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Solomon Creed #2
The Boy Who Saw
‘Who is Solomon Creed? He's the hero of an epic new series of thrillers. Simple as that’ Mark Billingham
The second book in an electrifying new thriller series from Sunday Times bestselling author, Simon Toyne.
Who is Solomon Creed? A dangerous psychiatric patient, who has escaped from a high-security facility in America, or an innocent amnesiac trying to establish his true identity?
His search for the truth about himself takes Solomon to the beautiful southern French town of Cordes. But his arrival coincides with the brutal murder of an elderly French tailor, the words ‘Finishing what was begun’ daubed in blood on the walls.
Instinctively, Solomon knows he must help the tailor’s granddaughter and great grandson escape, and together they go on the run. Their flight, though, will set in motion a terrible sequence of events, leading to the exposure of a far-reaching conspiracy with its origins in the Holocaust but with terrible consequences for modern-day Europe. And what will it mean for Solomon himself?
The second book in an electrifying new thriller series from Sunday Times bestselling author, Simon Toyne.
Who is Solomon Creed? A dangerous psychiatric patient, who has escaped from a high-security facility in America, or an innocent amnesiac trying to establish his true identity?
His search for the truth about himself takes Solomon to the beautiful southern French town of Cordes. But his arrival coincides with the brutal murder of an elderly French tailor, the words ‘Finishing what was begun’ daubed in blood on the walls.
Instinctively, Solomon knows he must help the tailor’s granddaughter and great grandson escape, and together they go on the run. Their flight, though, will set in motion a terrible sequence of events, leading to the exposure of a far-reaching conspiracy with its origins in the Holocaust but with terrible consequences for modern-day Europe. And what will it mean for Solomon himself?
470 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 4, 2017
123 people are currently reading
1621 people want to read
About the author
Simon Toyne
32 books795 followersSimon Toyne was born February 29th, 1968 in Cleethorpes, England, but spent his formative years in Peterborough. He moved further south, to Goldsmiths College, part of the University of London, to study English and Drama then ended up working as a producer, director in commercial television for almost twenty years.
He quit in 2007, just shy of his fortieth birthday, to try and focus more on writing. His first book, Sanctus, became the biggest selling debut thriller of 2011 in the UK and also an international bestseller, translated into 27 languages and published in over 50 countries.
Simon lives with his wife and three children and splits his time between Brighton, the South of France and various cafes and bookshops in between and wherever his books are sold.
He quit in 2007, just shy of his fortieth birthday, to try and focus more on writing. His first book, Sanctus, became the biggest selling debut thriller of 2011 in the UK and also an international bestseller, translated into 27 languages and published in over 50 countries.
Simon lives with his wife and three children and splits his time between Brighton, the South of France and various cafes and bookshops in between and wherever his books are sold.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews
December 15, 2017
Simon Toyne is back with the next instalment of the Solomon Creed series, picking up where the last story ended, a major cliffhanger leaving readers guessing. With Arizona in his rearview mirror, Solomon Creed has made his way to France, wondering more about himself and trying to determine if the tailor who crafted the suit he wears might know something about his past. Just as he arrives at ‘Atelier Engel’, Josef Engel has been murdered. Creed’s presence in the region tied with him being a strangler, makes him a prime suspect. Creed befriends a young boy, Leo, and his mother, Marie-Claude, relatives of Engel, and they try to piece together the man’s past for themselves. It would appear that the Engel had a past in a Nazi concentration camp, but soon became a hero during the liberation movement. However, friends of his from the movement have also been found murdered, leaving many to wonder if the killer is targeting a certain group. Meanwhile, a psychiatrist has arrived in France, following Creed and trying to return him to his maximum security facility in Mexico. The reader learns much about Creed’s background, including his true identity and why his memory is so fragmented. As the chase across France continues. Creed learns more about events seven decades in the past and how they continue to shape current events. There is something about Creed and this suit that traces back to 1944, though that is impossible, right? Still, the additional fragments he discovers about himself does not serve to complete Creed’s self-discovery, which has some startling revelations by the closing pages of this follow-up novel. Toyne offers this drawn-out second novel in the series, sure to fill some gaps for the reader. While there will be a number who enjoy the path of discovery Solomon Creed undertakes, others will be just as lost and wonder if the invested reading time could have been better spent elsewhere.
After being enthralled by Toyne’s previous series, I approached the first Solomon Creed novel with much excitement. However, things became too slow to develop and I could only hope that new series jitters kept Toyne from being on his game. However, I surmise I am just not in sync with the series, as I cannot grasp onto the story, the characters, or the overall presentation of the plot. The characters do present a number of interesting personalities, specifically Solomon Creed, whose life remains as solid as a puff of smoke. Slowly trying to grasp for pieces of himself, the reader sees slow realisations about the man. It is through the revelations of his psychiatrist that the reader garners the most information, which floods out in one giant narrative in the middle of the novel. Working on some of the other characters, Toyne reveals much, particularly about the Nazi treatment of prisoners and the Movement to quash them in the latter portion of the Second World War. While there are interesting characters who grace the pages of this novel, I felt little attachment to them, which fuelled my sense of disinterest with portion of the book. The story itself lacked much motivation for me, as I found myself stuck in the middle of the developing narrative, feeling a sense of swimming in treacle (the second such book in two days), and I pleaded to get to the end. The chase to keep Creed one step ahead of the authorities and the killer’s eventually discovery did little for me. Some will enjoy this approach, as well as the ever-revealed Jewish aspects of the story that date back to the 1940s. Toyne’s ability to write should not be lost on the reader, nor is his ability to spin an interesting tale, but I just cannot find myself enthralled with this novel.
Thank you, Mr. Toyne, for this second attempt at Solomon Creed. While your ‘boy’ can see, I seem to be blind to much of the novel’s development. Perhaps I’ll stay away and let your other fans revel in the series.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
After being enthralled by Toyne’s previous series, I approached the first Solomon Creed novel with much excitement. However, things became too slow to develop and I could only hope that new series jitters kept Toyne from being on his game. However, I surmise I am just not in sync with the series, as I cannot grasp onto the story, the characters, or the overall presentation of the plot. The characters do present a number of interesting personalities, specifically Solomon Creed, whose life remains as solid as a puff of smoke. Slowly trying to grasp for pieces of himself, the reader sees slow realisations about the man. It is through the revelations of his psychiatrist that the reader garners the most information, which floods out in one giant narrative in the middle of the novel. Working on some of the other characters, Toyne reveals much, particularly about the Nazi treatment of prisoners and the Movement to quash them in the latter portion of the Second World War. While there are interesting characters who grace the pages of this novel, I felt little attachment to them, which fuelled my sense of disinterest with portion of the book. The story itself lacked much motivation for me, as I found myself stuck in the middle of the developing narrative, feeling a sense of swimming in treacle (the second such book in two days), and I pleaded to get to the end. The chase to keep Creed one step ahead of the authorities and the killer’s eventually discovery did little for me. Some will enjoy this approach, as well as the ever-revealed Jewish aspects of the story that date back to the 1940s. Toyne’s ability to write should not be lost on the reader, nor is his ability to spin an interesting tale, but I just cannot find myself enthralled with this novel.
Thank you, Mr. Toyne, for this second attempt at Solomon Creed. While your ‘boy’ can see, I seem to be blind to much of the novel’s development. Perhaps I’ll stay away and let your other fans revel in the series.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
March 11, 2020
Like the brave (or foolish) soul I am did I jump straight to this book without having read the first book about Solomon Creed. I mean I do it all the time and this one was not a bit hard to get into, despite it being book two. Who is Solomon Creed? That's a good question, he doesn't know himself so he could be a dangerous psychiatric patient that has escaped from a high-security facility in America (looked up because of a violent deed in the past) or he could just be a man suffering from amnesia. Or he could be something entirely different ... who knows...
I have to admit did the book did not, storywise, grab me before the very end when the truth about the murders was revealed and some shocking twist happened. Not that the book bored me, it's a tragic story, and the chapters from a diary of a concentration camp survivor were hauntingly moving and tragic. And I was curious to learn more about Solomon Creed. I would say that this book is perfectly all right, I would definitely read more books in the series. However, for some reason, the story just didn't totally captivate me until the end. I'm however curious to read the first book, both to know more about Solomon and to see if it was the writing style that just didn't agree with me.
I want to thank Harper Collins for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
I have to admit did the book did not, storywise, grab me before the very end when the truth about the murders was revealed and some shocking twist happened. Not that the book bored me, it's a tragic story, and the chapters from a diary of a concentration camp survivor were hauntingly moving and tragic. And I was curious to learn more about Solomon Creed. I would say that this book is perfectly all right, I would definitely read more books in the series. However, for some reason, the story just didn't totally captivate me until the end. I'm however curious to read the first book, both to know more about Solomon and to see if it was the writing style that just didn't agree with me.
I want to thank Harper Collins for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
June 27, 2017
I was the biggest fan of the first novel in this new series from Simon Toyne but The Boy Who Saw upped the ante considerably – now I’m COMPLETELY hooked and will probably be endlessly bugging the author for more every five minutes.
Solomon Creed as a main protagonist, hero (or anti-hero) I find utterly fascinating. His back story which none of us including him know the truth of is truly compelling – add that into a fast paced action thriller with a very dark heart and you have perfect Summer (or rest of the year) reading.
In this part of his journey Solomon is looking for his own truth following the only tangible lead he has – that lead is dead before he gets there though, so he becomes involved with Leo, a young lad with hidden depths of his own. As the tale moves across country, in a kind of road trip come subtle chase scenario, the consequences are unpredictable. Short sharp well formed chapters keep you on the edge of your seat and Solomon’s weird yet completely believable quirks keep you engaged and thoroughly fascinated throughout.
Simon Toyne is an instinctive and intelligent plotter with beautiful writing and a true eye for character development – his Sanctus series was incredible and converted me from my hatred of religious thrillers – but I like the Solomon Creed series so far with a fiery passion.
The Boy Who Saw could be read as a standalone or an entry into the series but genuinely you’ll get more from it if you read Solomon Creed first. In fact you’d have the best time if you just read one straight into the other. If I had book 3 right now you can bet almost everything else would be flung aside for it.
So really I can only say Highly Recommended.
Solomon Creed as a main protagonist, hero (or anti-hero) I find utterly fascinating. His back story which none of us including him know the truth of is truly compelling – add that into a fast paced action thriller with a very dark heart and you have perfect Summer (or rest of the year) reading.
In this part of his journey Solomon is looking for his own truth following the only tangible lead he has – that lead is dead before he gets there though, so he becomes involved with Leo, a young lad with hidden depths of his own. As the tale moves across country, in a kind of road trip come subtle chase scenario, the consequences are unpredictable. Short sharp well formed chapters keep you on the edge of your seat and Solomon’s weird yet completely believable quirks keep you engaged and thoroughly fascinated throughout.
Simon Toyne is an instinctive and intelligent plotter with beautiful writing and a true eye for character development – his Sanctus series was incredible and converted me from my hatred of religious thrillers – but I like the Solomon Creed series so far with a fiery passion.
The Boy Who Saw could be read as a standalone or an entry into the series but genuinely you’ll get more from it if you read Solomon Creed first. In fact you’d have the best time if you just read one straight into the other. If I had book 3 right now you can bet almost everything else would be flung aside for it.
So really I can only say Highly Recommended.
June 25, 2017
This is the kind of thriller that stretches the bounds of believability and coincidence to the utmost, yet is, for all that, brilliant. Once you have fallen into the trap of needing to know more about Solomon Creed, you are willing to walk that path with him anywhere. This instalment teases further about his past, his character, and maybe even his family. At the same time, each apparent truth is muddied by lies and alternatives. I'm desperate to know whether he is more than just an ordinary man.
The plot is shades blacker than the first in this series, set against the backdrop of Nazi death camps. It's done well, interwoven with the real and terrible experiences faced by Jewish prisoners and never treated lightly. The family secret was somewhat obvious but it was right for the themes of the book and written with enough verve that it hardly mattered.
Overall, a fast paced read with some great characters. Good for beach reading if you're lucky enough to be going there this summer.
ARC via Netgalley.
The plot is shades blacker than the first in this series, set against the backdrop of Nazi death camps. It's done well, interwoven with the real and terrible experiences faced by Jewish prisoners and never treated lightly. The family secret was somewhat obvious but it was right for the themes of the book and written with enough verve that it hardly mattered.
Overall, a fast paced read with some great characters. Good for beach reading if you're lucky enough to be going there this summer.
ARC via Netgalley.
September 12, 2017
Long and wordy. I'm the outlier on this one. Fantasy is fine, but when you begin to transect historical periods such as WWII (and who isn't doing this presently would be easier to list?) Solomon works as a worthy times two protagonist. As a character, a concept, an entity (I think he is an Archangel- do you notice how many St. Michael named venues you come across in this duo series)- he is an awesome presence. And his causing of others actions/ reactions, such as "my hands are stuck on the wheel or desk" scenario are compelling and entrap you into his essence. BUT. Now in this second book, there are just too many buts. Fantasy is fantasy and anything goes. BUT PLEASE, don't mix it with time frames for people and realities that truly don't work well and put it into another WWII camp or Nazi paradigm. Please!
It's nearly offensive to me how that is being thrown (usually young authors too who don't hold a candle to the onus of the mood/connotation that these people on BOTH sides then possessed). Not only in the current book market either -are these time warp comparisons being thrown. And by people too who truly have no clear voice to make the comparisons they do and as flippantly as in a cartoon. It's beyond off-putting. And at times, like here, the after periods (1945-1950 especially) are also trivialized in a way that is unnerving to me. I'm old enough to have know many (more than a dozen actually) with first hand experience of camps and more- and I have to speak for them. Especially as I know my Dad would say the same, if he were still here.
Don't read any further if you don't want any nuance for a spoiler or two. This reaction can't be expressed at all without some spoiler trait at the fore.
And quite beyond the tailored suit, the original of its forming- and the contract they made around it etc. I guessed easily- that was almost a given. Also- who the 4 were and what they had done- nearly all of their allegiances too by the 1/2 way point in this book. And so much of the rest with Marie Claude and Leo was murky- and I'm pretty sure is going to be used for a series coming up. Leo centered- of course. She's also far from likable or composed with any depth here, IMHO. Not a whole woman, more like a suffering mother madonna symbol.
Overall, I'm just terribly underwhelmed at the obvious directions followed. Solomon has such hearing, sniffing, seeing, movement skills that he could be a robot from another dimension or star system or something too. But regardless, the too too of characters acting like Batman baddies and other historic issues with this one- just killed the Solomon skills for me. I didn't like the way it started perhaps? Starting with a carve torture! But there are such excellent avenues too presented with the color fields of prediction and other shared skills in this set up!
Mixed feelings. I'm glad I read it but I'm probably done with Toyne. The imagination quotient as deep as it is- is just not worth the chewy and graphic for me. Unless the plot lines are more convoluted (like in the first book Searcher) and the rescues too, better than the bulk of words to connect them here.
It's nearly offensive to me how that is being thrown (usually young authors too who don't hold a candle to the onus of the mood/connotation that these people on BOTH sides then possessed). Not only in the current book market either -are these time warp comparisons being thrown. And by people too who truly have no clear voice to make the comparisons they do and as flippantly as in a cartoon. It's beyond off-putting. And at times, like here, the after periods (1945-1950 especially) are also trivialized in a way that is unnerving to me. I'm old enough to have know many (more than a dozen actually) with first hand experience of camps and more- and I have to speak for them. Especially as I know my Dad would say the same, if he were still here.
Don't read any further if you don't want any nuance for a spoiler or two. This reaction can't be expressed at all without some spoiler trait at the fore.
And quite beyond the tailored suit, the original of its forming- and the contract they made around it etc. I guessed easily- that was almost a given. Also- who the 4 were and what they had done- nearly all of their allegiances too by the 1/2 way point in this book. And so much of the rest with Marie Claude and Leo was murky- and I'm pretty sure is going to be used for a series coming up. Leo centered- of course. She's also far from likable or composed with any depth here, IMHO. Not a whole woman, more like a suffering mother madonna symbol.
Overall, I'm just terribly underwhelmed at the obvious directions followed. Solomon has such hearing, sniffing, seeing, movement skills that he could be a robot from another dimension or star system or something too. But regardless, the too too of characters acting like Batman baddies and other historic issues with this one- just killed the Solomon skills for me. I didn't like the way it started perhaps? Starting with a carve torture! But there are such excellent avenues too presented with the color fields of prediction and other shared skills in this set up!
Mixed feelings. I'm glad I read it but I'm probably done with Toyne. The imagination quotient as deep as it is- is just not worth the chewy and graphic for me. Unless the plot lines are more convoluted (like in the first book Searcher) and the rescues too, better than the bulk of words to connect them here.
January 3, 2018
What can I say? This is fantastic!! Simon Toyne is a wonderful writer and he has excelled even himself.
November 26, 2017
Second in the Solomon Creed series, and no less thrilling, and well written. I’ve been a fan of Simon’s work since his first series. This book is a wonderful story, told by a master storyteller.
July 25, 2018
Aunque es el segundo libro de una serie se puede leer de forma totalmente independiente (Yo ni me acuerdo de qué trataba el primero). A diferencia de otros thrillers este me ha enganchado desde la primera página y eso que el prota no me va mucho. Os lo recomiendo como lectura sencillita para este verano.
Reseña: http://contandoteunlibro.blogspot.com...
Reseña: http://contandoteunlibro.blogspot.com...
September 5, 2018
After reading and enjoying Simon Toyne’s Sancti books, I found myself more than willing to dive into more of his work. Thus, I was more than happy to dive into the Solomon Creed series. Although I did not enjoy the first book in the Solomon Creed series as much as I enjoyed the Sancti books, it left me more than willing to continue the series. In fact, I was rather desperate to see what happened next.
With so much curiosity about where the series would head, it is no surprise to find out I was happy to devour The Boy Who Saw. With this second book in the Solomon Creed series, there were plenty of things I was looking forward to – more of the questions and possibilities we were introduced to (in terms of both answers to questions and new questions appearing), more of our interesting main character, more of the mystery (the general mystery surrounding the character and the individual story level mystery), and more entertaining twists to keep me hooked.
Although some of these elements did exist, I feel as though they were not delivered to the same level as they were in the first book. If I’m being completely honest, The Boy Who Saw is my least favourite Simon Toyne read. It was entertaining and had me turning the pages – it’s more of a three-point-five-star rating than the rounded down three-stars I gave it – yet it did not quite pack the punch I had hoped for.
The way the book gave us more about the overall mystery was interesting, it has left me super curious about what comes next. The details we were given were not what I had expected, leaving me with questions pertaining to the veracity of the details characters shared, yet I found what we were given really interesting. I want more, I want to find out what is truth and what is fiction, and I really want to understand certain elements of the story better.
However, the individual mystery of this novel was a bit too predictable for my liking. I worked things out rather early on, and I was reading through a lot of information without much action only to have my beliefs confirmed. I’d been hoping for more action, for more surprises, and when I did not receive these things I found myself disappointed. The story did unfold in an interesting way, but I had been hoping for more from this second book.
Overall, an interesting second book in the Solomon Creed series, even if it is not my favourite Simon Toyne read.
With so much curiosity about where the series would head, it is no surprise to find out I was happy to devour The Boy Who Saw. With this second book in the Solomon Creed series, there were plenty of things I was looking forward to – more of the questions and possibilities we were introduced to (in terms of both answers to questions and new questions appearing), more of our interesting main character, more of the mystery (the general mystery surrounding the character and the individual story level mystery), and more entertaining twists to keep me hooked.
Although some of these elements did exist, I feel as though they were not delivered to the same level as they were in the first book. If I’m being completely honest, The Boy Who Saw is my least favourite Simon Toyne read. It was entertaining and had me turning the pages – it’s more of a three-point-five-star rating than the rounded down three-stars I gave it – yet it did not quite pack the punch I had hoped for.
The way the book gave us more about the overall mystery was interesting, it has left me super curious about what comes next. The details we were given were not what I had expected, leaving me with questions pertaining to the veracity of the details characters shared, yet I found what we were given really interesting. I want more, I want to find out what is truth and what is fiction, and I really want to understand certain elements of the story better.
However, the individual mystery of this novel was a bit too predictable for my liking. I worked things out rather early on, and I was reading through a lot of information without much action only to have my beliefs confirmed. I’d been hoping for more action, for more surprises, and when I did not receive these things I found myself disappointed. The story did unfold in an interesting way, but I had been hoping for more from this second book.
Overall, an interesting second book in the Solomon Creed series, even if it is not my favourite Simon Toyne read.
August 2, 2022
I absolutely loved the author’s Sanctus trilogy (comprising Sanctus, The Key and The Tower) and felt the same about the book that first introduced the enigmatic Solomon Creed to the world, The Searcher, when I read it back in 2016. Since I described The Searcher as ‘a cracking thriller’, I have no idea why it’s taken me so long to read this follow-up apart from the fact it’s quite a chunky read. However, the number of pages are quickly forgotten because of the pace with which the story unfolds, the complex and intriguing plot and the author’s trademark teasing chapter endings.
The plot moves between the present day and the period of the Second World War. The events of the latter are revealed bit by bit through excerpts from two memoirs. They describe the horrific treatment of Jewish people by the Nazis and by one individual in particular, described as the Devil in human form for whom ‘Death was his to command’. It would be nice to think that some of the events described came purely from the author’s imagination but I fear not.
Although the origins of the murders may stretch back decades, events in the present day encompass plenty of contemporary themes: far right extremism, anti-immigrant prejudice and political corruption. And it wouldn’t be a top-notch thriller without a race against time, a breathless pursuit, some full-on action, characters who aren’t what they profess to be and some really bad guys equipped with the latest technology. As the officer in charge of the murder investigation, Commandant Benoît Armand, ruefully observes, ‘Law enforcement in its current state was like a Band Aid on an arterial wound’. However, the arrival on the scene of Solomon Creed with his unique abilities tips the scales back in favour of the good guys – and then some.
I’m not even going to attempt to summarise the twists and turns of the plot, so you’ll just have to trust me that it will keep you guessing right to the end and probably, like me, frantically turning the pages. I’m not afraid to confess I suspected just about every character of being involved in the killings and was wrong every time.
The author continues to tease the reader with the truth about Solomon Creed’s identity right up to the end of the book, leaving it perfectly set up for a third book – at least I hope so.
The plot moves between the present day and the period of the Second World War. The events of the latter are revealed bit by bit through excerpts from two memoirs. They describe the horrific treatment of Jewish people by the Nazis and by one individual in particular, described as the Devil in human form for whom ‘Death was his to command’. It would be nice to think that some of the events described came purely from the author’s imagination but I fear not.
Although the origins of the murders may stretch back decades, events in the present day encompass plenty of contemporary themes: far right extremism, anti-immigrant prejudice and political corruption. And it wouldn’t be a top-notch thriller without a race against time, a breathless pursuit, some full-on action, characters who aren’t what they profess to be and some really bad guys equipped with the latest technology. As the officer in charge of the murder investigation, Commandant Benoît Armand, ruefully observes, ‘Law enforcement in its current state was like a Band Aid on an arterial wound’. However, the arrival on the scene of Solomon Creed with his unique abilities tips the scales back in favour of the good guys – and then some.
I’m not even going to attempt to summarise the twists and turns of the plot, so you’ll just have to trust me that it will keep you guessing right to the end and probably, like me, frantically turning the pages. I’m not afraid to confess I suspected just about every character of being involved in the killings and was wrong every time.
The author continues to tease the reader with the truth about Solomon Creed’s identity right up to the end of the book, leaving it perfectly set up for a third book – at least I hope so.
July 22, 2017
I highly enjoyed this follow-up book to The Searcher and the second book in the Solomon Creed Trilogy. The plot is excellent and the writing is superb. There are lots of characters; some are nice and some not so nice. The character of Solomon Creed is the most original character that I have ever read about. I find him to be rather magical and mysterious at the same time. A sort of 'superhero' and searcher for the truth. In this book, Solomon is racing to find out who he really is while he is trying to stop a killer from fulfilling a bloody legacy with origins stretching back to World War II. We did receive some more background information about Solomon but there will be more to come in the last book of the trilogy. I would suggest to read The Searcher first so you can be introduced properly to Solomon Creed, although the second book can stand alone, as there is enough information about what happened in the past where you will not feel lost in the story. I would highly recommend this trilogy to those who like thrillers that hook you and do not let go until the end of the book. But the ending will leave you even wanting more. If you find you do love Simon Toyne's writing as much as I do, then you need to read his Sanctus trilogy which I would consider just as fascinating as Solomon Creed.
August 12, 2017
This book was just weird
February 20, 2019
Brilliant, not, probably the most comfortable of subjects but very poignant given what is happening around us at present
June 13, 2017
Leo is the young boy on the story, living with his mother Marie-Claude. I thought the title implied that he had seen, or witnessed things in the past, but Leo ‘sees’ coloured auras around people, so can detect good and evil and detect danger.
His grandfather, Joseph Engel, a tailor, has been brutally murdered, and when someone with an evil aura knocks at the door, Leo and his mother fear for their lives too.
At the same time, Solomon Creed arrives on the scene. He has been led to believe that he has escaped from a psychiatric institution, but he has no memory of who he is and where he has come from. The only clue is a label in a jacket, pointing him in the direction of a tailor – who has just been murdered. He has a strong feeling that he has been directed to Cordes, where the story begins, in order to protect Leo. Marie-Claude is not sure, but Leo sees good in the stranger, not evil and they start on a journey through France, To find out why Joseph was killed, and to discover who Solomon is. They are pursued by both the police and mysterious political fanatics.
The story goes back to a WW2 labour camp where a lone Jew survived a mass killing, and wrote his memoirs as witness to the horrific and black events which took place. This has been researched by Marie-Claude, who is trying to track down a handful of survivors. Her father is one, but he refuses to help her, claiming that the past should not be revisited. The story revolves around the Nazi past and a mysterious list of survivors, which someone is willing to kill for to find. This list holds a secret which will shatter a modern French political far right organisation if it is found and deciphered.
The story is fast moving and thrilling, emphasised by short chapters and plenty of ‘page turning’ narrative. Leo is convincingly portrayed, slight with round glasses and an enthusiasm for action comic heroes. He is afraid, but capable of super hero bravery when circumstances call for it. Marie Claude is focused on her research, and has integrity. She sends her findings to newspapers as the danger closes in, even though it is against all the truths she once believed in.
Solomon Creed is the puzzle, I got as far as seeing that his past was not true, but couldn’t see where we was from and where he was going. He was like one of Leo’s super heroes, appearing in an hour of need, then disappearing to the next crisis - supernatural as well as than real.
His grandfather, Joseph Engel, a tailor, has been brutally murdered, and when someone with an evil aura knocks at the door, Leo and his mother fear for their lives too.
At the same time, Solomon Creed arrives on the scene. He has been led to believe that he has escaped from a psychiatric institution, but he has no memory of who he is and where he has come from. The only clue is a label in a jacket, pointing him in the direction of a tailor – who has just been murdered. He has a strong feeling that he has been directed to Cordes, where the story begins, in order to protect Leo. Marie-Claude is not sure, but Leo sees good in the stranger, not evil and they start on a journey through France, To find out why Joseph was killed, and to discover who Solomon is. They are pursued by both the police and mysterious political fanatics.
The story goes back to a WW2 labour camp where a lone Jew survived a mass killing, and wrote his memoirs as witness to the horrific and black events which took place. This has been researched by Marie-Claude, who is trying to track down a handful of survivors. Her father is one, but he refuses to help her, claiming that the past should not be revisited. The story revolves around the Nazi past and a mysterious list of survivors, which someone is willing to kill for to find. This list holds a secret which will shatter a modern French political far right organisation if it is found and deciphered.
The story is fast moving and thrilling, emphasised by short chapters and plenty of ‘page turning’ narrative. Leo is convincingly portrayed, slight with round glasses and an enthusiasm for action comic heroes. He is afraid, but capable of super hero bravery when circumstances call for it. Marie Claude is focused on her research, and has integrity. She sends her findings to newspapers as the danger closes in, even though it is against all the truths she once believed in.
Solomon Creed is the puzzle, I got as far as seeing that his past was not true, but couldn’t see where we was from and where he was going. He was like one of Leo’s super heroes, appearing in an hour of need, then disappearing to the next crisis - supernatural as well as than real.
October 3, 2017
The Boy Who Saw is compulsively readable for many reasons despite (for me) the gruesome opening scene. Solomon Creed is an enigma. What are his motives? What are his origins? These questions and many others tempted me to put aside TBWS and pick up the first book in this series, The Searcher, but my inner book addict was already hooked into this story.
The Boy Who Saw uses the Holocaust mandate of never forget to explore themes about the context and points of view of those memories. Karma, retribution and restitution are examined in a tale that mixes elements of The Manchurian Candidate, The Equalizer, The Pretender (a 90's U.S. TV show), Dr. Jerkll and Mr. Hyde with the suggestion of a bit of Benjamin Button, too.
Even though he uses elements of magical realism, Simon Toyne also uses vivid detail without any hint of sentimentality or histrionics to present his fictionalized locations of actual horrors. His characters' almost clinical recollections magnify the cascading impact of the inhumane acts.
Marie-Claude and Leo embody the advantages and vulnerabilities of younger generations who are protected from the details of the suffering and sins of their parents, elders, and previous generations.
In The Boy Who Saw, some people forget a few details, but no one forgives anyone.
The Boy Who Saw uses the Holocaust mandate of never forget to explore themes about the context and points of view of those memories. Karma, retribution and restitution are examined in a tale that mixes elements of The Manchurian Candidate, The Equalizer, The Pretender (a 90's U.S. TV show), Dr. Jerkll and Mr. Hyde with the suggestion of a bit of Benjamin Button, too.
Even though he uses elements of magical realism, Simon Toyne also uses vivid detail without any hint of sentimentality or histrionics to present his fictionalized locations of actual horrors. His characters' almost clinical recollections magnify the cascading impact of the inhumane acts.
Marie-Claude and Leo embody the advantages and vulnerabilities of younger generations who are protected from the details of the suffering and sins of their parents, elders, and previous generations.
In The Boy Who Saw, some people forget a few details, but no one forgives anyone.
August 5, 2019
I loved this book. The interwoven accounts all merging towards a final denouement, the fiction mired in historical reality (holocaust) and the twists towards the end were brilliant. This is the second in Toyne’s new Solomon Creed series, and I really like Creed; he’s a good hero, and the books should be read in order as each is filling a little more of his back story. Can’t wait for the next. When’s it due Simon Toyne?
September 18, 2017
An exceptionally written book, The story was extremely fluid and never stagnated. The characters were woven so beautifully and the twist I could not, for the life of me, see coming. Overall a wonderful book, one that I enjoyed thoroughly.
November 15, 2019
I did enjoy this, despite the three stars I settled on awarding - not a bad book, just not quite my kind of thing. Toyne here writes an ambitious crime thriller with some significant and weighty themes, decent pace to a story that gathers a bit of momentum the longer it goes on - it was quite fun in places, but clunky in others.
More in the Greg Hurwitz, Dan Brown, John Connolly, even Dean Koontz mould - guns, conspiracies, chase, a mother and child in peril, corrupt authorities, historical mysteries, and a sprinkling of something supernatural which irritated me a little. Set in France, this novel takes in modern nationalism and xenophobia as well as the horrors of WWII holocaust. I just found this not completely to my tastes - too many cliff-hangers solved by coincidences, too much cartoon bad guy and superpowered good guy, a set of motivations which I didn't completely understand or believe in, and a few odd quirks of language that irked me a touch. The author likes and overuses the word 'atelier', the fact characters are obviously going to be speaking French but the book is written mainly in English - requiring slightly clumsy translation and repetition where French and German phrases are detailed and defined.
However, for me this started as a two out of five 'not my kind of thing, my eyes are rolling with the clichés' to start, improved towards a four out of five book in the middle when I was enjoying it and swept along, and then dipped a little toward the end (on balance) with a slightly obvious ending. I'm sure folk who like a more 'thriller' than 'police procedural' type of crime novel will enjoy this lot.
I received a copy of this book for free, via the Goodreads Book Giveaway programme. This did not affect my opinion or the honesty of my review.
More in the Greg Hurwitz, Dan Brown, John Connolly, even Dean Koontz mould - guns, conspiracies, chase, a mother and child in peril, corrupt authorities, historical mysteries, and a sprinkling of something supernatural which irritated me a little. Set in France, this novel takes in modern nationalism and xenophobia as well as the horrors of WWII holocaust. I just found this not completely to my tastes - too many cliff-hangers solved by coincidences, too much cartoon bad guy and superpowered good guy, a set of motivations which I didn't completely understand or believe in, and a few odd quirks of language that irked me a touch. The author likes and overuses the word 'atelier', the fact characters are obviously going to be speaking French but the book is written mainly in English - requiring slightly clumsy translation and repetition where French and German phrases are detailed and defined.
However, for me this started as a two out of five 'not my kind of thing, my eyes are rolling with the clichés' to start, improved towards a four out of five book in the middle when I was enjoying it and swept along, and then dipped a little toward the end (on balance) with a slightly obvious ending. I'm sure folk who like a more 'thriller' than 'police procedural' type of crime novel will enjoy this lot.
I received a copy of this book for free, via the Goodreads Book Giveaway programme. This did not affect my opinion or the honesty of my review.
June 17, 2018
What a shame that the number of Goodreads giveaways is dwindling and that, as a non-US citizen, I will shortly no longer be able to enter the few which are left.
I have been lucky enough to win several books over the years and the giveaways have exposed me to authors and books I would not otherwise have considered, this book being a case in point...
I had read the first Solomon Creed book and, frankly, did not enjoy it. I was curious to see if my opinion would change with the second, and this free copy gave me the chance to find out. I thoroughly enjoyed this installment of the journey of the mysterious Solomon Creed. Any book with the Holocaust as subject matter is always going to be heavy going, but Simon Toyne makes the story current by tapping into the far right's rise in popularity throughout Europe.
There are many twists and turns, characters surprised me right to the end and now I am eagerly awaiting the next installment.
Without Goodreads giveaways, I would not have read this second book and most certainly would not be considering reading the next. I would implore Goodreads to reconsider charging authors for giveaways - there are so many promising indie authors out there who are being priced out. I would also urge Goodreads not to shut us non-US readers out of giveaways.
I have been lucky enough to win several books over the years and the giveaways have exposed me to authors and books I would not otherwise have considered, this book being a case in point...
I had read the first Solomon Creed book and, frankly, did not enjoy it. I was curious to see if my opinion would change with the second, and this free copy gave me the chance to find out. I thoroughly enjoyed this installment of the journey of the mysterious Solomon Creed. Any book with the Holocaust as subject matter is always going to be heavy going, but Simon Toyne makes the story current by tapping into the far right's rise in popularity throughout Europe.
There are many twists and turns, characters surprised me right to the end and now I am eagerly awaiting the next installment.
Without Goodreads giveaways, I would not have read this second book and most certainly would not be considering reading the next. I would implore Goodreads to reconsider charging authors for giveaways - there are so many promising indie authors out there who are being priced out. I would also urge Goodreads not to shut us non-US readers out of giveaways.
February 3, 2021
Segundo libro de la serie protagonizada por Salomon Creed, que debido a su amnesia, no conoce nada acerca de sí mismo. En su búsqueda de identidad, siguiendo pistas como las etiquetas de la ropa, se cruza con personajes que necesitan ayuda.
Me ha gustado como, poco a poco, el autor nos va dando detalles de la vida anterior de Salomon, cosas que el propio protagonista desconoce.
Estas novelas, tienen un toque sobrenatural, que encaja perfectamente con la trama y los personajes, que en principio, son propios de la novela policíaca.
Me ha gustado como, poco a poco, el autor nos va dando detalles de la vida anterior de Salomon, cosas que el propio protagonista desconoce.
Estas novelas, tienen un toque sobrenatural, que encaja perfectamente con la trama y los personajes, que en principio, son propios de la novela policíaca.
May 1, 2020
I absolutely loved this book! It was a real page turner that kept me captivated from start to finish.
Follow Marie-Claude, the granddaughter of a murdered tailor, and her son Leo travel across France in a race against time to discover the truth about her grandfather and his secret. With an enthralling ending I was definitely not expecting!
Follow Marie-Claude, the granddaughter of a murdered tailor, and her son Leo travel across France in a race against time to discover the truth about her grandfather and his secret. With an enthralling ending I was definitely not expecting!
March 20, 2018
Definitely a tough book to read as it dealt primarily with the holocaust. The story of Solomon Creed, however, is compelling enough to make me unable to stop reading as I simply must find the answer to who he really is.
That is also the idea behind this second volume in the series. Finding answers to who one is and where we come from. It follows a woman and her young son on a search for the truth of her past. It all ties back to a death camp and the few that survived. Violence follows them as they make their way back to the camp and when she learns what really happened, it is not at all what it seemed to be.
That is also the idea behind this second volume in the series. Finding answers to who one is and where we come from. It follows a woman and her young son on a search for the truth of her past. It all ties back to a death camp and the few that survived. Violence follows them as they make their way back to the camp and when she learns what really happened, it is not at all what it seemed to be.
February 27, 2018
As a fan of Dan Brown's work, I thoroughly enjoyed The Boy Who Saw. The story is action packed and compelling and delivers two strong messages - the importance of remembering and good can come from evil, just as evil can come from good. The characterization is modern in the sense that there is diversity - ethnically, sexually, morally... which keeps it interesting. I'm left wanting to know more - especially about the curious and very likable main character Solomon Creed. While I was reading, I discovered The Boy Who Saw is actually the second book in the Solomon Creed series. Fortunately, the story stands strong on its own.
June 13, 2017
The Boy Who Saw is the sequel to Solomon Creed, which I read when it came out and really really enjoyed. It left me really wanting to know more about Solomon Creed, who he was, and where he came from, so I was excited that proofs of The Boy Who Saw arrived in the office while I worked at HarperCollins.
The book gets off to a dramatic start, with the gruesome murder of a tailor, who is being tortured for information. The killer wants information about a list. As police begin their investigation, Solomon Creed enters the picture. As in Solomon Creed, he has very few memories - in fact this book takes place just a couple of weeks after the events of the first. There are two main threads to the story, wrapped around each other. The first is the Dan Brown-esque mystery of what the murderer was looking for, and the flight of the granddaughter and her son across France, aided and abetted by various others along the way as they try to remain ahead of the killer and also solve the clue left behind by the tailor.
Entangled with that is Solomon's quest to figure out who he is and where he came from, a quest that is exactly why I wanted to read this book so badly! There are a few more clues and a little bit more light shed on the situation, but if like me you wanted to find out 'who is Solomon Creed' you'll remain disappointed for now. The upside of that is that there must be more books to come!
As with Solomon Creed, The Boy Who Saw is full of elements that make you think 'Is something supernatural going on here?' Most of them can be explained away, or dismissed as overactive imaginations, but then, like in book one, a couple of things happen which unquestionably are something magical. Simon Toyne has written very skilfully to keep the reader guessing about this, and the plot is full of twists and turns. Fans of Solomon Creed will not be disappointed with this followup, and overall I'm giving it 8 out of 10. [Review originally posted on my blog; link in my profile.]
The book gets off to a dramatic start, with the gruesome murder of a tailor, who is being tortured for information. The killer wants information about a list. As police begin their investigation, Solomon Creed enters the picture. As in Solomon Creed, he has very few memories - in fact this book takes place just a couple of weeks after the events of the first. There are two main threads to the story, wrapped around each other. The first is the Dan Brown-esque mystery of what the murderer was looking for, and the flight of the granddaughter and her son across France, aided and abetted by various others along the way as they try to remain ahead of the killer and also solve the clue left behind by the tailor.
Entangled with that is Solomon's quest to figure out who he is and where he came from, a quest that is exactly why I wanted to read this book so badly! There are a few more clues and a little bit more light shed on the situation, but if like me you wanted to find out 'who is Solomon Creed' you'll remain disappointed for now. The upside of that is that there must be more books to come!
As with Solomon Creed, The Boy Who Saw is full of elements that make you think 'Is something supernatural going on here?' Most of them can be explained away, or dismissed as overactive imaginations, but then, like in book one, a couple of things happen which unquestionably are something magical. Simon Toyne has written very skilfully to keep the reader guessing about this, and the plot is full of twists and turns. Fans of Solomon Creed will not be disappointed with this followup, and overall I'm giving it 8 out of 10. [Review originally posted on my blog; link in my profile.]
June 9, 2017
I looked forward to this book for about two years, and I was a bit disappointed if I'm being completely honest.
The second book in the Solomon Creed series possesses much of the same elements of book one, but it has been set in France and is flavoured with militant neo-nazi French nationalism and World War Two history.
The historical elements of this storyline are trademark Toyne writing, but I just didn't get the same underlying darkness that I loved about the first instalment. It's not that this is a bad book, in fact it's an excellent book, but it has been ever so slightly affected by second in a series syndrome.
Following the clues he has in his possession, Solomon winds up in France accused of murder with no memory of his life or identity before the previous three weeks. He seeks out the tailor of the suit jacket he owns as he believes he may be of assistance in solving the mystery of just who Solomon Creed is.
Instead he falls headlong into the 70 year old mystery of Die Anderen. The Others. A group of survivors from the nazi labor camp Die Schneider Lager who turn out to be something entirely different to what we think they are. I LOVED that particular wrenching twist in the story, it was delivered so subtly.
Leo's gift is perhaps the most unique part of this story and I enjoyed how Toyne wove it into the plot in different forms; Solomon possesses a different variation of the same gift.
I'm curious to see where Toyne can take this series, I seriously hope there aren't another two years between books though!
Slow burning and artfully written, this is a book of historical depth and modern struggle. An enjoyable read that didn't quite measure up to its predecessor.
The second book in the Solomon Creed series possesses much of the same elements of book one, but it has been set in France and is flavoured with militant neo-nazi French nationalism and World War Two history.
The historical elements of this storyline are trademark Toyne writing, but I just didn't get the same underlying darkness that I loved about the first instalment. It's not that this is a bad book, in fact it's an excellent book, but it has been ever so slightly affected by second in a series syndrome.
Following the clues he has in his possession, Solomon winds up in France accused of murder with no memory of his life or identity before the previous three weeks. He seeks out the tailor of the suit jacket he owns as he believes he may be of assistance in solving the mystery of just who Solomon Creed is.
Instead he falls headlong into the 70 year old mystery of Die Anderen. The Others. A group of survivors from the nazi labor camp Die Schneider Lager who turn out to be something entirely different to what we think they are. I LOVED that particular wrenching twist in the story, it was delivered so subtly.
Leo's gift is perhaps the most unique part of this story and I enjoyed how Toyne wove it into the plot in different forms; Solomon possesses a different variation of the same gift.
I'm curious to see where Toyne can take this series, I seriously hope there aren't another two years between books though!
Slow burning and artfully written, this is a book of historical depth and modern struggle. An enjoyable read that didn't quite measure up to its predecessor.
August 10, 2017
A 4* review for The Boy Who Saw by Simon Toyne. I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway and it is not the sort of book i would normally pick to read, and I did not know the Author, but i enjoyed it.
In the french town of Cordes an elderly Jewish tailor Josef Engel is tortured and murdered, daubed on the wall in blood is ‘Finishing what was begun’ and a further message is left behind with his granddaughter Marie-Claude and great grandson Leo which puts them in danger. They are forced to go on the run across France and unravel the dark truth of the infamous "The Tailor's Camp" where Jews were housed in the second world war sewing striped uniforms for Jews in all the death camps. The mysterious Solomon Creed turns up to help them but is he a dangerous psychiatric patient, who has escaped from a high-security facility in America, or an innocent amnesiac trying to establish his true identity? Instinctively, Solomon knows he must help the tailor’s granddaughter and great grandson escape, and together they go on the run, which sets in motion a terrible sequence of events, leading to the exposure of a far-reaching conspiracy with its origins in the Holocaust.
The book is very well written and although it is 470 pages long, it does have 112 chapters so is cleverly cut into small sections for you to read and digest before moving on, as it moves at quite a pace. Each chapter starts with an extract from a fictional autobiography from a camp survivor entitled "The Devil's Tailor : Death and Life in Die Schneider Lager" by Herman Lansky, which gives an uncomfortable but fascinating insight into life and death for the millions of Jews. As the book unfolds it all starts to come together and the ending is amazing and everything i hoped it would be.
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In the french town of Cordes an elderly Jewish tailor Josef Engel is tortured and murdered, daubed on the wall in blood is ‘Finishing what was begun’ and a further message is left behind with his granddaughter Marie-Claude and great grandson Leo which puts them in danger. They are forced to go on the run across France and unravel the dark truth of the infamous "The Tailor's Camp" where Jews were housed in the second world war sewing striped uniforms for Jews in all the death camps. The mysterious Solomon Creed turns up to help them but is he a dangerous psychiatric patient, who has escaped from a high-security facility in America, or an innocent amnesiac trying to establish his true identity? Instinctively, Solomon knows he must help the tailor’s granddaughter and great grandson escape, and together they go on the run, which sets in motion a terrible sequence of events, leading to the exposure of a far-reaching conspiracy with its origins in the Holocaust.
The book is very well written and although it is 470 pages long, it does have 112 chapters so is cleverly cut into small sections for you to read and digest before moving on, as it moves at quite a pace. Each chapter starts with an extract from a fictional autobiography from a camp survivor entitled "The Devil's Tailor : Death and Life in Die Schneider Lager" by Herman Lansky, which gives an uncomfortable but fascinating insight into life and death for the millions of Jews. As the book unfolds it all starts to come together and the ending is amazing and everything i hoped it would be.
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Delete
May 10, 2017
This is a great page turner. The context of the rise of nationalist political parties, some claiming an ongoing inspiration from Nazi Germany is really interesting timing. I love the name Solomon Creed for this character. And I really liked the way synesthesia was conceptualised in this novel and the way it was used to slowly reveal aspects of the plot. Even though I figured out the final twist in the story, I still really enjoyed the story as it was getting there. It's a very good thriller that will hook you and then keep you there.
Don't be put off by the length of the novel, you will get through it in a heart beat. It is a very good read. I couldn't read this everyday, but when I did have an hour to spare, I found that I churned through the novel.
The character Solomon Creed might be a bit unrealistic, but he is intriguing enough to allow you to put this aside. He is essentially a good man, but there is a secret that not even he knows, and that drives him to do what he does. His gift of synesthesia is like a secret language that allows him to navigate this wordlessly.
While the subject matter is dark, and there are depictions of violence, it is not completely overloaded with despair and depravity. It will make you think about whether or not there are some sins for which there is no redemption, or whether even the worst of the worst deserve a second chance and a clean slate.
I haven't read the first Solomon Creed novel, and it didn't hamper my enjoyment of the story at all. However it did make me want to go back and read it, and wait impatiently for the next instalment (oh yes, there will be another).
Don't be put off by the length of the novel, you will get through it in a heart beat. It is a very good read. I couldn't read this everyday, but when I did have an hour to spare, I found that I churned through the novel.
The character Solomon Creed might be a bit unrealistic, but he is intriguing enough to allow you to put this aside. He is essentially a good man, but there is a secret that not even he knows, and that drives him to do what he does. His gift of synesthesia is like a secret language that allows him to navigate this wordlessly.
While the subject matter is dark, and there are depictions of violence, it is not completely overloaded with despair and depravity. It will make you think about whether or not there are some sins for which there is no redemption, or whether even the worst of the worst deserve a second chance and a clean slate.
I haven't read the first Solomon Creed novel, and it didn't hamper my enjoyment of the story at all. However it did make me want to go back and read it, and wait impatiently for the next instalment (oh yes, there will be another).
July 19, 2017
This was an excellent book. Solomon Creed is a character I will look forward to following in the same way I follow Jack Reacher, Repairman Jack, Joe Ledger, Cade Williams, and Jason Bourne. As some of the backstory on who Solomon Creed appears to be coming to light, it's clear that nothing is really clear about his past. In the end, the story sticks to the truths that we are the sum of our choices and it's never too late to seek redemption.
I was intrigued by the main storyline as well. Writing stories about historical events like the Holocaust are dangerous endeavors. Yet Toyne not only does it justice but comes at it from an angle few would dare take. I certainly didn't expect the revelations in the end.
Simon Toyne is an excellent writer. He's developed characters, like Creed, we root for even as their flaws begin to show. There is a depth and complexity to his writing that many don't achieve.
I know Toyne intended to make a comment about the changing political landscape. I wish I didn't know that. Whether I agree with that message is mute. I read books for greater truths and there are many here that will survive individual moments in time. I'd prefer to think of those greater truth about who we are and what defines us rather than the story of these next four years and current shifts in politics, which am inundated with continually on TV.
Congratulations to Simon Toyne for creating a character I look forward to watching grow over hopefully many great novels in the future.
I was intrigued by the main storyline as well. Writing stories about historical events like the Holocaust are dangerous endeavors. Yet Toyne not only does it justice but comes at it from an angle few would dare take. I certainly didn't expect the revelations in the end.
Simon Toyne is an excellent writer. He's developed characters, like Creed, we root for even as their flaws begin to show. There is a depth and complexity to his writing that many don't achieve.
I know Toyne intended to make a comment about the changing political landscape. I wish I didn't know that. Whether I agree with that message is mute. I read books for greater truths and there are many here that will survive individual moments in time. I'd prefer to think of those greater truth about who we are and what defines us rather than the story of these next four years and current shifts in politics, which am inundated with continually on TV.
Congratulations to Simon Toyne for creating a character I look forward to watching grow over hopefully many great novels in the future.
August 20, 2017
The Boy who saw is a novel which reminded me of two prominent authors, neither of which, I suspect, the author will find a poor comparison. They are Dean Koontz and Dan Brown, Dean Koontz for the 'Chase' structure, with the central characters pursued from the start by several parties- even if not in the horror sense, but the thriller - hence the connection to Dan Brown and his Robert Langdon novels.
The structure of the book is such that the pace moves quickly, and each scene change to a different group of characters brings a new chapter, which makes it easy to follow.
The subject matter is also one which could always be contentious but it is well written and treats the central theme of anti-semitism and it's modern parallels against Islam well, touching on this frequently without ever becoming contentious.
The central characters are Solomon Creed, an enigmatic character who has no memory of who he is, but who has many special talents and a young boy (who sees emotions as colours) and his mother - daughter of an old Jew murdered at the start of the book, and the ones targeted throughout by the killer and others, but protected by both Solomon and a policeman with a connection to the mother.
To give more plot detail would be a spoiler, but the chase runs throughout France, with a climax at Mulhouse war camp museum and a twist which, whilst not wholly unexpected, turned an average novel into a good one.
The structure of the book is such that the pace moves quickly, and each scene change to a different group of characters brings a new chapter, which makes it easy to follow.
The subject matter is also one which could always be contentious but it is well written and treats the central theme of anti-semitism and it's modern parallels against Islam well, touching on this frequently without ever becoming contentious.
The central characters are Solomon Creed, an enigmatic character who has no memory of who he is, but who has many special talents and a young boy (who sees emotions as colours) and his mother - daughter of an old Jew murdered at the start of the book, and the ones targeted throughout by the killer and others, but protected by both Solomon and a policeman with a connection to the mother.
To give more plot detail would be a spoiler, but the chase runs throughout France, with a climax at Mulhouse war camp museum and a twist which, whilst not wholly unexpected, turned an average novel into a good one.
January 10, 2018
Writing classes teach that you should start a story with a hook, but this is the first time I have ever seen the advice taken literally. The first scene in this book is, as they say, not for the squeamish.
The other thing this book has is the subtitle: “A gripping thriller that will keep your hooked.” How arrogant, I thought; how dare they try to tell me how I am going to respond. But then I continued reading the book and discovered that the subtitle was literally true. I have never felt so thoroughly hooked (and, as Maxwell Smart would have said, loving it.)
The Boy Who Saw is the sequel to Toyne’s Solomon Creed. Those who have read the first book will be familiar with the structure. It is composed of 112 short chapters, almost all of which contain some form of hook, most of them quite powerful. I found the book extremely well structured, and the chapters fit together almost like 112 jigsaw puzzle pieces. In fact, I would highly recommend the book to anyone wanting to create a tightly written thriller.
I do not intend to say much about the story, because anything I say is likely to be a spoiler.
Suffice it to say that Solomon has moved from America to France, and that Solomon has got himself involved in another complicated plot, one which has nothing to do with the plot of the first book.
Some reviewers have complained that the book is not as good as the first, but I found it much better, for the reasons I outlined above. I highly recommend it.
The other thing this book has is the subtitle: “A gripping thriller that will keep your hooked.” How arrogant, I thought; how dare they try to tell me how I am going to respond. But then I continued reading the book and discovered that the subtitle was literally true. I have never felt so thoroughly hooked (and, as Maxwell Smart would have said, loving it.)
The Boy Who Saw is the sequel to Toyne’s Solomon Creed. Those who have read the first book will be familiar with the structure. It is composed of 112 short chapters, almost all of which contain some form of hook, most of them quite powerful. I found the book extremely well structured, and the chapters fit together almost like 112 jigsaw puzzle pieces. In fact, I would highly recommend the book to anyone wanting to create a tightly written thriller.
I do not intend to say much about the story, because anything I say is likely to be a spoiler.
Suffice it to say that Solomon has moved from America to France, and that Solomon has got himself involved in another complicated plot, one which has nothing to do with the plot of the first book.
Some reviewers have complained that the book is not as good as the first, but I found it much better, for the reasons I outlined above. I highly recommend it.
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