior to starting the story. The reason is that there was some heavy use of Irish slang here and it took me some time to figure out that there were a few back pages containing a translation dictionary to help you out with this. I wish I had realized this from the onset but it was never a real issue but it would have helped to know this.
Katie is quick to realize that the 11 bodies tie into a ritualistic murder and that more are going to happen and they do. The ritual ties into 13 women having to be ritualistically killed and offered up to a witch who will then grant that person whatever they desire.
I really liked Masterton's style. He doesn't try and play games with the readers. I hardly had any notes on the story and yet loved it so much. Many twists and turns with a cast of manageable characters. Again he doesn't have to try to confuse the reader as so many authors do. He is working with an inventive and good story and sticks to it.
I have to admit that I really enjoyed this read but I got a little tired of the murderer speaking to the other world trying to coax out the witch with the riches but realistically what kind of language would such an idiot really use when trying to complete the ritual with the witch? lol.
Also the story ties into WWI and the sinking of the Lusitania in that Britain let that ocean liner sink so as to draw the ire of the Americans who had not yet entered the war. The author speaks a lot about this in his acknowledgement and it is quite a fascinating premise.
Anyway I am glad to have discovered Masterton and have the next few in this series on my shelves. Master! Master! Master of puppets...............had to get that in there :) Enjoy and I recommend this for thriller and horror fans both. He is not that bad horror wise.
The story starts out with the discovery of 11 women's bodies but the bodies are discovered to be from 1915/16. In the thigh of each women are little dolls with hooks on them. Katie Maguire is the lead detective of the Irish Garda on it.
Speaking of things Irish I am now going to read a books front pages as well as back pages too prior to starting the story. The reason is that there was some heavy use of Irish slang here and it took me some time to figure out that there were a few back pages containing a translation dictionary to help you out with this. I wish I had realized this from the onset but it was never a real issue but it would have helped to know this.
Katie is quick to realize that the 11 bodies tie into a ritualistic murder and that more are going to happen and they do. The ritual ties into 13 women having to be ritualistically killed and offered up to a witch who will then grant that person whatever they desire.
I really liked Masterton's style. He doesn't try and play games with the readers. I hardly had any notes on the story and yet loved it so much. Many twists and turns with a cast of manageable characters. Again he doesn't have to try to confuse the reader as so many authors do. He is working with an inventive and good story and sticks to it.
I have to admit that I really enjoyed this read but I got a little tired of the murderer speaking to the other world trying to coax out the witch with the riches but realistically what kind of language would such an idiot really use when trying to complete the ritual with the witch? lol.
Also the story ties into WWI and the sinking of the Lusitania in that Britain let that ocean liner sink so as to draw the ire of the Americans who had not yet entered the war. The author speaks a lot about this in his acknowledgement and it is quite a fascinating premise.
Anyway I am glad to have discovered Masterton and have the next few in this series on my shelves. Master! Master! Master of puppets...............had to get that in there :) Enjoy and I recommend this for thriller and horror fans both. He is not that bad horror wise.
July 25, 2022
Eager to get started on this series by Graham Masterton, I was not entirely sure what to expect. My past experience with the author included some well-paced novels steeped in horrific murders high left the authorities scrambling for answers. In this series debut, the police procedural angle remains, but the settling and protagonist proved highly unique. Masterton has done well to lay the groundwork for a stunning series, with DS Katie Macguire uncovering a chilling case that will shake her to the core in rural Ireland.
In County Cork, bones belonging to a number of individuals are uncovered. Forensic analysis turns up the skeletal remains of at lease eleven, with the thigh bones pierced and small dolls hanging from them. This looks to be the act of a serial killer, with many eyes turning to the landowners. However, in a baffling turn of events, the bones are soon identified as having been at least eight decades old.
Enter Detective Superintendent Katie Macguire, who has risen through the ranks due to her attention to detail. Following in the steps of her father, DS Macguire is keen to show that she has what it takes to make a difference in the Garda. As the case gains some momentum, a pagan angle is bandied about, having to do with sacrificing young women to receive great powers. While DS Macguire wants nothing other than to solve this old case, she is steered away by her superiors.
Meanwhile, someone is targeting young women once again, capturing them and putting the victims through excruciating agony. The justification is that it is all part of a larger ritual that cannot be ignored. As a missing woman gains some local notoriety, DS Macguire tries to work that case, while keeping the old one active in her mind. A suspect emerges and it seems the case is closed, until another woman goes missing and the eyewitness statements make it seem as though it could be the same abductor.
While DS Macguire is juggling all this at work, her personal life takes a significant turn for the worse. Trying to put the pieces back together will take more than a passing interest, though there is so much going on that DS Macguire cannot spare a moment. Will her home life prove to be a distraction or a needed buffer from a killer who appears to be trying to finish the pagan ritual from eighty years previously? All will be revealed in this captivating series debut by accomplished author Graham Masterton.
I knew that I would have to get into this series after rushing through some other work by Graham Masterton. I was not disappointed and felt myself enveloped in the action from the opening pages. Masterton does well to keep the reader enthralled as he builds a spine-tingling case and develops strong characters. While the series is long, I am up for the challenge and will be sure to dive into the next novel as soon as I can.
There’s definitely something about Graham Masterton that has me wanting to grab as many of his novels as I can. Not only are they on point, but they pull the reader in with ease and keep the momentum going until all comes together. A narrative that flows well keeps the reader with a clear understanding of what’s going on and provides a roadmap for a successful journey. Strong characters populate the story, allowing the reader to live through them with ease. Of particular note, DS Katie Macguire receives a great deal of backstory and development throughout, keeping the reader guessing what else there is to know, while also feeling the impact of much that is revealed in this piece. Some stellar plot twists and historic events keep the reader from knowing too much from the outset, but proves addictive and leaves the story with an eerie sense throughout. I am eager to see what happens with DS Macguire and how she will grow as a police officer, as well as a woman living in Cork. Graham Masterton has done it again!
Kudos, Mr. Masterton, for beginning things in such a strong way and leaving me wanting more. I am eager to see what is next and how the series will develop.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
In County Cork, bones belonging to a number of individuals are uncovered. Forensic analysis turns up the skeletal remains of at lease eleven, with the thigh bones pierced and small dolls hanging from them. This looks to be the act of a serial killer, with many eyes turning to the landowners. However, in a baffling turn of events, the bones are soon identified as having been at least eight decades old.
Enter Detective Superintendent Katie Macguire, who has risen through the ranks due to her attention to detail. Following in the steps of her father, DS Macguire is keen to show that she has what it takes to make a difference in the Garda. As the case gains some momentum, a pagan angle is bandied about, having to do with sacrificing young women to receive great powers. While DS Macguire wants nothing other than to solve this old case, she is steered away by her superiors.
Meanwhile, someone is targeting young women once again, capturing them and putting the victims through excruciating agony. The justification is that it is all part of a larger ritual that cannot be ignored. As a missing woman gains some local notoriety, DS Macguire tries to work that case, while keeping the old one active in her mind. A suspect emerges and it seems the case is closed, until another woman goes missing and the eyewitness statements make it seem as though it could be the same abductor.
While DS Macguire is juggling all this at work, her personal life takes a significant turn for the worse. Trying to put the pieces back together will take more than a passing interest, though there is so much going on that DS Macguire cannot spare a moment. Will her home life prove to be a distraction or a needed buffer from a killer who appears to be trying to finish the pagan ritual from eighty years previously? All will be revealed in this captivating series debut by accomplished author Graham Masterton.
I knew that I would have to get into this series after rushing through some other work by Graham Masterton. I was not disappointed and felt myself enveloped in the action from the opening pages. Masterton does well to keep the reader enthralled as he builds a spine-tingling case and develops strong characters. While the series is long, I am up for the challenge and will be sure to dive into the next novel as soon as I can.
There’s definitely something about Graham Masterton that has me wanting to grab as many of his novels as I can. Not only are they on point, but they pull the reader in with ease and keep the momentum going until all comes together. A narrative that flows well keeps the reader with a clear understanding of what’s going on and provides a roadmap for a successful journey. Strong characters populate the story, allowing the reader to live through them with ease. Of particular note, DS Katie Macguire receives a great deal of backstory and development throughout, keeping the reader guessing what else there is to know, while also feeling the impact of much that is revealed in this piece. Some stellar plot twists and historic events keep the reader from knowing too much from the outset, but proves addictive and leaves the story with an eerie sense throughout. I am eager to see what happens with DS Macguire and how she will grow as a police officer, as well as a woman living in Cork. Graham Masterton has done it again!
Kudos, Mr. Masterton, for beginning things in such a strong way and leaving me wanting more. I am eager to see what is next and how the series will develop.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
February 1, 2016
Almost 4.5 stars! A good supernatural horror mystery but not for every one! Very grotesque but also scary! If you can handle a lot, and nothing gets to you this one is for you! Its about Superintendent Detective Katie Maguire tries to solve an ancient ritual which is very ominous and scary.
July 26, 2025
I really like this book for a number of reasons. Firstly, it's nice to have a crime writer who is not scared to get a bit gory in their writing, perhaps because Graham Masterton was a writer of horror prior to turning his hand to crime had something to do with this. I say this because there are a few scenes in this great book that would make some people a touch uncomfortable. Okay, maybe really uncomfortable. If you like your crime on the darker side you’ll love this.
I lived in County Cork in Ireland many years ago (Kinsale) so was familiar with the "Cork lingo" used in the book such as the use of the word "so" at the end of some sentences, this is a common word used in the context of "are you alright so?" but I imagine some readers might think that this book was poorly edited, it's not, it's authentic to Cork slang (there is a glossary of Cork slang at the back of the book).
The book centres around a mass grave of jumbled bones that are found on farmland in Ireland and DCI Katie Maguire's relentless pursuit of the killer/killers. The book incorporates some interesting Irish folklore that many may think is not believed today, but in parts of Ireland superstition and folklore still abounds, it's like a country stuck in a time bubble in some regions in fact, it's also one of my favourite places on earth.
The plot is interesting, with pace from the onset to hook you in, it twists and turns, it makes you squeamish in quite a few scenes. I know some reviewers have commented that this book has an unrealistic storyline, however anyone who has lived in Ireland and knows the history of folklore belief may not think quite so far fetched. It's entertaining and easy to read and I enjoyed reading it very much. I will be looking for the next in the series featuring DCI Katie Maguire. Oh and just when I thought I had worked out who was the killer/s, I was wrong, the book beat me. Book 1, Me 0.
Oh and the ending is good, can't say why, it just is. I can't spoil it for you. You’ll need to find out for yourself.
Thanks so much for taking a little time to read my review. Your likes and comments mean a lot to me. 😻 Feel free to add me as a friend or follow me for more book reviews.
If you are an Author or Publisher and you’d like me to consider reading and reviewing your book(s) please just message me.
I lived in County Cork in Ireland many years ago (Kinsale) so was familiar with the "Cork lingo" used in the book such as the use of the word "so" at the end of some sentences, this is a common word used in the context of "are you alright so?" but I imagine some readers might think that this book was poorly edited, it's not, it's authentic to Cork slang (there is a glossary of Cork slang at the back of the book).
The book centres around a mass grave of jumbled bones that are found on farmland in Ireland and DCI Katie Maguire's relentless pursuit of the killer/killers. The book incorporates some interesting Irish folklore that many may think is not believed today, but in parts of Ireland superstition and folklore still abounds, it's like a country stuck in a time bubble in some regions in fact, it's also one of my favourite places on earth.
The plot is interesting, with pace from the onset to hook you in, it twists and turns, it makes you squeamish in quite a few scenes. I know some reviewers have commented that this book has an unrealistic storyline, however anyone who has lived in Ireland and knows the history of folklore belief may not think quite so far fetched. It's entertaining and easy to read and I enjoyed reading it very much. I will be looking for the next in the series featuring DCI Katie Maguire. Oh and just when I thought I had worked out who was the killer/s, I was wrong, the book beat me. Book 1, Me 0.
Oh and the ending is good, can't say why, it just is. I can't spoil it for you. You’ll need to find out for yourself.
Thanks so much for taking a little time to read my review. Your likes and comments mean a lot to me. 😻 Feel free to add me as a friend or follow me for more book reviews.
If you are an Author or Publisher and you’d like me to consider reading and reviewing your book(s) please just message me.
October 22, 2023
Crime Tension & Suspense!
Small backstory:
Detective Katie Maguire has more than she can handle when a case lands in her lap of dead bodies that seem to keep piling up within her jurisdiction. Katie soon learns though that the bodies are part of ritualistic killings and she will need to do everything in her power to track down the killer before she has more bodies to deal with!
That is about all I can give on a small backstory so if you want to know more than go read this book and series!
Thoughts:
This story just slowly grabs you right from the beginning as Masterton builds up the suspense and the crimes slowly but pulls the reader straight into the storyline with visual backdrops and some bloody gory descriptions of the victims.
There is quite bit of horror mixed with crime in this story and the book moves along at a fast pace. I loved the characters in this story and the main character, Katie is a take charge kind of character that gets things done her way. Looking forward to continuing on with the series at some point to see what happens next for Detective Maguire. Giving this book five "Thriller Chiller" stars!
Small backstory:
Detective Katie Maguire has more than she can handle when a case lands in her lap of dead bodies that seem to keep piling up within her jurisdiction. Katie soon learns though that the bodies are part of ritualistic killings and she will need to do everything in her power to track down the killer before she has more bodies to deal with!
That is about all I can give on a small backstory so if you want to know more than go read this book and series!
Thoughts:
This story just slowly grabs you right from the beginning as Masterton builds up the suspense and the crimes slowly but pulls the reader straight into the storyline with visual backdrops and some bloody gory descriptions of the victims.
There is quite bit of horror mixed with crime in this story and the book moves along at a fast pace. I loved the characters in this story and the main character, Katie is a take charge kind of character that gets things done her way. Looking forward to continuing on with the series at some point to see what happens next for Detective Maguire. Giving this book five "Thriller Chiller" stars!
October 29, 2018
Ο Graham Masterton μου ήταν γνωστός σαν όνομα, αλλά δεν είχα διαβάσει ποτέ κανένα βιβλίο του. Η “Τρομερή Ομορφιά” έπεσε πριν λίγο καιρό στα χέρια μου και ενώ την κοιτούσα με μισό μάτι, είπα τελικά να δώσω μια ευκαιρία. Το βιβλίο αυτό αποτελεί το πρώτο της σειράς θρίλερ/μυστηρίου με πρωταγωνίστρια την αστυνόμο Katie Maguire.
Η υπόθεση έχει ως εξής: ομαδικός τάφος με διασκορπισμένα κόκαλα 11 γυναικών, θαμμένων προ 80 ετών, αποκαλύπτεται σε μια φάρμα της Ιρλανδίας και προτού η Katie καταλαβαίνει τι συμβαίνει, κάποιος ξεκινάει να σκοτώνει γυναίκες με τον ίδιο ακριβώς τρόπο.
Δεν ξέρω ποιο στοιχείο ακριβώς ήταν αυτό που μου έφερε αναγούλα. Σίγουρα κάποιες σκηνές του βιβλίου είναι εντελώς α��άνθρωπες, αλλά οι ανατριχιαστικές περιγραφές δε με ενοχλούν πάντοτε (βλέπε Jack Ketchum). Να φταίει που ο δολοφόνος ξεπέτσιαζε γυναίκες ζωντανές; Να φταίει που γκούγκλαρα για πόσο μπορεί να ζήσει κάποιος χωρίς δέρμα και μύες στα πόδια; Και μόνο που τα γράφω, νομίζω πως ακούω το στομάχι μου να παρακαλάει για έλεος. Ο Masterton με έκανε να αηδιάσω σε ένα άλλο επίπεδο, άγγιξε μια λεπτή χορδή που με αναστάτωσε σε υπερβολικό βαθμό. Δε μπαίνω στον κόπο να βρω γιατί συνέβη αυτό – δε θέλω να ανακαλύψω κάποιον φόβο που δεν ήξερα ότι είχα. Δεν ευχαριστήθηκα την ανάγνωση, αλλά αισθάνθηκα ότι έπρεπε να συνεχίσω να το διαβάζω. *αυτομουτζώνεται* Και πώς να μη θέλω να το συνεχίσω βέβαια, αφού το βιβλίο κυλάει σαν νεράκι; Χωρίς περισπασμούς και με πολλούς διαλόγους, ουσιαστικά όλη η αφήγηση επικεντρώνεται στην εξέλιξη της υπόθεσης – και βέβαια στην Katie, η οποία είναι μια αρκετά ενδιαφέρουσα και συμπαθητική πρωταγωνίστρια. Θα ήθελα πάρα πολύ να συνεχίσω τη συγκεκριμένη σειρά μόνο και μόνο για να τη γνωρίσω καλύτερα, αλλά προτιμώ να μου κάνουν spoiler πριν δω το τελευταίο επεισόδιο του GoT παρά να ξαναδιαβάσω βιβλίο του Masterton (βαρύ, ε; Αλλά αληθινό).
Κλασική περίπτωση “it’s not you, it’s me”, αλλά τι να κάνουμε παιδιά, συμβαίνουν αυτά, ακόμη και στις καλύτερες βιβλιοθήκες.
Βαθμολογία: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)
Η υπόθεση έχει ως εξής: ομαδικός τάφος με διασκορπισμένα κόκαλα 11 γυναικών, θαμμένων προ 80 ετών, αποκαλύπτεται σε μια φάρμα της Ιρλανδίας και προτού η Katie καταλαβαίνει τι συμβαίνει, κάποιος ξεκινάει να σκοτώνει γυναίκες με τον ίδιο ακριβώς τρόπο.
Δεν ξέρω ποιο στοιχείο ακριβώς ήταν αυτό που μου έφερε αναγούλα. Σίγουρα κάποιες σκηνές του βιβλίου είναι εντελώς α��άνθρωπες, αλλά οι ανατριχιαστικές περιγραφές δε με ενοχλούν πάντοτε (βλέπε Jack Ketchum). Να φταίει που ο δολοφόνος ξεπέτσιαζε γυναίκες ζωντανές; Να φταίει που γκούγκλαρα για πόσο μπορεί να ζήσει κάποιος χωρίς δέρμα και μύες στα πόδια; Και μόνο που τα γράφω, νομίζω πως ακούω το στομάχι μου να παρακαλάει για έλεος. Ο Masterton με έκανε να αηδιάσω σε ένα άλλο επίπεδο, άγγιξε μια λεπτή χορδή που με αναστάτωσε σε υπερβολικό βαθμό. Δε μπαίνω στον κόπο να βρω γιατί συνέβη αυτό – δε θέλω να ανακαλύψω κάποιον φόβο που δεν ήξερα ότι είχα. Δεν ευχαριστήθηκα την ανάγνωση, αλλά αισθάνθηκα ότι έπρεπε να συνεχίσω να το διαβάζω. *αυτομουτζώνεται* Και πώς να μη θέλω να το συνεχίσω βέβαια, αφού το βιβλίο κυλάει σαν νεράκι; Χωρίς περισπασμούς και με πολλούς διαλόγους, ουσιαστικά όλη η αφήγηση επικεντρώνεται στην εξέλιξη της υπόθεσης – και βέβαια στην Katie, η οποία είναι μια αρκετά ενδιαφέρουσα και συμπαθητική πρωταγωνίστρια. Θα ήθελα πάρα πολύ να συνεχίσω τη συγκεκριμένη σειρά μόνο και μόνο για να τη γνωρίσω καλύτερα, αλλά προτιμώ να μου κάνουν spoiler πριν δω το τελευταίο επεισόδιο του GoT παρά να ξαναδιαβάσω βιβλίο του Masterton (βαρύ, ε; Αλλά αληθινό).
Κλασική περίπτωση “it’s not you, it’s me”, αλλά τι να κάνουμε παιδιά, συμβαίνουν αυτά, ακόμη και στις καλύτερες βιβλιοθήκες.
Βαθμολογία: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)
November 23, 2017
Αγόρασα και διάβασα αυτό το βιβλίο το 2012, σχεδόν με το που κυκλοφόρησε στην Ελλάδα. Τον προηγούμενο μήνα το έκανα μια δεύτερη ανάγνωση-κυρίως φρεσκάρισμα- περισσότερο επειδή πλησίαζε πια η κυκλοφορία των Πληγωμένων Αγγέλων, της δεύτερης περιπέτειας της αστυνόμου Katie Maguire. Να σημειώσω πάντως πως απ' όσο γνωρίζω κάτι τέτοιο δεν είναι αναγκαίο. Οι ιστορίες δεν έχουν καμία σύνδεση και τα λίγα σχετικά έχουν να κάνουν με την προσωπική ζωή της Katie. (Με σχετική επιφύλαξη, πάντα).
Η ''τρομερή ομορφιά'' συνεχίζει να κρατάει τον συγγραφέα στους πολυαγαπημένους μου. Δεν είναι κλασικό βιβλίο τρόμου, με την κλασική Masterton έννοια. Είναι μια αστυνομική ιστορία που μπλέκει ένα ιστορικό γεγονός από το μακρινό 1915 και κομμάτια της Κέλτικης μυθολογίας , η οποία μου αρέσει πολύ. Σε πολλά σημεία μάλιστα, καταφέρνει να τρομάξει πολύ περισσότερο από παλιότερα βιβλία του, (πχ Δαίμονες της Νορμανδίας/Καθρέφτης), παρά τα αλλόκοτα πλάσματα που καραδοκούν εκεί.
Έχω κάποιες μικρές ενστάσεις μόνο με την Λούσι (spoiler, δεν μπορώ να πω περισσότερα!) καθώς και με μερικούς δευτερεύοντες χαρακτήρες που έμειναν κάπως άχρωμοι. Παραμένει ωστόσο ένα πάρα πολύ ωραίο βιβλίο.
Η ''τρομερή ομορφιά'' συνεχίζει να κρατάει τον συγγραφέα στους πολυαγαπημένους μου. Δεν είναι κλασικό βιβλίο τρόμου, με την κλασική Masterton έννοια. Είναι μια αστυνομική ιστορία που μπλέκει ένα ιστορικό γεγονός από το μακρινό 1915 και κομμάτια της Κέλτικης μυθολογίας , η οποία μου αρέσει πολύ. Σε πολλά σημεία μάλιστα, καταφέρνει να τρομάξει πολύ περισσότερο από παλιότερα βιβλία του, (πχ Δαίμονες της Νορμανδίας/Καθρέφτης), παρά τα αλλόκοτα πλάσματα που καραδοκούν εκεί.
Έχω κάποιες μικρές ενστάσεις μόνο με την Λούσι (spoiler, δεν μπορώ να πω περισσότερα!) καθώς και με μερικούς δευτερεύοντες χαρακτήρες που έμειναν κάπως άχρωμοι. Παραμένει ωστόσο ένα πάρα πολύ ωραίο βιβλίο.
January 2, 2017
A book that has been sitting on my Kindle for a while and recently brought to my attention again, I thought it was high time I went in.
Bones are discovered on Meagher's Farm. These though are dismembered bones of eleven women in total. A high number for one discovery in a land where folklore and mythical legend is rife and stories of old carry though for hundreds of years. The discovery is a gruesome one and is put into the hands of Detective Superintendent Kate Maguire. Focusing on violent and gory rituals from the past the story then shifts to a young girl who is kidnapped and tortured in the extreme. It's at this point that I realised Masterton is a horror writer of old and it really shows in these scenes. Unremittingly violent and gruesome it reminded me of slasher movies that aren't really my thing. In fact, I almost got the feeling that Masterton enjoyed writing those scenes such is the detail present. I'm not easily shocked but at times the book felt more like a horror book than crime and I'm not convinced it really worked here.
The folklore angle is interesting enough with Ireland giving plenty of material to dip into but the storyline did feel a tad unrealistic at times with Maguire being thrown into one endless scenario after another. I mean how much can one woman take?!! Seriously?! Without a bit of a meltdown ensuing?!!
The story is pacy and definitely keeps interest levels high but it does veer slightly into 'wow, that supernatural ending actually happened' territory. I've definitely got mixed feelings about this book. There's some good storytelling no doubt. I really enjoyed the Cork, Irish setting. I found that really interesting and the mythical legend stuff stayed on the right side of fantasy for my tastes! But I wasn't blown away by it and may leave it a while before I move onto book two. It certainly gives fodder for book group discussion.... I'll say that much!!
Bones are discovered on Meagher's Farm. These though are dismembered bones of eleven women in total. A high number for one discovery in a land where folklore and mythical legend is rife and stories of old carry though for hundreds of years. The discovery is a gruesome one and is put into the hands of Detective Superintendent Kate Maguire. Focusing on violent and gory rituals from the past the story then shifts to a young girl who is kidnapped and tortured in the extreme. It's at this point that I realised Masterton is a horror writer of old and it really shows in these scenes. Unremittingly violent and gruesome it reminded me of slasher movies that aren't really my thing. In fact, I almost got the feeling that Masterton enjoyed writing those scenes such is the detail present. I'm not easily shocked but at times the book felt more like a horror book than crime and I'm not convinced it really worked here.
The folklore angle is interesting enough with Ireland giving plenty of material to dip into but the storyline did feel a tad unrealistic at times with Maguire being thrown into one endless scenario after another. I mean how much can one woman take?!! Seriously?! Without a bit of a meltdown ensuing?!!
The story is pacy and definitely keeps interest levels high but it does veer slightly into 'wow, that supernatural ending actually happened' territory. I've definitely got mixed feelings about this book. There's some good storytelling no doubt. I really enjoyed the Cork, Irish setting. I found that really interesting and the mythical legend stuff stayed on the right side of fantasy for my tastes! But I wasn't blown away by it and may leave it a while before I move onto book two. It certainly gives fodder for book group discussion.... I'll say that much!!
Want to read
July 16, 2018The American edition of this book is titled "A Terrible Beauty".
April 7, 2013
I did really enjoy this book and probably would have given it four stars except for the fact that the plot became a little too preposterous at the end. The central character Katie Maguire was great and the sub-plot around her marriage was an interesting addition. The story flowed really well, albeit with some pretty gruesome moments, right up until the end which seemed really rushed and was the point at which things became a little bit ridiculous particularly in the solving of the case involving the original eleven women's murders. Also, although managing to guess the final twist in terms of 'who done it' would be pretty impressive the introduction of the murder was so obviously suspicious that it was clear they had to be involved and in some ways it didn't completely keep you guessing.
Despite all that, it was a really easy read, well written and captivating enough that I couldn't put it down.
Despite all that, it was a really easy read, well written and captivating enough that I couldn't put it down.
January 25, 2025
Gritty and bleak- and that's just the landscape. Detective Superintendent Katie Maguire is spinning many (cracked) plates at once as she tries to solve the GRIZZLY murders of over eleven young women across two centuries. Suspenseful, engrossing and just pretty damn gross. Yahoo!! I am looking forward to more Maguire for sure...
4 Riveting Stars
4 Riveting Stars
February 3, 2016
White Bones introduces Detective Katie Maguire. When the bones of 11 women are found on an isolated farm in County Cork in Ireland, Katie is initially told to drop the case as the deaths date back to 1915. But then a young American tourist goes missing and her body turns up on the same farm.
I've been hesitant for a while now to start this series because of the mixed reviews and mentions of 'supernatural', but it turned out to be a really solid Irish crime procedural and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The plot centers around old Irish folklore/myths rather than the paranormal elements I was expecting and that added a really interesting aspect to the story. Mr. Masterton has previously written horror novels and while this certainly shines through, I didn't find any of the details overly gory, but I think more sensitive readers may.
The author also provides plenty of background on the main character of Katie Maguire. By the end of the book, you really feel you have a good picture of her as a person. She has to work hard as a female in a very conservative, male dominated environment and her personal life is under scrutiny which isn't helping her marriage.
The audiobook narration was done really well, and I appreciate that the narrator must have had a very difficult time switching from characters with Irish dialect to American accents. I loved the Irish lilt, the American accent felt a bit off (sorry).
If you enjoy rather sinister thrillers in an Irish setting and would like to explore some Irish history and Celtic mythology, I would definitely recommend White Bones.
I've been hesitant for a while now to start this series because of the mixed reviews and mentions of 'supernatural', but it turned out to be a really solid Irish crime procedural and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The plot centers around old Irish folklore/myths rather than the paranormal elements I was expecting and that added a really interesting aspect to the story. Mr. Masterton has previously written horror novels and while this certainly shines through, I didn't find any of the details overly gory, but I think more sensitive readers may.
The author also provides plenty of background on the main character of Katie Maguire. By the end of the book, you really feel you have a good picture of her as a person. She has to work hard as a female in a very conservative, male dominated environment and her personal life is under scrutiny which isn't helping her marriage.
The audiobook narration was done really well, and I appreciate that the narrator must have had a very difficult time switching from characters with Irish dialect to American accents. I loved the Irish lilt, the American accent felt a bit off (sorry).
If you enjoy rather sinister thrillers in an Irish setting and would like to explore some Irish history and Celtic mythology, I would definitely recommend White Bones.
June 21, 2018
Ενός λεπτού σιγή για να συνέλθω.
Πολλά ξεκοκαλιάσματα, πολλή βία, πολύ αίμα. Δεν είναι τόσο το υπερφυσικό στοιχείο που αναστατώνει, όσο οι αιματηρές περιγραφές.
Σίγουρα το επόμενο ανάγνωσμα θα επιδιώξω να είναι πιο... γλυκούλι, παρολά αυτά οφείλω να ομολογήσω ότι είναι ένα βιβλίο το οποίο σε κρατάει ως την τελευταία σελίδα.
Αναγνωρίζω τρία πράγματα στον συγγραφέα:
•τις πολλαπλές ανατροπές και το αιφνίδιο τέλος το οποίο διέφυγε των εγκληματολογικών μου προσεγγίσεων που ως λάτρης του αστυνομικού μυθιστορήματος δημιουργώ ακουσίως.
•την δυναμική θέση της γυναίκας στο παρόν βιβλίο-δεν θα επεκταθώ γιατί δεν θέλω να προδώσω τίποτα από την πλοκή.
•τη ικανότητα του συγγραφέα να μου δημιουργήσει τέτοια αναστάτωση που σε κάποια σημεία διάβαζα με το ένα χέρι έτοιμο να καλύψει ανα πάσα στιγμή τα μάτια λες και έβλεπα ταινία θρίλερ.
Πολλά ξεκοκαλιάσματα, πολλή βία, πολύ αίμα. Δεν είναι τόσο το υπερφυσικό στοιχείο που αναστατώνει, όσο οι αιματηρές περιγραφές.
Σίγουρα το επόμενο ανάγνωσμα θα επιδιώξω να είναι πιο... γλυκούλι, παρολά αυτά οφείλω να ομολογήσω ότι είναι ένα βιβλίο το οποίο σε κρατάει ως την τελευταία σελίδα.
Αναγνωρίζω τρία πράγματα στον συγγραφέα:
•τις πολλαπλές ανατροπές και το αιφνίδιο τέλος το οποίο διέφυγε των εγκληματολογικών μου προσεγγίσεων που ως λάτρης του αστυνομικού μυθιστορήματος δημιουργώ ακουσίως.
•την δυναμική θέση της γυναίκας στο παρόν βιβλίο-δεν θα επεκταθώ γιατί δεν θέλω να προδώσω τίποτα από την πλοκή.
•τη ικανότητα του συγγραφέα να μου δημιουργήσει τέτοια αναστάτωση που σε κάποια σημεία διάβαζα με το ένα χέρι έτοιμο να καλύψει ανα πάσα στιγμή τα μάτια λες και έβλεπα ταινία θρίλερ.
May 16, 2018
Πάρα πολύ καλό!
Ο συγγραφέας δημιουργεί την κατάλληλη ατμόσφαιρα με τις υπέροχες περιγραφές του… Ο πολύ καλός τρόπος γραφής και οι ωραίες ανατροπές κάνουν τον αναγνώστη να μη θέλει να αφήσει το βιβλίο από τα χέρια του… Όσο για τους τελετουργικούς φόνος και τη λογική πίσω από αυτούς; Απλά θα πω πως δυσκολεύτηκα να κοιμηθώ το βράδυ!
Ο συγγραφέας δημιουργεί την κατάλληλη ατμόσφαιρα με τις υπέροχες περιγραφές του… Ο πολύ καλός τρόπος γραφής και οι ωραίες ανατροπές κάνουν τον αναγνώστη να μη θέλει να αφήσει το βιβλίο από τα χέρια του… Όσο για τους τελετουργικούς φόνος και τη λογική πίσω από αυτούς; Απλά θα πω πως δυσκολεύτηκα να κοιμηθώ το βράδυ!
June 14, 2022
A good crime thriller, with an engaging main character. Unfortunately, I had missed the "horror" part in the description. Those passages are very grim! 😳 If that does not put you off, you will enjoy this book.
June 23, 2017
My copy of this is called 'White Bones', (rather than 'A Terrible Beauty') which is a much better, more fitting, name in my opinion.
Anyway, I really enjoyed this novel. It perfectly walked the line between crime and thriller, it was descriptive and gruesome but not off-puttingly so, and the plot and Irish mythology was interesting. The MC, Katie Maguire, was awesome, despite her terrible taste in men (legit hated that husband). She was smart, tough, hardworking and badass but still kind, empathetic and generous.
When a farmer uncovers a pile of bones hidden in his fields, Detective Superintendent Katie Maguire is called to the case. When it's discovered the bones are a hundred years old, the case is put on the back burner... until a brand new set of recent bones turns up on the same farm. With the same distinctions as the first set... information that was not released to the press. Katie must figure out what's going on and catch the killer before another girl dies, whilst simultaneously dealing with her own issues- her husband's started doing business with a notorious criminal.
I've not read any of Masterton's horror novels (though I intend to) so I can't compare, but I imagine his experience with those contributed to the crimes in this novel- they're pretty full on. This is the first in a series (of currently nine, I believe) and it a series I can see myself slowly working my way through.
Anyway, I really enjoyed this novel. It perfectly walked the line between crime and thriller, it was descriptive and gruesome but not off-puttingly so, and the plot and Irish mythology was interesting. The MC, Katie Maguire, was awesome, despite her terrible taste in men (legit hated that husband). She was smart, tough, hardworking and badass but still kind, empathetic and generous.
When a farmer uncovers a pile of bones hidden in his fields, Detective Superintendent Katie Maguire is called to the case. When it's discovered the bones are a hundred years old, the case is put on the back burner... until a brand new set of recent bones turns up on the same farm. With the same distinctions as the first set... information that was not released to the press. Katie must figure out what's going on and catch the killer before another girl dies, whilst simultaneously dealing with her own issues- her husband's started doing business with a notorious criminal.
I've not read any of Masterton's horror novels (though I intend to) so I can't compare, but I imagine his experience with those contributed to the crimes in this novel- they're pretty full on. This is the first in a series (of currently nine, I believe) and it a series I can see myself slowly working my way through.
December 18, 2016
Όσο κι αν αγαπώ την Ιρλανδία και τα βιβλία που διαδραματίζονται εκεί, δεν μπορώ να πω πως απολαμβάνω να διαβάζω τόσο τρομακτικές περιγραφές ωμής βίας...είχα καιρό να πηδήξω τόσα πολλα κεφάλαια!
Δεν νομίζω, βέβαια, πως θ' αντισταθώ στον πειρασμό να διαβάσω κι ό,τι ακόμα πέσει στα χέρια μου από Masterton και Katie Maguire.
Δεν νομίζω, βέβαια, πως θ' αντισταθώ στον πειρασμό να διαβάσω κι ό,τι ακόμα πέσει στα χέρια μου από Masterton και Katie Maguire.
January 13, 2020
4,5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Πέρισυ, η χρονιά μου ξεκίνησε με τον άρχοντα του ψεύδους. Φέτος με την τρομερή ομορφιά.Η σύγκριση είναι αναπόφευκτη, μιας και στα δυο έχουμε μια ιστορία που μοιάζει με αστυνομική. Στον άρχοντα στο τέλος λαμβάνουμε τρόμο, εδώ όμως όχι. Οπότε, πρόκειται για ένα αστυνομικό μυθιστόρημα με στοιχεία παραφυσικού, τα οποία χρησιμοποιούνται από τον Μάστερτον με μαεστρία.
Η γραφή του είναι απολαυστική, η ιστορία σφιχτοδεμένη. Το ταξίδι στο Κορκ ήταν απολαυστικό. Οι ήρωες αρκετοί. Οι περιγραφες σε κάποια σημεία ήταν ωμές. Σίγουρα, ένα ανάγνωσμα που σε κρατά σε συνεχή αγωνία και σου σφίγγει τη ψυχή. Αναζητάς τον ένοχο. Όμολογω πως το υποψιάστηκα αρκετά νωρίς αν και κάτι δεν κολλούσε. Η τελίκη αποκάλυψη, όμως, με δικαίωσε, αλλά ταυτόχρονα με έκανε να απογοητευτώ λιγάκι. Δεν σας λεω περισσότερα, πιστεύω πάντως πως άξιζε τον αναγνωστικό χρόνο με το παραπάνω!
Πέρισυ, η χρονιά μου ξεκίνησε με τον άρχοντα του ψεύδους. Φέτος με την τρομερή ομορφιά.Η σύγκριση είναι αναπόφευκτη, μιας και στα δυο έχουμε μια ιστορία που μοιάζει με αστυνομική. Στον άρχοντα στο τέλος λαμβάνουμε τρόμο, εδώ όμως όχι. Οπότε, πρόκειται για ένα αστυνομικό μυθιστόρημα με στοιχεία παραφυσικού, τα οποία χρησιμοποιούνται από τον Μάστερτον με μαεστρία.
Η γραφή του είναι απολαυστική, η ιστορία σφιχτοδεμένη. Το ταξίδι στο Κορκ ήταν απολαυστικό. Οι ήρωες αρκετοί. Οι περιγραφες σε κάποια σημεία ήταν ωμές. Σίγουρα, ένα ανάγνωσμα που σε κρατά σε συνεχή αγωνία και σου σφίγγει τη ψυχή. Αναζητάς τον ένοχο. Όμολογω πως το υποψιάστηκα αρκετά νωρίς αν και κάτι δεν κολλούσε. Η τελίκη αποκάλυψη, όμως, με δικαίωσε, αλλά ταυτόχρονα με έκανε να απογοητευτώ λιγάκι. Δεν σας λεω περισσότερα, πιστεύω πάντως πως άξιζε τον αναγνωστικό χρόνο με το παραπάνω!
August 24, 2016
Uh.
This is my first Masterton and despite him being known more for his horror work, I decided to go with this series as it seems to be what author is currently focused on. I went into it completely blind but familiar with author's name enough to know he is a fairly big deal which is why the mediocrity of this novel surprised me. Only stand out, or at least memorable scenes are the torture/murder scenes that are quite gory which says a lot about what are Masterton's strengths. Characterization, though, is not. At least not in this novel. Main character, Katie McGuire, as first female superintendent should have been great detective. We are told several times, through other characters in the back that she is one. And yet the shoddy work from her department, callousness of her boss in light of disappearance of new girl and literally the most obvious bad guy ever whom Katie didn't even see coming. I know I can get too sensitive about this because of my line of work, but even if I decide to ignore procedure part, I am still baffled by lack of judgement from main character. Her personal drama (which I am reluctant to call personal only because it felt so impersonal) was a big part of the story as well- I didn't really feel connected because conflicts seem contrived and they lack longterm consequences... Something that would promise to come to haunt Katie in the future is tied up with a bow in the end which negated every risk she took. Apart from that, I was mostly annoyed how something really bad and big happens in her personal life and yet she gets over it so quick and it didn't addressed in next scene at all. I'll give you an example: in an endearing scene we get to meet Katie's dad, who is a former cop. We also through one sentence get to know that she has brothers.
"But none of her six brothers had wanted to be gardaí, and she alone had seen how deep her father’s disappointment was."
It's a big family, right? You would expect they'd appear when, I don't know, she barely survives car accident or there is a huge explosion at her house, not to mention . Well, no. Her dad was there as an authorial tool to give Katie a nudge when her investigation stuck- which is a fabricated bond and I am not surprised author forgot all about them. There is also a thing that occurs throughout entire book that wasn't explained: Katie sees flock of crows which I guess was supposed to be bad omen. But combined with her nagging feeling that "something bad is coming" just before the murder and hallucinations around ritual... I am not sure if author wanted us to think this is a procedural with supernatural elements?
I think the final nail in the coffin for me was revealing the killer's motive because it's demonizing the very hard struggle .
So, all in all, I was disappointed, but ymmv..
April 21, 2015
To my mind the ghoulishness of the book got in the way of the believability of the plot. Are we supposed to believe that the victims would love through so much torture? And that the killer would get rid of the university expert in such an absurdly messy, time consuming, and from his point of view, dangerous way - why not shoot or stab him?And why was the hermaphrodite twist necessary? But well written and certainly a page turner.
August 25, 2017
Gruesomely fascinating
This very dark thriller of a book had me on the edge of my seat throughout. The description of the rituals was, quite frankly, stomach churning but not sensational and in keeping with the story. This was a masterclass in dark thriller writing. Highly recommended for everyone not of a nervous disposition
This very dark thriller of a book had me on the edge of my seat throughout. The description of the rituals was, quite frankly, stomach churning but not sensational and in keeping with the story. This was a masterclass in dark thriller writing. Highly recommended for everyone not of a nervous disposition
February 7, 2018
Περιγραφές που σοκάρουν και κράτησε την αγωνία μου σε όλη τη διάρκεια της ανάγνωσης.
August 7, 2018
Αυτό το βιβλίο τα συνδυάζει αστυνομικά στοιχεία, μυστηριακή ατμόσφαιρα καθώς επίσης και το ανατριχιαστικό στοιχείο του τρόμου. Σε μία φάρμα βρίσκονται θαμμένα τα οστά έντεκα γυναικών. Και εκεί ξεκινάει η ιστορία. Καθώς η αστυνόμος Κέιτι Μαγκουάιρ, καλείται να εξιχνιάσει τι υπάρχει πίσω από τα πτώματα αυτά, ενώ ταυτόχρονα εμφανίζονται νέα θύματα. Αρκετές ανατριχιαστικές περιγραφές που δεν είναι για όλα τα στομάχια νομίζω, είναι οι πρωταγωνιστικές σκηνές που επικρατούν και προσφέρουν ένα απολαυστικό αστυνομικό ταξίδι τρόμου. Αυτό που θεωρώ αρνητικό είναι ίσως το βιαστικό τέλος, που ήταν αυτό που περίμενα, αλλά λίγο απότομο.
May 30, 2018
Warnings for potential spoilers throughout my review as I talk about specific examples of just what kind of gory violence Masterton seems to revel in. Anything that is particularly spoilery - in terms of the plot - I've put in the appropriate tags.
There was a decent enough plot, but unfortunately for me, there was just too much overwhelming description of gratuitous gore and and violence and dismemberment for my liking. I realise that apparently the author has also written horror novels, but I'm not usually squeamish about these kinds of things. Here though, it was just too much.
I know a lot of people have warned about the high levels of violence, but I'm talking about vivid descriptions of being skinned alive , bombings where the dismemberment of victims' limbs are described - to the graphic point about an eyeball slithering out of it's socket and dangling on a cheek - and even the strewn around, mutilated parts of a dog who also got caught in the same blast. It's in your face, it's repetitive, and it never seems to stop. I'm not going to lie, I even ended up skipping the chapters/POVs from the victims pre-death because it was way too horrific to read, and there's no way I would have read this book at night time.
In terms of the killer, while I didn't pick the 'twist', I did kind of guess their involvement in some way with just under a third of the novel remaining. I also didn't like the motivation/justification for the murders, either.
As for the characters, well. All of Katie's DS' and junior colleagues kind of blurred, and apart from their names, there was nothing really distinctive or charismatic about them. And I also got so bored reading about all these fumbling, secondary male characters trying to hit on Katie and repeatedly ask her out for drinks or a meal. Like, you don't need to hit your readers over the head with how attractive your lead character supposedly is. Not only that, but some of the scenes were weird and felt unnecessary? Unless it was simply to , then I really didn't see any point to them.
Look, it was a decent time waster in a stressful week of uni, I'll admit that, and it was addictive enough that, for most of the novel, I had been planning on picking up the second novel in the series. There was, however, a point where I decided against it. I'm not sure if the graphic violence and gore continues throughout the rest of the series, but regardless, with the way that Masterton approaches it, I just don't think I'm up to reading what feels like nothing more than torture porn.
There was a decent enough plot, but unfortunately for me, there was just too much overwhelming description of gratuitous gore and and violence and dismemberment for my liking. I realise that apparently the author has also written horror novels, but I'm not usually squeamish about these kinds of things. Here though, it was just too much.
I know a lot of people have warned about the high levels of violence, but I'm talking about vivid descriptions of being skinned alive , bombings where the dismemberment of victims' limbs are described - to the graphic point about an eyeball slithering out of it's socket and dangling on a cheek - and even the strewn around, mutilated parts of a dog who also got caught in the same blast. It's in your face, it's repetitive, and it never seems to stop. I'm not going to lie, I even ended up skipping the chapters/POVs from the victims pre-death because it was way too horrific to read, and there's no way I would have read this book at night time.
In terms of the killer, while I didn't pick the 'twist', I did kind of guess their involvement in some way with just under a third of the novel remaining. I also didn't like the motivation/justification for the murders, either.
As for the characters, well. All of Katie's DS' and junior colleagues kind of blurred, and apart from their names, there was nothing really distinctive or charismatic about them. And I also got so bored reading about all these fumbling, secondary male characters trying to hit on Katie and repeatedly ask her out for drinks or a meal. Like, you don't need to hit your readers over the head with how attractive your lead character supposedly is. Not only that, but some of the scenes were weird and felt unnecessary? Unless it was simply to , then I really didn't see any point to them.
Look, it was a decent time waster in a stressful week of uni, I'll admit that, and it was addictive enough that, for most of the novel, I had been planning on picking up the second novel in the series. There was, however, a point where I decided against it. I'm not sure if the graphic violence and gore continues throughout the rest of the series, but regardless, with the way that Masterton approaches it, I just don't think I'm up to reading what feels like nothing more than torture porn.
June 20, 2018
ειναι μεγαλος μαστορας στο σασπενς αν και στο τελος βιαζεται παντα...σε αυτο τσαλακωσε πολυ την βασικη του ηρωιδα και αυτο μου αρεσε πολυ. το γραψιμο του οπως παντα εξαιρετικο...αν εγραφε αστυνομικα θα ηταν απο τις κορυφες...πολυ ω��αιο βιβλιο ...απο τα καλυτερα του 4,5*
June 12, 2018
This is the first book I have nearly lost my lunch to! There are some very graphic and utterly brutal scenes described in this book. Katie is trying to solve the mystery behind a gruesome find, the bones of 11 women. Who killed them and why? It appears to be part of an ancient Celtic ritual. But is Katie about to get a little too close for comfort?
September 10, 2007
Masterton, Graham – A Terrible Beauty – VG
"There are things I need to know... On a farm in southern Ireland, the dismembered bones of eleven women are found in a common grave, buried eight decades ago. Detective Superintendent Katie Maguire is used to bloodshed, but this ivory litter of human remains is unimaginable butchery. Of other worlds apart from this... In isolated darkness not far away, an American tourist is at the mercy of a serial killer. His tools are a boning knife, twine, and a doll fashioned from nails and fishhooks. The murder of his victims is second only to the pleasure of their pain. Darker places inhabited by evil monstrosities... As an eighty-year-old mystery unfolds, so does a modern-day ritual that's marked Katie Maguire as its next victim. For what happened once in this small picturesque village is happening again. It's more than a series of horrifying crimes. It's tradition. Take me there. "
A old mass grave is discovered in Ireland with the bones of eight women, but new deaths are starting to occur. Masterton is a writer of horror, and there is one particularly graphic chapter I mainly skimmed, but the story was compelling in spite of a few obvious clues and a slightly weak ending.
"There are things I need to know... On a farm in southern Ireland, the dismembered bones of eleven women are found in a common grave, buried eight decades ago. Detective Superintendent Katie Maguire is used to bloodshed, but this ivory litter of human remains is unimaginable butchery. Of other worlds apart from this... In isolated darkness not far away, an American tourist is at the mercy of a serial killer. His tools are a boning knife, twine, and a doll fashioned from nails and fishhooks. The murder of his victims is second only to the pleasure of their pain. Darker places inhabited by evil monstrosities... As an eighty-year-old mystery unfolds, so does a modern-day ritual that's marked Katie Maguire as its next victim. For what happened once in this small picturesque village is happening again. It's more than a series of horrifying crimes. It's tradition. Take me there. "
A old mass grave is discovered in Ireland with the bones of eight women, but new deaths are starting to occur. Masterton is a writer of horror, and there is one particularly graphic chapter I mainly skimmed, but the story was compelling in spite of a few obvious clues and a slightly weak ending.
January 29, 2016
On a farm in Cork, Ireland, the skeletons of 11 women are found. According to the medical examiner, the flesh was meticulously stripped from their bones before the remains were buried. The Garda already fears a serial killer when it turns out that the bodies have been in the ground since 1915 and Detective Superintendent Katie Maguire is ordered to drop the case. She can't shake the feeling that she should keep investigating, however - and when but a few days later the remains of a fresh victim, following the same MO as the historical case, are found on the very same farm, it becomes clear that whatever happened here in the past is about to repeat itself.
I'm really not squeamish when it comes to graphic violence and grisly murders in fiction, but there were a few scenes here that almost made this the first book to ever make me throw up. Definitely not for anyone with a weak stomach. I guessed the identity of the murderer a while before any of the characters did, but nevertheless found the book hard to put down. Good series opener, will be back for more.
I'm really not squeamish when it comes to graphic violence and grisly murders in fiction, but there were a few scenes here that almost made this the first book to ever make me throw up. Definitely not for anyone with a weak stomach. I guessed the identity of the murderer a while before any of the characters did, but nevertheless found the book hard to put down. Good series opener, will be back for more.
April 12, 2016
Stunning, just stunning! Never saw the little shock at the end.
A slightly different book with so many snippets added throughout a traditional murder/police procedural. A dollop of drama, a smidgen of fantasy, a pinch of horror and a whiff of romance rounded out a thriller of a read.
Visceral, but perhaps too much of a MEGA shitty week for Katie. I like my gore but my tummy did a complete flip-flop over poor Sargent exploded all over a tree. :(
Can't wait to read more from this exceptional author!
A slightly different book with so many snippets added throughout a traditional murder/police procedural. A dollop of drama, a smidgen of fantasy, a pinch of horror and a whiff of romance rounded out a thriller of a read.
Visceral, but perhaps too much of a MEGA shitty week for Katie. I like my gore but my tummy did a complete flip-flop over poor Sargent exploded all over a tree. :(
Can't wait to read more from this exceptional author!
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