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Zodiac
"Four murdes in four different locations, four strange marks on the victims - and the only thing they hve in common is that all the victims were all born in the little spa town of Voineasa in the Romanian sub-Carpathian region.
The fast-paced narrative switches between streets of Bucharest and the wooded hills of Voineasa. The novel cleverly blends well-worn serial killer tropes with an inside look at a secretive team of state-supported asassins."
Marina Sofia - "Findingtimetowrite" - contributor to Crime Fiction Lover
The fast-paced narrative switches between streets of Bucharest and the wooded hills of Voineasa. The novel cleverly blends well-worn serial killer tropes with an inside look at a secretive team of state-supported asassins."
Marina Sofia - "Findingtimetowrite" - contributor to Crime Fiction Lover
220 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 16, 2020
Visit the locations in the novel
We’re all familiar with Scandi Noir, Tartan Noir and all the Noirs in between. This is the new kid on the block and Romanian Noir is going to make its presence felt. Think bikes, gangs, spies, underground justice and you have this thriller to enjoy. An investigator and cop duo with a case to solve but deeply embedded in their own problems.
The second in a series, but can be read as a standalone. First one in the series to be translated into English…
Romanian Noir tickle your taste buds? This Noir thriller is set in the Romanian town of Bucharest. The smaller town of Voineasa to be precise.
Sergiu is an investigator and along with a local cop, Marius, starts working on a case. Four bodies. Body parts discovered scattered around the city. They bear markings that are shockingly similar to each other making the detectives think that they may have a serial killer on their hands. This is not going to be an easy case and it’s all the more tricky since Sergiu and Marius are hardly working from the same page. Sergiu in particular has secrets and dramas of his own to keep hidden. Dramas which could have serious consequences for him, Marius and everyone else.
This is Romania and I had no idea how the police service worked there. How would the two characters work together? It was fascinating to see how such an investigation would pan out. The working relationship between these two was unique and I could never tell how one was going to behave and how their conversations were going to go, never mind the investigation. This was going into the unknown, the dangerous unknown and it was an exciting ride.
I’m not familiar with Romanian Noir but this would entice me to read another, that’s for sure. The unusual setting adds that bit of spice to criminal proceedings. You can’t guess what’s going to happen, how the justice system works and how the other layers of the justice system might interact with each other.
That cover captures the mood of the novel perfectly – it’s raw, violent, graphic in places and boy does it pack a punch in more ways than one.
April 30, 2019
„Zodiac” nu este o completare a primei cărți, este punctul culminant, partea care îl dezvăluie pe Sergiu Manta întru totul și îți activează un fel de fanatism la adresa lui. Dacă îl cunoșteam ca pe un familist înstrăinat, este mai mult și mai trist de atât; dacă era un IT-ist sau simplu îngrijitor, este și mai abil în cadre mortale; dacă era prieten bun, este năpastă pentru cei ce se apropie de el. Pătruns în cercul lui Sergiu Manta, un cititor are parte de un amalgam de senzații. „Zodiac” este o lectură antrenantă, una în care dedici atenție și simpatii.
https://ideilaintamplare.blogspot.com...
https://ideilaintamplare.blogspot.com...
March 28, 2020
I received Zodiac by Amamaria Ionescu for free in exchange for an honest review as part of a blog tour for Love Books Tours. Review also on Book, Blog & Candle.
Trigger Warnings: swearing, sexual themes, rape
In Zodiac, Chief Inspector Marius Stanescu of the police force is investigating the death of an old woman when it turns out that it could be connected to a string of murders by a possible serial killer. The only connection between them being their birthplace and an imprint of a zodiac sign left behind on their bodies. Now he has to partner up with the mysterious Sergiu Manta. Little does he know that Sergui is a trained spy working for the secretive "The Agency" and is not necessarily going to be following proper police protocol to catch this killer.
Marius is your classic, stubborn, by-the-book police inspector. He is a family man, with a wife and an unborn child on the way. He has a high moral conscience and wants to do the job properly so that they can bring this killer to justice.
On the other hand we have Sergiu who is cheeky with a good sense of humour and is a bit of a charmer but he is also not afraid to play dirty to get the job done. Even if it means having to sneak behind Marius' back so that he can fulfil his employers' orders of killing the murderer on sight.
Sergiu was recruited into "The Agency" when they gave him a choice between a twenty year jail sentence for a crime he committed or work for them. Easy choice right? However, this lifestyle comes with consequences. Sergui has had to abandon his previous life and loved ones and if anybody gets too close to the truth they are systemically taken out by "The Agency". Which could be a problem as Marius is getting more suspicious of Sergui everyday and is getting closer to putting his own life in jeopardy.
I love this dynamic so much and it really reminds me of Neal Caffrey from White Collar where Neal, a convicted con artist, spends his jail sentence helping the FBI catch criminals instead of in a jail cell.
Morally grey characters like Sergiu always make a story interesting because it is so hard to predict what they're going to do next. Especially in comparison to morally good characters such as Marius. It's great to see how much they end up influencing each other as the story goes on.
Additionally, I loved how the story was set in Romania! It's so different to what I've read before and also a place that I would love to visit so I found it absolutely fascinating.
Zodiac was captivating right from the start and it was so thrilling I felt like I was in an episode of Criminal Minds which is one of my favourite TV shows! I loved how it was a mix of a classic cop story and an action filled spy story - it is definitely worth a read.
Trigger Warnings: swearing, sexual themes, rape
In Zodiac, Chief Inspector Marius Stanescu of the police force is investigating the death of an old woman when it turns out that it could be connected to a string of murders by a possible serial killer. The only connection between them being their birthplace and an imprint of a zodiac sign left behind on their bodies. Now he has to partner up with the mysterious Sergiu Manta. Little does he know that Sergui is a trained spy working for the secretive "The Agency" and is not necessarily going to be following proper police protocol to catch this killer.
Marius is your classic, stubborn, by-the-book police inspector. He is a family man, with a wife and an unborn child on the way. He has a high moral conscience and wants to do the job properly so that they can bring this killer to justice.
On the other hand we have Sergiu who is cheeky with a good sense of humour and is a bit of a charmer but he is also not afraid to play dirty to get the job done. Even if it means having to sneak behind Marius' back so that he can fulfil his employers' orders of killing the murderer on sight.
Sergiu was recruited into "The Agency" when they gave him a choice between a twenty year jail sentence for a crime he committed or work for them. Easy choice right? However, this lifestyle comes with consequences. Sergui has had to abandon his previous life and loved ones and if anybody gets too close to the truth they are systemically taken out by "The Agency". Which could be a problem as Marius is getting more suspicious of Sergui everyday and is getting closer to putting his own life in jeopardy.
I love this dynamic so much and it really reminds me of Neal Caffrey from White Collar where Neal, a convicted con artist, spends his jail sentence helping the FBI catch criminals instead of in a jail cell.
Morally grey characters like Sergiu always make a story interesting because it is so hard to predict what they're going to do next. Especially in comparison to morally good characters such as Marius. It's great to see how much they end up influencing each other as the story goes on.
Additionally, I loved how the story was set in Romania! It's so different to what I've read before and also a place that I would love to visit so I found it absolutely fascinating.
Zodiac was captivating right from the start and it was so thrilling I felt like I was in an episode of Criminal Minds which is one of my favourite TV shows! I loved how it was a mix of a classic cop story and an action filled spy story - it is definitely worth a read.
April 12, 2020
What a roller coaster of a book Zodiac by Anamaria Ionescu is! A beautiful translation from Romanian published by the newly editorial enterprise of Corylus Books, it leads the reader through a maze of facts and characters - so many characters - as well as harsh rivalries between various branches of intelligence agencies.
The entire reading experience looks like a race, that starts slowly, as a casual jogging and ends up as a fight for survival. Of the fittest, obviously.
Zodiac is the second installment of what the author calls Sergiu Manta series, but you don´t have to read the first book in order to understand what it is all about. There is enough information about Sergiu Manta in the story, and believe, me, by enough I meant a lot of information.
Manta, together with a couple of colleagues from law enforcement institutions is called to investigate successive murders that although targeting persons of different status do have a certain pattern, including a mysterious mark left on the victims´ body. The investigation that takes place in various locations in Romania, in Bucharest and the mountainous region of Voineasa, and opens up a complex web of facts and characters with well hidden secrets, complicated histories and human weaknesses. Maybe there are way too many human weaknesses for their jobs but...remember James Bond?
Neither of the characters are what they seemed to be and this is what makes this relatively short yet intensive read hard to put down.
What I also liked about the book is the local ambiance and the many references about the recent Romanian history, which as the story from Zodiac, is far from being simple and that can be also read as a Noir story.
I am personally very curious about the next titles the courageous edition project of Corylus Books will bring on the English-speaking market and I am definitely happy that works of authors from this part of the world are translated and thus made available to a wider audience. Many of them deserve it.
Rating: 4 stars
Disclaimer: Book offered by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
The entire reading experience looks like a race, that starts slowly, as a casual jogging and ends up as a fight for survival. Of the fittest, obviously.
Zodiac is the second installment of what the author calls Sergiu Manta series, but you don´t have to read the first book in order to understand what it is all about. There is enough information about Sergiu Manta in the story, and believe, me, by enough I meant a lot of information.
Manta, together with a couple of colleagues from law enforcement institutions is called to investigate successive murders that although targeting persons of different status do have a certain pattern, including a mysterious mark left on the victims´ body. The investigation that takes place in various locations in Romania, in Bucharest and the mountainous region of Voineasa, and opens up a complex web of facts and characters with well hidden secrets, complicated histories and human weaknesses. Maybe there are way too many human weaknesses for their jobs but...remember James Bond?
Neither of the characters are what they seemed to be and this is what makes this relatively short yet intensive read hard to put down.
What I also liked about the book is the local ambiance and the many references about the recent Romanian history, which as the story from Zodiac, is far from being simple and that can be also read as a Noir story.
I am personally very curious about the next titles the courageous edition project of Corylus Books will bring on the English-speaking market and I am definitely happy that works of authors from this part of the world are translated and thus made available to a wider audience. Many of them deserve it.
Rating: 4 stars
Disclaimer: Book offered by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
March 25, 2020
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thanks to Lovebooktours & Corylus books and the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: When investigator Sergiu Manta is handed the investigation into a series of bizarre murders, he can't sure what he's getting involved in as he has to work with regular detective Marius Stanescu, who has his own suspicions about the biker he has been told to work with, and wants to get to the truth. The twists and turns of their investigation takes them from the city of Bucharest to the mountains of rural Romania, and back.
Thoughts: What an easy read this book was. Full of banter between the characters, murder, drama and lust. This book ticked all the boxes. The main character Sergiu is such a likeable character, a good investigator with lots of secrets and such a ladies man. He has partnered up with cop Marius who is suspicious of Sergiu but seems like a nice guy. The other main character is a guy Sergiu works with who does all the snooping on the computer called Dragos, he’s like his sidekick. Highly recommend!
Synopsis: When investigator Sergiu Manta is handed the investigation into a series of bizarre murders, he can't sure what he's getting involved in as he has to work with regular detective Marius Stanescu, who has his own suspicions about the biker he has been told to work with, and wants to get to the truth. The twists and turns of their investigation takes them from the city of Bucharest to the mountains of rural Romania, and back.
Thoughts: What an easy read this book was. Full of banter between the characters, murder, drama and lust. This book ticked all the boxes. The main character Sergiu is such a likeable character, a good investigator with lots of secrets and such a ladies man. He has partnered up with cop Marius who is suspicious of Sergiu but seems like a nice guy. The other main character is a guy Sergiu works with who does all the snooping on the computer called Dragos, he’s like his sidekick. Highly recommend!
March 26, 2020
This book is her first Romanian novel that has been translated into English and it’s a quick, enjoyable read!
Synopsis:
When investigator Sergiu Mantra is handed the investigation into a series of bizarre murders, he can’t be sure what he’s getting involved in. He has been paired to work with regular detective Marius Stanescu, who has his own suspicions about the mysterious biker, and wants to get to the truth. The twists and turns of their investigation take them from the city of Bucharest to the mountains of rural Romania and back.
My review:
I enjoyed this book and would recommend it if you are looking for a quick and easy read about a criminal investigation. The two main characters show the benefits and the struggles of the local police and secret agents working together on a case. The book didn’t have me gripped so much that I couldn’t put it down, however I did enjoy the plot and the setting of Romania.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)
Synopsis:
When investigator Sergiu Mantra is handed the investigation into a series of bizarre murders, he can’t be sure what he’s getting involved in. He has been paired to work with regular detective Marius Stanescu, who has his own suspicions about the mysterious biker, and wants to get to the truth. The twists and turns of their investigation take them from the city of Bucharest to the mountains of rural Romania and back.
My review:
I enjoyed this book and would recommend it if you are looking for a quick and easy read about a criminal investigation. The two main characters show the benefits and the struggles of the local police and secret agents working together on a case. The book didn’t have me gripped so much that I couldn’t put it down, however I did enjoy the plot and the setting of Romania.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)
May 25, 2020
Zodiac is the 2nd book of the Sergiu Manta Series and the first to be translated into English.
I was captivated by Zodiac right from the first page. Anamarie wrote this extremely well and in a way that you felt you were reading a script for a crime drama, scene by scene. This is slightly different to what I'm used to, but I found as long as I paced myself and didnt speed through it I could keep up with the scene jumps and found that I completely enjoyed her writing style. Although this is a fast paced thriller do not be fooled that being only 218 pages long you can speed through this quickly. This is a book to savour and enjoy.
I can honestly say that I fell in love with the main protagonaist Sergiu, he was an unpredicatable, motorbike riding, charming "Agency" man willing to do whatever it takes no matter what the cost.
His character was in stark contrast to Marius who was a typical police inspector and family man with a moral conscience. This worked well alongside Sergiu's character and didnt give you that typical good cop, bad cop feel. They complimented each other well.
The plot was fantastic, and just when I thought I had it all figured out the twist came along and surprised me completely!
I cant wait to read more of the series and hope that the first book gets translated so I can read this too!
If you are a fan of fast paced thrillers I highly recommend this!
Trigger Warnings: swearing, sexual themes, rape, murder, guns, violence
I received Zodiac by Amamaria Ionescu for free in exchange for an honest review from Love Book Tours and Corylus Books.
I was captivated by Zodiac right from the first page. Anamarie wrote this extremely well and in a way that you felt you were reading a script for a crime drama, scene by scene. This is slightly different to what I'm used to, but I found as long as I paced myself and didnt speed through it I could keep up with the scene jumps and found that I completely enjoyed her writing style. Although this is a fast paced thriller do not be fooled that being only 218 pages long you can speed through this quickly. This is a book to savour and enjoy.
I can honestly say that I fell in love with the main protagonaist Sergiu, he was an unpredicatable, motorbike riding, charming "Agency" man willing to do whatever it takes no matter what the cost.
His character was in stark contrast to Marius who was a typical police inspector and family man with a moral conscience. This worked well alongside Sergiu's character and didnt give you that typical good cop, bad cop feel. They complimented each other well.
The plot was fantastic, and just when I thought I had it all figured out the twist came along and surprised me completely!
I cant wait to read more of the series and hope that the first book gets translated so I can read this too!
If you are a fan of fast paced thrillers I highly recommend this!
Trigger Warnings: swearing, sexual themes, rape, murder, guns, violence
I received Zodiac by Amamaria Ionescu for free in exchange for an honest review from Love Book Tours and Corylus Books.
March 28, 2020
#2 in the series featuring Sergiu Manta. It can also be read as a stand-alone.
Set in Romania this is in Bucharest and a small town of Voineasa.
Four bodies are found, in different locations though, all with similar marks on their bodies. Is a serial killer at work and what is the link to Voineasa?
Sergiu is the investigator and is tasked with working alongside a cop, Marius. They are both wary of each other’s motives but both want the truth. Can a secret agent and a cop work together?
This is a quick, fast paced read with a clever plot with plenty of intrigue and twists to keep your attention from start to finish.
Thank you to Kelly at Love Book Tours for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour, for the promotional material and a free copy of the book. This is my honest and unbiased review.
Set in Romania this is in Bucharest and a small town of Voineasa.
Four bodies are found, in different locations though, all with similar marks on their bodies. Is a serial killer at work and what is the link to Voineasa?
Sergiu is the investigator and is tasked with working alongside a cop, Marius. They are both wary of each other’s motives but both want the truth. Can a secret agent and a cop work together?
This is a quick, fast paced read with a clever plot with plenty of intrigue and twists to keep your attention from start to finish.
Thank you to Kelly at Love Book Tours for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour, for the promotional material and a free copy of the book. This is my honest and unbiased review.
March 25, 2020
I always enjoy reading translated books with their atmospheric settings. The cultural differences, add depth and interest to the story. This is a crime fiction book set in Romania, partly in the capital city Bucharest, and partly in the rural mountainous region. The investigative team are interesting characters, and despite their different ways of working, they prove to be effective. The second in the series, it reads well as a standalone, as I have not read book 1 yet.
The story's dark crimes are balanced by the investigative team's interactions, which add to the characters' authenticity and charisma. The fast-paced plot flows well, making this an enjoyable crime novel to read.
I received a copy of this book from Corylus Books in return for an honest review.
The story's dark crimes are balanced by the investigative team's interactions, which add to the characters' authenticity and charisma. The fast-paced plot flows well, making this an enjoyable crime novel to read.
I received a copy of this book from Corylus Books in return for an honest review.
June 27, 2020
I didn't really get on with this book. I struggled to hear the different voices - I felt they all sounded the same. I was interested enough in the plot to keep going, but I felt the chapters were over long and kept jumping about too much. I kept having to reread bits, which is unusual for me.
*with thanks to Quentin Bates for the advanced copy*
*with thanks to Quentin Bates for the advanced copy*
March 4, 2025
Four victims. Four different locations. One strange mark on the bodies and one geographical link: all were born in Voineasa.
In this slim Romanian noir novel, trained killer Sergiu Manta and police inspector Marius Stanescu are forced to work together to find out how these four disparate deaths are connected. Sergiu has his orders and Marius has his, but what will happen when these come into conflict?
-- What's it about? --
Meet Sergiu Manta, trained killer, reluctant loner and highly skilled ladies man.
'In time one learns how to end a beautiful night. You know the definition of a perfect lover, don't you?'
'Go on. Tell me.'
'A man who makes love all night and turns into a pizza in the morning.'
Although Sergiu and Marius quickly begin to establish links between the victims, the killer's motives remains opaque, until Sergiu catches a glimpse of their aggressor and has a disturbing realisation.
-- What's it like? --
Fast paced, dark and ultimately chilling. Ionescu's story is largely told through dialogue and events unfold at a brisk pace. By the end of chapter one, the four bodies and main investigators have been briefly introduced and the scene is set for further drama!
Reading about life in Romania made an interesting change and although 'Zodiac' is apparently the second book featuring Sergiu Manta, this worked perfectly well as a standalone.
-- Final thoughts --
Described as 'an assassin with a conscience', Sergiu is an interesting character and the real appeal of this story lies less in the whodunnit and more in the relationship between Sergiu and Marius. Both are very good at their job, but they mostly maintain a truce that almost segues into harmony, until they reach the breaking point...
An excellent spy / noir thriller with an intriguing setting.
Many thanks to Marina Sofia of Corylus books for providing me with a free copy of this book. This is my honest review.
In this slim Romanian noir novel, trained killer Sergiu Manta and police inspector Marius Stanescu are forced to work together to find out how these four disparate deaths are connected. Sergiu has his orders and Marius has his, but what will happen when these come into conflict?
-- What's it about? --
Meet Sergiu Manta, trained killer, reluctant loner and highly skilled ladies man.
'In time one learns how to end a beautiful night. You know the definition of a perfect lover, don't you?'
'Go on. Tell me.'
'A man who makes love all night and turns into a pizza in the morning.'
Although Sergiu and Marius quickly begin to establish links between the victims, the killer's motives remains opaque, until Sergiu catches a glimpse of their aggressor and has a disturbing realisation.
-- What's it like? --
Fast paced, dark and ultimately chilling. Ionescu's story is largely told through dialogue and events unfold at a brisk pace. By the end of chapter one, the four bodies and main investigators have been briefly introduced and the scene is set for further drama!
Reading about life in Romania made an interesting change and although 'Zodiac' is apparently the second book featuring Sergiu Manta, this worked perfectly well as a standalone.
-- Final thoughts --
Described as 'an assassin with a conscience', Sergiu is an interesting character and the real appeal of this story lies less in the whodunnit and more in the relationship between Sergiu and Marius. Both are very good at their job, but they mostly maintain a truce that almost segues into harmony, until they reach the breaking point...
An excellent spy / noir thriller with an intriguing setting.
Many thanks to Marina Sofia of Corylus books for providing me with a free copy of this book. This is my honest review.
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