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The Joy of Killing
In his classic works of true crime, Harry MacLean examined the dark side of America and its fascination with violence. In The Joy of Killing , he builds upon this expert knowledge to create a page-turning literary thriller — an exciting combination of love story, mystery, psychological suspense, and meditation on human nature and the origins of violence.
This fever dream begins on a stormy fall night at a lake house in the north woods of Minnesota, where we are introduced to a college professor who a few years earlier had written a novel in which he justified a gruesome campus murder under the nihilistic theory that there is no right or wrong, no moral center to man’s activity. The writer returns to the lake house where he had spent his childhood summers and locks himself in the attic, intent on writing the final story of his life. Playing on a continuous loop in his mind are key moments in his his childhood in small-town Iowa, where he and his best friend befriended a local drifter; his childhood on the lake where one summer a local boy drowned in a storm; and the central fixation of his erotic meeting with a girl on a train bound for Chicago when he was just fifteen. All of these threads weave together as the writer tries to piece together the multitude of secrets and acts of violence that make up one human life.
Reminiscent of the work of noir master Derek Raymond and John Banville’s The Sea with a touch of David Lynch, The Joy of Killing , with its haunting language and vivid images, is both a fascinating look into the fugue state of one man’s mind as well as a searing, philosophical look at violence and its impact on our human condition. With its elegant structure, multiple storylines, and edge-of-your-seat suspense, the novel is the tour-de-force fiction debut by one of America’s premier writers of true crime.
This fever dream begins on a stormy fall night at a lake house in the north woods of Minnesota, where we are introduced to a college professor who a few years earlier had written a novel in which he justified a gruesome campus murder under the nihilistic theory that there is no right or wrong, no moral center to man’s activity. The writer returns to the lake house where he had spent his childhood summers and locks himself in the attic, intent on writing the final story of his life. Playing on a continuous loop in his mind are key moments in his his childhood in small-town Iowa, where he and his best friend befriended a local drifter; his childhood on the lake where one summer a local boy drowned in a storm; and the central fixation of his erotic meeting with a girl on a train bound for Chicago when he was just fifteen. All of these threads weave together as the writer tries to piece together the multitude of secrets and acts of violence that make up one human life.
Reminiscent of the work of noir master Derek Raymond and John Banville’s The Sea with a touch of David Lynch, The Joy of Killing , with its haunting language and vivid images, is both a fascinating look into the fugue state of one man’s mind as well as a searing, philosophical look at violence and its impact on our human condition. With its elegant structure, multiple storylines, and edge-of-your-seat suspense, the novel is the tour-de-force fiction debut by one of America’s premier writers of true crime.
242 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2015
29 people are currently reading
903 people want to read
About the author
Harry N. MacLean
11 books110 followersHarry MacLean, an Edgar Award winning true crime writer (In Broad Daylight) has changed genre's with his new novel, "The Joy of Killing." Variously described as a literary thriller, a psychological thriller or philosophical thriller, the book earned a rave review from Kirkus:
"MacLean’s writing is lyrical, ebbing and flowing like a deep riptide that conceals the danger beneath; there is something unsavory and even panic-inducing about being pulled inside his tale. . . A dizzying and delirious meditation on desire, violence, guilt, and philosophical justification."
The book will be on sale in early July.
MacLean's first book was “In Broad Daylight,” published by Harper Collins. This book tells the story of the killing of a town bully on the main street of a small town in northwest Missouri. It won an Edgar Award for Best True Crime and was a New York Times Bestseller for 12 weeks. Brian Denehey stars as the bully in the movie version. “In Broad Daylight” became available as an e-book July 2012.
MacLean’s second book was “Once Upon A Time, a True Story of Memory, Murder and the Law.” Also published by Harper Collins, it tells the true story of a man on trial for murder based solely on his daughter’s “repressed memory” of witnessing him murder her playmate 20 years earlier. “Once Upon a Time” was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year.
Basic Books published his third book, “The Past Is Never Dead, The Trial of James Ford Seale and Mississippi’s Search for Redemption,” which was shortlisted for the William Saroyan Award, given by Stanford University.
MacLean released “About In Broad Daylight, the Story Behind the Book,” in the fall of 2014.
MacLean’s first career was as a lawyer. He graduated from the University of Denver College of Law, magna cum laude, and also received a master’s degree in Law and Sociology from DU. He worked as a trial lawyer for the Securities and Exchange Commission and as a magistrate in Denver Juvenile Court. He taught as an Adjunct Professor at DU Law. He served as First Assistant Attorney General for the state of Colorado, and as General Counsel of the Peace Corp during the Carter Administration.
For the past twenty years he has worked as a labor arbitrator and author.
His next effort, a memoir, will tell the story of his year working undercover as a prison guard in a maximum security prison in Delaware.
"MacLean’s writing is lyrical, ebbing and flowing like a deep riptide that conceals the danger beneath; there is something unsavory and even panic-inducing about being pulled inside his tale. . . A dizzying and delirious meditation on desire, violence, guilt, and philosophical justification."
The book will be on sale in early July.
MacLean's first book was “In Broad Daylight,” published by Harper Collins. This book tells the story of the killing of a town bully on the main street of a small town in northwest Missouri. It won an Edgar Award for Best True Crime and was a New York Times Bestseller for 12 weeks. Brian Denehey stars as the bully in the movie version. “In Broad Daylight” became available as an e-book July 2012.
MacLean’s second book was “Once Upon A Time, a True Story of Memory, Murder and the Law.” Also published by Harper Collins, it tells the true story of a man on trial for murder based solely on his daughter’s “repressed memory” of witnessing him murder her playmate 20 years earlier. “Once Upon a Time” was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year.
Basic Books published his third book, “The Past Is Never Dead, The Trial of James Ford Seale and Mississippi’s Search for Redemption,” which was shortlisted for the William Saroyan Award, given by Stanford University.
MacLean released “About In Broad Daylight, the Story Behind the Book,” in the fall of 2014.
MacLean’s first career was as a lawyer. He graduated from the University of Denver College of Law, magna cum laude, and also received a master’s degree in Law and Sociology from DU. He worked as a trial lawyer for the Securities and Exchange Commission and as a magistrate in Denver Juvenile Court. He taught as an Adjunct Professor at DU Law. He served as First Assistant Attorney General for the state of Colorado, and as General Counsel of the Peace Corp during the Carter Administration.
For the past twenty years he has worked as a labor arbitrator and author.
His next effort, a memoir, will tell the story of his year working undercover as a prison guard in a maximum security prison in Delaware.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
July 21, 2015
I finished this book a few days ago, but I needed the weekend to determine what exactly I had gleaned from it. After careful consideration and reviewing the text tirelessly, here it is: this book is a dark, chilling look into what I believe to be the long-term effects of obsession and psychosis on a highly vulnerable mind.
An unnamed and highly unreliable narrator, a college professor (and also the author of his own controversial novel, The Professor), retreats to his familial summer house in Minnesota to reflect on his life: a youthful tryst, a childhood trauma, and repressed memories. He aims to write his memoir: the final look into his life, before it ends. In that respect, the way that Harry Maclean sprawls through details in a non-linear fashion is punchy and refreshing. We are steeped in one segment of the story just long enough to have some semblance of what is going on, then Maclean shifts gears, either to the narrator's present day, another story entirely, or the mindless ramblings of a deranged mind, all of which seem to bleed together in the final third of the novel. As one story tumbles into another, we come to understand the damage done to the narrator's mind: the comparisons drawn between the unnamed narrator and the subject of his own novel, another professor who was on trial for the murder of his wife, become salient as more of the narrator's life is revealed to the reader. The question lingers, unanswered: is the accused professor a parallel to the narrator? are they the same individual, in some Palahniuk-esque twist of fate? Nothing reported can be taken for granted, and details are twisted to fit a given narrative, regardless of the conditions of their truth. Inevitably, the lives of the narrator and the accused professor are remarkably similar, and as time lapses, the narrator begins to both come to terms with and adapt the professor's viewpoint of morality: everything is grey, highly dependent on the surrounding circumstances rather than set in absolute stone. Even murder is justifiable on morally neutral grounds, should the joy of the act counterbalance the guilt and remorse involved in the act itself.
Often meandering into the surreal, The Joy of Killing is a harrowing look at the effect of personal history on the future. The novel often creates a sense of paranoia and dread that is mirrored in the narrator's hurried attempt to lay out his story before dawn, and that extends to the reader, as one attempts to tease out what exactly is the source of the narrator's paranoia. Is he deranged? Is he grandiose? Is he psychotic? All of these seem to be somewhat correct. The narrator is convinced that the world was created to fit his constructed image of perfection, and his illusions of grandeur flood the novel's pages, from the first word to the very last.
I truly believe, upon reflection, that I have read one of the modern classics of literature. Maclean deftly and effortlessly crafts both characters and a story that, while the details are murky or inconsistent, do more than merely push the plot forward. Names and descriptions are not necessary to flesh out this story, and this lack of cohesion in detail allows the reader's mind to run wild creating their own descriptions, scenes, interactions, and ultimately the truth, unencumbered by rigid storytelling. I loved this novel, and the way it handled what could have easily be a very trying, inconsistent, and incoherent attempt at piecing a plot together. Every thread that is tugged on is resolved, leaving no stone unturned by the end of the novel; however, this does not mean that questions are not posed. The final words are thought provoking in a way that invites the reader to read the novel over again, pouring over details to find something, anything, that can resolve what is left outstanding.
I can confidently conclude that Maclean does not suffer from a loss of direction and purpose throughout this novel, and the non-linear structure and unreliable narrator truly make this a great work of fiction. The Joy of Killing is a definite winner from Harry Maclean, and it receives the highest recommendation that I can give.
An unnamed and highly unreliable narrator, a college professor (and also the author of his own controversial novel, The Professor), retreats to his familial summer house in Minnesota to reflect on his life: a youthful tryst, a childhood trauma, and repressed memories. He aims to write his memoir: the final look into his life, before it ends. In that respect, the way that Harry Maclean sprawls through details in a non-linear fashion is punchy and refreshing. We are steeped in one segment of the story just long enough to have some semblance of what is going on, then Maclean shifts gears, either to the narrator's present day, another story entirely, or the mindless ramblings of a deranged mind, all of which seem to bleed together in the final third of the novel. As one story tumbles into another, we come to understand the damage done to the narrator's mind: the comparisons drawn between the unnamed narrator and the subject of his own novel, another professor who was on trial for the murder of his wife, become salient as more of the narrator's life is revealed to the reader. The question lingers, unanswered: is the accused professor a parallel to the narrator? are they the same individual, in some Palahniuk-esque twist of fate? Nothing reported can be taken for granted, and details are twisted to fit a given narrative, regardless of the conditions of their truth. Inevitably, the lives of the narrator and the accused professor are remarkably similar, and as time lapses, the narrator begins to both come to terms with and adapt the professor's viewpoint of morality: everything is grey, highly dependent on the surrounding circumstances rather than set in absolute stone. Even murder is justifiable on morally neutral grounds, should the joy of the act counterbalance the guilt and remorse involved in the act itself.
Often meandering into the surreal, The Joy of Killing is a harrowing look at the effect of personal history on the future. The novel often creates a sense of paranoia and dread that is mirrored in the narrator's hurried attempt to lay out his story before dawn, and that extends to the reader, as one attempts to tease out what exactly is the source of the narrator's paranoia. Is he deranged? Is he grandiose? Is he psychotic? All of these seem to be somewhat correct. The narrator is convinced that the world was created to fit his constructed image of perfection, and his illusions of grandeur flood the novel's pages, from the first word to the very last.
I truly believe, upon reflection, that I have read one of the modern classics of literature. Maclean deftly and effortlessly crafts both characters and a story that, while the details are murky or inconsistent, do more than merely push the plot forward. Names and descriptions are not necessary to flesh out this story, and this lack of cohesion in detail allows the reader's mind to run wild creating their own descriptions, scenes, interactions, and ultimately the truth, unencumbered by rigid storytelling. I loved this novel, and the way it handled what could have easily be a very trying, inconsistent, and incoherent attempt at piecing a plot together. Every thread that is tugged on is resolved, leaving no stone unturned by the end of the novel; however, this does not mean that questions are not posed. The final words are thought provoking in a way that invites the reader to read the novel over again, pouring over details to find something, anything, that can resolve what is left outstanding.
I can confidently conclude that Maclean does not suffer from a loss of direction and purpose throughout this novel, and the non-linear structure and unreliable narrator truly make this a great work of fiction. The Joy of Killing is a definite winner from Harry Maclean, and it receives the highest recommendation that I can give.
August 13, 2015
I made it through about 50 pages and couldn't keep reading. I liked the premise, but didn't like the style of writing. I very, very rarely quit reading books because I always hope the book will redeem itself eventually. For me, The Joy of Killing book felt weighted down in superfluous description. It rocketed back and forth between scenes filled with incredible tension (memories) to scenes that were slow and full of the protagonist's current internal thoughts. It felt full of overly worked descriptions of things - of the moon, for example.
The plot is interesting, but the writing wasn't something I could get past.
The plot is interesting, but the writing wasn't something I could get past.
June 21, 2015
Haunting and artfully written. The Joy of Killing kept me up late into the night, a rainy night, which seemed perfectly fitting. Reminiscent of all the great Gothic novels The Joy of Killing is cloaked in mystery and suspense. You'll certainly find yourself aching for answers. When those answers do arrive you'll at once feel relief to have them yet all the while struck with a sense of overwhelming sadness the story has ended. Sexually charged and filled with intrigue the story weaves back and forth from the past to present. The voice of MacLean's narrator will linger with you long after you've read the last page.
Modernized beyond any comparison to Poe The Joy of Killing weaves the story of the protagonist's youthful encounter on a train together with memories of a somewhat troubled youth. In the end it presents how the failings and cruelties in life impact the adult beyond all else. It's a novel which tells the tale of those times which shape lives and in the shaping has the potential to destroy them. It casts light on the fact no matter how we may try to change our memories of the past the truth is always with us, the good and certainly the bad. Within us lies the truth no matter how we may wish to shape it. As Robert Browning wrote: "Truth lies within ourselves: it takes no rise from outward things, whatever you may believe. There is an inmost center in us all, where truth abides in fullness...."
For his fiction debut Harry MacLean has given us a winner. I can't wait to see a movie adaptation of this one.
Modernized beyond any comparison to Poe The Joy of Killing weaves the story of the protagonist's youthful encounter on a train together with memories of a somewhat troubled youth. In the end it presents how the failings and cruelties in life impact the adult beyond all else. It's a novel which tells the tale of those times which shape lives and in the shaping has the potential to destroy them. It casts light on the fact no matter how we may try to change our memories of the past the truth is always with us, the good and certainly the bad. Within us lies the truth no matter how we may wish to shape it. As Robert Browning wrote: "Truth lies within ourselves: it takes no rise from outward things, whatever you may believe. There is an inmost center in us all, where truth abides in fullness...."
For his fiction debut Harry MacLean has given us a winner. I can't wait to see a movie adaptation of this one.
March 31, 2018
Firstly, I have to say only read this book when you have the time and concentration to read. In my opinion was it a well but difficult written story. You need to read some pieces again to understand what happened. I really liked the writing style, but I understand why people don’t like it. Really nice how the different stories came together during the book. Like other people said, the book shows the impact of someone’s childhood on the future which makes people think (me in any case). If you want to read a psychological book which is written in another style as most books are you should read the joy of killing!
July 21, 2015
Love it when you don't know where the story is going and whether or not you can trust your narrator. Gives one much to think about as far as memory and morals. Good read!
October 15, 2022
Loved this book. Set aside the time to read it through because you don't want to stop reading. The author gives you a little piece of the puzzle at a time. Maybe some people don't like the non-linear story line, but I found that it added to the tension. The disturbed narrator reminded me of Edgar Allen Poe telling the story in a matter-of-fact tone. I couldn't put it down.
June 29, 2024
I honestly don’t know how to rate this one, but it’s completely unique, thought-provoking, and gripping. It’s a somewhat depressing read, with small sparks of beauty mixed in. I’ve noticed some readers didn’t like the structure, but I thought it was a fascinating way to build a story. It’s like a Tarantino film, in the sense that it skips back and forth in time, and it has an unreliable narrator sharing surrealist snippets plucked throughout his life which slowly form into a cohesive whole. He repeatedly makes revisions to his version of events, complicating things even further. But if you’re patient, it all comes together in the end.
April 15, 2016
This was a disturbing, noirish psychological thriller that sucked me in quickly, and never let go. It told a compelling story with nuance, poetry and flashes of dark brilliance. I didn't really appreciate what I had read until several days after I finished the book, and it has stuck with me, weeks later. It reminds us that the best drama can sometimes be the thoughts - at a given time and place - running through one person's head. Highly recommended.
October 25, 2022
Un libro senza un perché, scritto anche bene ma troppo caotico e incomprensibile, mi aspettavo un omicidio e un noir psicologico e mi sono trovata a leggere pagine di sesso, unica cosa chiara tra l’altro, e storia del protagonista incomprensibile. Il finale illuminante io non l’ho mica trovato. Forse non è un libro per me
May 24, 2021
The overall composition of the plot is confusing and clunky. Seems like the author wanted to rely on a confusing narrator drawing the reader in, but it just made it more difficult to read. Interesting story line, but the timeline was weird and off.
February 26, 2025
Unnamed retired college professor locks himself into a room of his childhood summer lake house to write his memoir in one sitting, before dawn. He is haunted by intrusive thoughts and fractured memories of his troubled childhood, death, eroticism, failed relations.
BETRAYAL is a strong theme in this man’s life.
He imagines the ghost of a young teenager (Joseph) who drowned at the nearby lake. He blurs fantasy with reality. He tries to recall the repressed memory of Joseph and himself in the storm, on a canoe, and of Joseph drowning in the lake.
He reflects on his class discussions in “Philosophy of Violence” with his students on the morality of killing. Is a man like any other animal and can kill without conscious of right or wrong?
He is also the Author of a memoir of “The Professor” who killed his adulterous wife. The joy of killing has to outweigh the emotional pain.
He claims 80% of human behavior is avoiding feelings of guilt, shame and regret.
In the end, the Author is able to understand his life’s secrets. His inability to feel love for his wife is possibly from being sexually molested as a 12 year old. He guards his feelings. He forgives himself for not saving Joseph in the lake during a storm. He comes to see his childhood friend David for who he truly is.
Surprise ending.
Book’s theme: Having CLARITY can bring HARMONY and PEACE
BETRAYAL is a strong theme in this man’s life.
He imagines the ghost of a young teenager (Joseph) who drowned at the nearby lake. He blurs fantasy with reality. He tries to recall the repressed memory of Joseph and himself in the storm, on a canoe, and of Joseph drowning in the lake.
He reflects on his class discussions in “Philosophy of Violence” with his students on the morality of killing. Is a man like any other animal and can kill without conscious of right or wrong?
He is also the Author of a memoir of “The Professor” who killed his adulterous wife. The joy of killing has to outweigh the emotional pain.
He claims 80% of human behavior is avoiding feelings of guilt, shame and regret.
In the end, the Author is able to understand his life’s secrets. His inability to feel love for his wife is possibly from being sexually molested as a 12 year old. He guards his feelings. He forgives himself for not saving Joseph in the lake during a storm. He comes to see his childhood friend David for who he truly is.
Surprise ending.
Book’s theme: Having CLARITY can bring HARMONY and PEACE
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 15, 2019
I don't know if I loved or hated this book. the story is totally bizarre. It is a short confusing read that does kind of come together at the end. I will have to think about this book for a while and possibly write a different review. It was just Bizarre!!!!!!!
January 12, 2023
Didn't finish it, got halfway through, it sucked. Very disorganized nothing was coherent
October 17, 2021
Most of the other reviews will tell you what you need to know. But I will say that I have yet to read a book that was this drenched in apathy. Every scene, nothing mattered. This came across in a big way.
I see lots of complaints about the sex portions. I don't think the sex was graphic at all. I mean, it was sex. Does word choice make it graphic? It wasn't perverse or obscene. There are some philosophical points about humankind's need/lust for murder and the relationship between humans and nature that were interesting. About why it happens and how some people feel it's necessary, how it brings peace to some.
The ending of the book was ok but the end itself was a let down. Hard to recommend this book to just anyone. It's not something to cozy up to or a quick exciting read for a flight. It's more the kind of thing you read in one shot if you want to spend the remainder of your day going....huh?
I see lots of complaints about the sex portions. I don't think the sex was graphic at all. I mean, it was sex. Does word choice make it graphic? It wasn't perverse or obscene. There are some philosophical points about humankind's need/lust for murder and the relationship between humans and nature that were interesting. About why it happens and how some people feel it's necessary, how it brings peace to some.
The ending of the book was ok but the end itself was a let down. Hard to recommend this book to just anyone. It's not something to cozy up to or a quick exciting read for a flight. It's more the kind of thing you read in one shot if you want to spend the remainder of your day going....huh?
April 2, 2025
Questo noir è in TBR dall’Avanti Cristo.
In verità avevo cercato di leggerlo più volte ma non so per quale motivo lo abbandonavo sempre.
Non so spiegarvi il libro perchè sinceramente non l’ho capito molto… Spesso dovevo continuare a rileggere alcune parti, tornavo indietro perchè sembrava non avesse senso.
Verso la fine non si capisce più cosa è reale e cosa no, chi ha ucciso chi, come, perchè???
L’unica cosa chiara dall’inizio del libro è il rapporto ses***le che lui ha con la ragazza sul treno. Per il resto il racconto è un continuo andare avanti e indietro.
Per me è un no 😣
Stelline: 2/5 solo perchè alcuni parti paragrafi risultavano abbastanza intriganti
In verità avevo cercato di leggerlo più volte ma non so per quale motivo lo abbandonavo sempre.
Non so spiegarvi il libro perchè sinceramente non l’ho capito molto… Spesso dovevo continuare a rileggere alcune parti, tornavo indietro perchè sembrava non avesse senso.
Verso la fine non si capisce più cosa è reale e cosa no, chi ha ucciso chi, come, perchè???
L’unica cosa chiara dall’inizio del libro è il rapporto ses***le che lui ha con la ragazza sul treno. Per il resto il racconto è un continuo andare avanti e indietro.
Per me è un no 😣
Stelline: 2/5 solo perchè alcuni parti paragrafi risultavano abbastanza intriganti
September 14, 2016
I'm not even sure how to review this book, but here's an attempt. I liked the way the three sections of the story folded into each other. I thought the narrator was great character-wise and quite complex. It was creative and it kept me in suspense, kinda haunting.
There is a dreamlike quality to the tone, which was interesting, but also made me feel like I never had a firm grasp on what was actually happening. I'm not sure any of this book even made sense.
People who don't like quick time/story jumps won't like this. Do I recommend this book? I think there's definitely an audience that likes dark surrealism and they might enjoy this. I think those who want a more straightforward mystery plot probably should skip it. Also avoid if you don't like some graphic sexiness. Read a few (better) reviews before picking this one up.
There is a dreamlike quality to the tone, which was interesting, but also made me feel like I never had a firm grasp on what was actually happening. I'm not sure any of this book even made sense.
People who don't like quick time/story jumps won't like this. Do I recommend this book? I think there's definitely an audience that likes dark surrealism and they might enjoy this. I think those who want a more straightforward mystery plot probably should skip it. Also avoid if you don't like some graphic sexiness. Read a few (better) reviews before picking this one up.
October 14, 2015
If you don't like unreliable narrators, you should steer well clear of this short novel.
The unnamed first person narrator gives us an account of some of the most important events in his life, but we are never quite sure what to believe as the narrator himself can't always seem to remember what happened and often changes the details of events he has previously narrated.
There's a twist at the end that will probably annoy a lot of readers. On the whole, I didn't like or dislike this novel enough to really care about the twist.
This was an average story--interesting but not enough that I would recommend it to anyone else.
The unnamed first person narrator gives us an account of some of the most important events in his life, but we are never quite sure what to believe as the narrator himself can't always seem to remember what happened and often changes the details of events he has previously narrated.
There's a twist at the end that will probably annoy a lot of readers. On the whole, I didn't like or dislike this novel enough to really care about the twist.
This was an average story--interesting but not enough that I would recommend it to anyone else.
May 27, 2017
Horrible
The worst book I have ever read. It took me awhile to understand the story. I almost gave up reading it, but its a short book so I decided to keep reading.
When this book was released the price was 16.99. I got it on sale. What makes me mad - it is not worth a penny. I am not a person who is bothered by language or sexual content but this book is disgusting.
The only think I got out of it was the boy was molested and was messed up from it. I am not sure what was real and not real.
Do not waste your time. There are much better books to use your time reading.
The worst book I have ever read. It took me awhile to understand the story. I almost gave up reading it, but its a short book so I decided to keep reading.
When this book was released the price was 16.99. I got it on sale. What makes me mad - it is not worth a penny. I am not a person who is bothered by language or sexual content but this book is disgusting.
The only think I got out of it was the boy was molested and was messed up from it. I am not sure what was real and not real.
Do not waste your time. There are much better books to use your time reading.
November 30, 2016
Good, but not really my speed. I was not expecting the level of graphic - and ultimately kind of pointless - sex in the book. While I realize why it was in the book, it didn't do much beyond make me feel sorry for the girl on the train, and by the time I got to the end, I just sort of shrugged and put it down. There just wasn't any emotional impact for me, partly due to the way the story unfolded and partly due to the fact that I found the narrator dull and morally repugnant. It's an interesting book, just not for me.
January 5, 2016
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
DNF at 100 pages. I really wanted to like this book, as I am a fan of thrillers, but I just could not get into it. I'm going to keep my copy of the book in case I want to revisit it in the future, but at the moment, I just have no interest in continuing this novel. I could not get past the writing style (the narrator is very unreliable), and I really didn't like how sexual this book was in the beginning.
DNF at 100 pages. I really wanted to like this book, as I am a fan of thrillers, but I just could not get into it. I'm going to keep my copy of the book in case I want to revisit it in the future, but at the moment, I just have no interest in continuing this novel. I could not get past the writing style (the narrator is very unreliable), and I really didn't like how sexual this book was in the beginning.
October 12, 2015
A hard book to characterize. It is definitely well written and different, but not really to my taste. The ending might have been surprising but I did see it coming. The hints were subtle but frequent. It did jump around a lot, and I did not think the girl on the train was well integrated into the rest of the story, but I may have missed something. Not for the faint hearted. It is pretty troubling to read.
December 2, 2015
Unpredictability is what made this book the one I couldn't put down or put away from my mind quickly. The disturbing undertone in Maclean's narration combined with the vivid images he paints with his words make this book truly unique and gripping. Combine those two elements and you have an intense inspection of human nature, sex, and violence. Those who desire a more predictable narrative should see another HollyWood blockbuster. Yawn.
February 2, 2021
This is a real slow burn. It uses some surprising sexual situations to catch your interest early in the book, but they become a crutch for the story that gets really old. Through the middle, it gets very confusing. There are two endings, the first leaves you really confused and bothered. The second one actually ties everything together and makes all the nonsense make sense, but it isn’t enough to make the rest of the book worth it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2016
This is a nice piece of fiction. I found it to be somewhat predictable, but MacLean does create an interesting narrator. Perhaps less reliable even than Humbert Humbert? I'd have to read Lolita again to be sure.
Found the philosophy in the novel to be a bit bland. Found the early sexual writing to be unintentionally hilarious. Still didn't really want to put it down. Worth a spin, warts and all.
Found the philosophy in the novel to be a bit bland. Found the early sexual writing to be unintentionally hilarious. Still didn't really want to put it down. Worth a spin, warts and all.
December 1, 2015
A hard, dark, sexually charged, insightful ride on the rails of the mind of a killer. Read in one sitting, (on a train, coincidentally), this book made me uncomfortable in every good and bad way possible. Provocative and disturbing, I was captivated until the very end. MacLean is a master. Let him take you there.
February 1, 2016
This book does not live up to its title. It read OK but the story has no joy in it. But I was not expecting the story I got from the book. I am not letting my disappointment show but it is 2.8 star book. My original rating was a 2 star I suggest that you read a different review before you buy it.
August 30, 2015
I spent most of this book wondering if it was eventually going to make sense but too enthralled by the suspense to stop reading. The eventual conclusion, while good, could not overcome the path it took to get there.
October 13, 2015
As a writer of "dark tales" this is the perfect example of the unreliable narrator, one of the hardest elements to get a handle on while writing a book of this genre. The way the story is pieced together is flawless, like broken glass fragments slowly coming together at the end.
September 27, 2022
A good portion of the book is the narrator wankily writing about that act of reminiscing, rather than just getting to the reminiscing. That half is tedious enough to make the other half -- which is well written -- fully worth skipping.
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