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Will Piper #1
Library of the Dead
The most shocking secret in the history of mankind is about to be revealed...A murderer is on the loose on the streets of New York City: nicknamed the Doomsday Killer, he's claimed six victims in just two weeks, and the city is terrified. Even worse, the police are mystified: the victims have nothing in common, defying all profiling, and all that connects them is that each received a sick postcard in the mail before they died - a postcard that announced their date of death. In desperation, the FBI assigns the case to maverick agent Will Piper, once the most accomplished serial killing expert in the bureau's history, now on a dissolute spiral to retirement. Battling his own demons, Will is soon drawn back into a world he both loves and hates, determined to catch the killer whatever it takes. But his search takes him in a direction he could never have predicted, uncovering a shocking secret that has been closely guarded for centuries. A secret that once lay buried in an underground library beneath an 8th Century monastery, but which has now been unearthed - with deadly consequences. A select few defend the secret of the library with their lives - and as Will closes in on the truth, they are determined to stop him, at any cost...
Some crimes should never be solved; some secrets are best left buried.
Secret of the Seventh Son is a debut thriller by Glenn Cooper about predestination and fate.
Some crimes should never be solved; some secrets are best left buried.
Secret of the Seventh Son is a debut thriller by Glenn Cooper about predestination and fate.
410 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
About the author
Glenn Cooper
33 books1,155 followersGlenn Cooper is an internationally bestselling thriller writer.
Glenn was born in New York City and grew up in nearby White Plains. He attended White Plains High School before enrolling at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts where he graduated from Harvard with an honors degree in archaeology. He then attended Tufts University School of Medicine and did his post-doctoral training at the New England Deaconess and the Massachusetts General Hospitals becoming a board-certified specialist in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases. After practicing medicine, Glenn began a research career in the pharmaceutical industry which culminated in an eighteen-year position as the Chairman and CEO of a biotechnology company in Massachusetts. Glenn began writing screenplays over twenty years ago and his interest in movies prompted him to attend the graduate program in film production at Boston University. He is currently the chairman of a media company, Lascaux Media, which has produced three independent feature-length films. In 2006 Glenn turned his hand to novel-writing. His debut novel, THE LIBRARY OF THE DEAD, the first in a trilogy, became an international bestseller and was translated into thirty languages. All of his seven published books have become top-ten international best-sellers.
Glenn currently lives in New Hampshire.
Glenn was born in New York City and grew up in nearby White Plains. He attended White Plains High School before enrolling at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts where he graduated from Harvard with an honors degree in archaeology. He then attended Tufts University School of Medicine and did his post-doctoral training at the New England Deaconess and the Massachusetts General Hospitals becoming a board-certified specialist in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases. After practicing medicine, Glenn began a research career in the pharmaceutical industry which culminated in an eighteen-year position as the Chairman and CEO of a biotechnology company in Massachusetts. Glenn began writing screenplays over twenty years ago and his interest in movies prompted him to attend the graduate program in film production at Boston University. He is currently the chairman of a media company, Lascaux Media, which has produced three independent feature-length films. In 2006 Glenn turned his hand to novel-writing. His debut novel, THE LIBRARY OF THE DEAD, the first in a trilogy, became an international bestseller and was translated into thirty languages. All of his seven published books have become top-ten international best-sellers.
Glenn currently lives in New Hampshire.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,209 reviews
November 15, 2016
Meni je ovo super! Malo krimić, pa malo crkvenih tajni iz prošlosti, a uz sve skupa politika i Area 51. Volim ovakve knjige a la' Dan Brown. Krećem sa sljedećom iz serijala.
November 2, 2010
Oh good lord, can you say cliched? There were some interesting and occasionally chilling moments in this book but they were few and far between. The main character was appallingly misogynistic - he's only attracted to the main love interest when she's lost weight and basically changed her personality. The main antagonist was a far more believable and sympathetic character than the hero whose characterisation kept this novel at severely third level thriller.
The basic premise was interesting enough that I picked up the sequel - Book of Souls - but the main character has reached new levels of loathesomeness so I won't be continuing with it.
The basic premise was interesting enough that I picked up the sequel - Book of Souls - but the main character has reached new levels of loathesomeness so I won't be continuing with it.
August 21, 2021
4,5
Esta novela es la primera parte de una trilogía, y aunque si que puede quedarse cerrada, siempre puede tirar de algun tema que ha quedado mas en el aire y seguir con la historia.
La novelas esta contada en varios tiempos, hay varias ligas temporales que finalmente todas estaran relacionadas de una forma u otra.
Por un lado tenemos la historia en el siglo VII, donde un niño que vive en la abadía británica de Vectis, escribe una lista con nombres y fechas sin ninguna lógica... ademas consideran a este niño hijo del diablo, por ser el séptimo hijo, nacido en el séptimo mes del año 777.
Por otro lado, en Nueva York en la actualidad, tenemos a una asesino en serie, no dejan de aparecer cadaveres, y la carta del asesino, es una postal con un ataúd, donde aparece la fecha de la muerte y el nombre, y se sabe que estas cartas, aparecen con antelación...
Quizá el comienzo en un poco lento, pero una vez que coge ritmo, para mi ha sido un no parar, y muy adictivo, quizá con partes mas densas y menos entretenidos, pero con una tensión constante.
.
Los personajes están muy bien estructurados, son personajes reales, y destaco sin lugar a duda al agente Will y a su compañera Nancy, que hacen una pareja magnifica para resolver el caso.
Asique es un libro que recomiendo leer y si quieres pararte y no seguir con la trilogía puede quedar cerrado.
Esta novela es la primera parte de una trilogía, y aunque si que puede quedarse cerrada, siempre puede tirar de algun tema que ha quedado mas en el aire y seguir con la historia.
La novelas esta contada en varios tiempos, hay varias ligas temporales que finalmente todas estaran relacionadas de una forma u otra.
Por un lado tenemos la historia en el siglo VII, donde un niño que vive en la abadía británica de Vectis, escribe una lista con nombres y fechas sin ninguna lógica... ademas consideran a este niño hijo del diablo, por ser el séptimo hijo, nacido en el séptimo mes del año 777.
Por otro lado, en Nueva York en la actualidad, tenemos a una asesino en serie, no dejan de aparecer cadaveres, y la carta del asesino, es una postal con un ataúd, donde aparece la fecha de la muerte y el nombre, y se sabe que estas cartas, aparecen con antelación...
Quizá el comienzo en un poco lento, pero una vez que coge ritmo, para mi ha sido un no parar, y muy adictivo, quizá con partes mas densas y menos entretenidos, pero con una tensión constante.
.
Los personajes están muy bien estructurados, son personajes reales, y destaco sin lugar a duda al agente Will y a su compañera Nancy, que hacen una pareja magnifica para resolver el caso.
Asique es un libro que recomiendo leer y si quieres pararte y no seguir con la trilogía puede quedar cerrado.
November 30, 2021
Que coñazo de libro. Ni te cuenta una cosa, ni otra. Un batiburrillo soporífero.
December 19, 2014
Ovako... priča prati tri vremenska toka: 777g, 1947g i 2009g. Ona koja seže daleko u prošlost mi je bila i najzanimljivija dok ova koja prati sadašnjost nekako najslabija. Priča kao priča jeste interesantna i donekle te vuče da što pre iščitaš kraj ali generalno realizacija je dosta slaba. Sve je dosta plitko, sterilno (pogotovo kad su likovi upitanju) ali zbog same priče može se preći i preko toga. Moja osnovna zamerka je što nikako nije objašnjeno zbog čega se sve to desilo, šta je bio uzrok, zašto baš tamo... makar da su sve na kraju pripisali Božijoj volji opet bi bilo neko objašnjenje (koje mi se ne bi svidelo, al je objašnjeno). Ovako događaji koji su se desili 7.07.777g su se desili i to je to. Na nama ja da to prihvatimo i usresredimo se na posledice koje su zatim usledile.
Sam kraj knjige mi je bio više dosadan nego uzbudljiv jer ne trebaš biti mnogo pametan pa shvatiti kako će se sve završiti.
Knjiga je idelano štivo za plažu ili kad niste raspoloženi za neke ozbiljnije naslove al ne očekujte Dena Brauna ili nešto slično.
Dvoumim se dal da pročitam i nastavak.....
Sam kraj knjige mi je bio više dosadan nego uzbudljiv jer ne trebaš biti mnogo pametan pa shvatiti kako će se sve završiti.
Knjiga je idelano štivo za plažu ili kad niste raspoloženi za neke ozbiljnije naslove al ne očekujte Dena Brauna ili nešto slično.
Dvoumim se dal da pročitam i nastavak.....
March 22, 2017
pročitano nabrzaka, znači sasvim OK zabava
plićeg nivoa no ide lijepo vrijeme pa mi odgovara lakša literatura, tkogod slično razmišljao neka slobodno ponese do plaže/bazena :)
jedna slabija trojka
plićeg nivoa no ide lijepo vrijeme pa mi odgovara lakša literatura, tkogod slično razmišljao neka slobodno ponese do plaže/bazena :)
jedna slabija trojka
October 11, 2020
Leído en 2011.
Uno de los best seller del momento. Sin profundidades temáticas o de personajes (¿no os he dicho que es un best seller?), cumple perfectamente : ágil, engancha y la temática es original.
Uno de los best seller del momento. Sin profundidades temáticas o de personajes (¿no os he dicho que es un best seller?), cumple perfectamente : ágil, engancha y la temática es original.
October 19, 2015
Libro pessimo, sotto tanti punti di vista. Tralasciando il fatto che e' sessista, omofobo, razzista e con una narrazione piatta quanto il tavoliere delle puglie quello che più mi ha infastidito e' l'errore macroscopico nella trama. L'autore e i suoi editori non si sono dati la pena di fare un banale calcolo matematico che verificasse l'accuratezza dei numeri. Si parla di 700.000 libri, 200 miliardi di nomi, scritti in 450 anni da decine di ammanuensi. Non ci vuole il più volte citato pitagora per capire che i conti non tornano. In un libro di 2000 pagine, con 3 colonne da 60 nomi per pagina, ci sono quindi 360 mila nomi. 200 miliardi diviso 360 mila fa 555,55 periodico, quindi facciamo 556 libri contando mille di fronte e mille di retro. 278 contando 2000 di fronte e duemila di retro. Non 700 mila. In piu' Cooper dice che Octavus scriveva diverse pagine fronte retro al giorno, quindi ipotizzando che ne so 4 facciate al giorno, con 720 nomi, e che abbia vissuto per facilita' di calcolo 64 anni, (ha iniziato a 4) avrebbe scritto da solo nella sua vita 15768000 nomi. Per arrivare a 200miliardi di nomi sarebbero bastati 16 ammanuensi, arrotondando per eccesso. Con un buon ritmo riproduttivo di un figlio all'anno entro l'810 dc sarebbero nati tutti (il primo nato era nel 795). Quindi il lavoro sarebbe stato compiuto in poco più di 45 anni! Non vi tedio oltre con la sottrazione dei primi 18 anni, lo scarto dei 4 di vuoto e così via. Basta fare, se volete verificare, 720*365*15 = 3942000 nomi e poi 200miliardi \ 3942000= 50, 73 anni a partire dall'810. Quindi mi spiegate cosa cazzo stessero scrivendo ancora nel 1297 se il lavoro era finito nell'860???? Inoltre dice che al 2009 meno di 100 miliardi di persone hanno vissuto sulla terra. Se la data della fine dei giorni e' nel 2027, e attualmente siamo sette miliardi, gli altri 93 miliardi di persone nasceranno tutte in meno di 20 anni???? Ok, io sono una nerd psicopatica, ma bastava il buon senso per capire che i conti non potevano tornare. Quindi bravo, bella schifezza cooper, che neanche ti preoccupi di verificare di sparare stronzate a caso!
September 2, 2020
Aunque “La biblioteca de los muertos” es una novela autoconclusiva, es la primera parte de una trilogía. Nos cuenta por una parte, la inquietante historia de un niño del siglo VII que vive en la abadía británica de Vectis donde convive con los monjes; empieza a escribir una lista donde aparecen varios nombres con fechas asignadas, sin ninguna lógica aparente; hasta que ocurre una muerte en la abadía coincidiendo con uno de los nombres de la lista.
Por otro lado, en Nueva York en la actualidad, se han encontrado nueve cadáveres, a los que les une un hilo común: todos habían recibido una postal con la imagen de un ataúd en la que se anunciaba la fecha de su muerte. Y es así como empieza una trama bastante interesante.
Narrada sin florituras entre líneas de tiempo separadas por siglos, con un ritmo ágil, trepidante y adictivo; nos mantiene totalmente enganchados con una tensión constante.
Los personajes están muy bien definidos, son tangibles y reales, destacando especialmente el agente Will Piper, un agente del FBI, retratado más como un antihéroe, puesto que a pesar de su gran inteligencia más que demostrada en casos anteriores, nos encontramos frente a un hombre que está viviendo el declive de su carrera profesional.
En definitiva, en un thriller con todas sus características y con una excelente idea desarrollada.
100% recomendado
Por otro lado, en Nueva York en la actualidad, se han encontrado nueve cadáveres, a los que les une un hilo común: todos habían recibido una postal con la imagen de un ataúd en la que se anunciaba la fecha de su muerte. Y es así como empieza una trama bastante interesante.
Narrada sin florituras entre líneas de tiempo separadas por siglos, con un ritmo ágil, trepidante y adictivo; nos mantiene totalmente enganchados con una tensión constante.
Los personajes están muy bien definidos, son tangibles y reales, destacando especialmente el agente Will Piper, un agente del FBI, retratado más como un antihéroe, puesto que a pesar de su gran inteligencia más que demostrada en casos anteriores, nos encontramos frente a un hombre que está viviendo el declive de su carrera profesional.
En definitiva, en un thriller con todas sus características y con una excelente idea desarrollada.
100% recomendado
May 2, 2009
Excellent! Those who haven't read it yet have a treat in store for them. This book lives up to its promotion and then some.
I was not too sure when I started if I was going to like it (slightly over-use of the F-word and a particular scene that was unsettling violence personally). But that all quickly fades into the background as the well-written story takes off.
I so don't want to ruin this masterfully written story for anyone else but if you like suspense, I heartily recommend Secret of the Seventh Son.
I was not too sure when I started if I was going to like it (slightly over-use of the F-word and a particular scene that was unsettling violence personally). But that all quickly fades into the background as the well-written story takes off.
I so don't want to ruin this masterfully written story for anyone else but if you like suspense, I heartily recommend Secret of the Seventh Son.
August 9, 2015
Sapete, in questi anni ho visto più volte sugli scaffali delle librerie e online i libri di Glenn Cooper, le trame misteriose mi hanno sempre incuriosita, eppure non sono mai riuscita a convincermi a leggerli.
Ho trovato "La biblioteca dei morti" in scambio e ho deciso di provarci, perchè no?
Una serie di strani omicidi, preannunciati da cartoline con sopra scritti nome e date della morte delle vittime, stanno allarmando le forze di polizia di New York che non riescono a spiegarsi quali possano essere i collegamenti tra le diverse morti.
Queste particolari circostanze fanno sì che sia richiesto l'intervento di Will Piper, un tempo rinomato agente caduto in disgrazia.
Cosa ne penso di lui? Ho trovato Will Piper un insieme di clichè: il tipico poliziotto donnaiolo, prestante al quale nessuna può dire di no, stronzo fino al midollo e arrogante.
Purtroppo anche la caratterizzazione della sua nuova partner per il caso lascia alquanto a desiderare: zelante, un po' in sovrappeso e insulsa, ma che riesce magicamente a trasformarsi nella donna perfetta per Will.
Non posso nascondervi che questi due personaggi mi hanno delusa, avrei preferito protagonisti un po' più originali, diversi insomma!
La storia in sé però non è male ed è riuscita a confondermi le idee: prima ero convinta di aver individuato l'assassino, poi sono arrivata a dubitare della sua esistenza.
Il punto di forza del romanzo è senza dubbio l'idea principale, sviluppata in capitoli che attraversano più secoli e che mi hanno affascinata.
C'è una parte del romanzo quindi che mi ha stupita e colta di sorpresa, mentre un'altra mi ha delusa e amareggiata.
Un ultimo aspetto positivo è il finale che rende il romanzo in un certo senso autoconclusivo, cosa che mi permetterà di non leggere gli altri due volumi.
Per concludere, un libro che sono riuscita ad apprezzare per metà e dal quale mi aspettavo qualcosa di più.
Ho trovato "La biblioteca dei morti" in scambio e ho deciso di provarci, perchè no?
Una serie di strani omicidi, preannunciati da cartoline con sopra scritti nome e date della morte delle vittime, stanno allarmando le forze di polizia di New York che non riescono a spiegarsi quali possano essere i collegamenti tra le diverse morti.
Queste particolari circostanze fanno sì che sia richiesto l'intervento di Will Piper, un tempo rinomato agente caduto in disgrazia.
Cosa ne penso di lui? Ho trovato Will Piper un insieme di clichè: il tipico poliziotto donnaiolo, prestante al quale nessuna può dire di no, stronzo fino al midollo e arrogante.
Purtroppo anche la caratterizzazione della sua nuova partner per il caso lascia alquanto a desiderare: zelante, un po' in sovrappeso e insulsa, ma che riesce magicamente a trasformarsi nella donna perfetta per Will.
Non posso nascondervi che questi due personaggi mi hanno delusa, avrei preferito protagonisti un po' più originali, diversi insomma!
La storia in sé però non è male ed è riuscita a confondermi le idee: prima ero convinta di aver individuato l'assassino, poi sono arrivata a dubitare della sua esistenza.
Il punto di forza del romanzo è senza dubbio l'idea principale, sviluppata in capitoli che attraversano più secoli e che mi hanno affascinata.
C'è una parte del romanzo quindi che mi ha stupita e colta di sorpresa, mentre un'altra mi ha delusa e amareggiata.
Un ultimo aspetto positivo è il finale che rende il romanzo in un certo senso autoconclusivo, cosa che mi permetterà di non leggere gli altri due volumi.
Per concludere, un libro che sono riuscita ad apprezzare per metà e dal quale mi aspettavo qualcosa di più.
July 14, 2009
This book was a major disappointment. I remember commenting at page 80 that it seemed fairly predictable and nothing much happened beyond that point.
So basically there's this serial killer who sends postcards to his victims with a date and a coffin. They die on the date. Police are stumped and yet we, as the readers, know that there is a huge library full of the birth and death dates for everyone. It's obvious what's happening. Duh!
Major conspiracy, government coverup...blah blah blah.
The frustrating thing is that this idea had potential. I seized on a tiny comment made by a character that he had no problem killing people when he knew their death date. The moral condundrums this raises would have been really interesting to develop - as would the idea about predestination.
I was glad that the dog was alright though....
Unless you can read a copy for free and you don't have anything better to read, probably don't bother. It really isn't that original, well written or interesting.
So basically there's this serial killer who sends postcards to his victims with a date and a coffin. They die on the date. Police are stumped and yet we, as the readers, know that there is a huge library full of the birth and death dates for everyone. It's obvious what's happening. Duh!
Major conspiracy, government coverup...blah blah blah.
The frustrating thing is that this idea had potential. I seized on a tiny comment made by a character that he had no problem killing people when he knew their death date. The moral condundrums this raises would have been really interesting to develop - as would the idea about predestination.
I was glad that the dog was alright though....
Unless you can read a copy for free and you don't have anything better to read, probably don't bother. It really isn't that original, well written or interesting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 21, 2018
La idea. La idea es la clave de todo. La idea de la que parte esta novela además de muy interesante es altamente adictiva. Me encantó. ¿Y tú? Si pudieras... ¿consultarías la fecha de tu propia muerte?
August 7, 2017
somewhere between 3-3.5 stars
April 1, 2019
I'm done! I'm free! I've finally finished this piece of shit!
... Okay maybe it wasn't that bad. But it was pretty bad. And it took me more than a month to finish (partly because it was bad and partly because I was dumb enough to read it in Spanish).
Will Piper, FBI agent and certified Asshole™, gets assigned to a case where seemingly random people get a postcard with the date of their death a few days before they do, indeed, die, on the exact date the card predicted. He also needs to work with a new partner, Nancy, who is ca. 20 years younger than him. He can't stand her and he is of course going to have sex with her.
There's also whole chapters that are set in the 8th century and where monks are dealing with their monk problems.
Also there was a whole chapter about Churchill, at least if I didn't hallucinate that.
And it's related to Area 51 and a mysterious library and these monks back in 777 AD.
Anyway, what did I not like about this book?
1. Will Piper
Unfortunately, the main character. A 48 year-old alcoholic, who is apparently not as attractive as he used to be, but still attractive enough that every woman he meets wants to sleep with him. He also enjoys sexually harrassing the women who are unfortunate enough to have to work with him. Which is okay, because... he's secretly A Really Good Guy? I don't know.
When he first meets Nancy his thoughts are something like 'she'd be kind of attractive if she lost some weight :/'. And 200 pages later, progress: 'Finally, now that she has lost weight, and changed the parts of her character that I didn't like, I can sleep with her. .
Later, when they have a relationship (sort of), he casually considers that he would definitely cheat on her if the opportunity presented itself.
He feels like a self-insert character for every man over 45 who thinks that his boss is an asshole, feels that he's smarter than everyone around him, and imagines that every 20 year-old woman he meets wants to sleep with him. So I guess I'm simply not the right target group to understand the depth of his character.
2. The setup is ridiculous
This entire section is one big spoiler, sorry.
3. Not enough mystery
Okay, so the Spanish title ('The Library of the Dead') itself is one big spoiler, which is actually the dumbest thing I can think of. Who the fuck chose that title. But even without that, halfway through the book you already know most of what's going on. After that you mostly just wait for Will to catch on and figure out what you already know.
4. Everyone's a horrible person
Even apart from Will, who is only nice to women he wants to sleep with, none of the main characters are really likable. (Except Nancy, I guess, but as soon as she starts to like Will of all people I gave up on her as well.)
Every woman is rated immediately on how attractive she is, because even though the POV changes constantly, Will is unfortunately always there to take over. Also, more than once a character acts homophobic for absolutely no reason (by which I mean: why was that necessary for the plot again? just so we can be absolutely sure they're a dick?).
In conclusion: This book was terrible and I will definitely never read anything else by this author.
... Okay maybe it wasn't that bad. But it was pretty bad. And it took me more than a month to finish (partly because it was bad and partly because I was dumb enough to read it in Spanish).
Will Piper, FBI agent and certified Asshole™, gets assigned to a case where seemingly random people get a postcard with the date of their death a few days before they do, indeed, die, on the exact date the card predicted. He also needs to work with a new partner, Nancy, who is ca. 20 years younger than him. He can't stand her and he is of course going to have sex with her.
There's also whole chapters that are set in the 8th century and where monks are dealing with their monk problems.
Also there was a whole chapter about Churchill, at least if I didn't hallucinate that.
And it's related to Area 51 and a mysterious library and these monks back in 777 AD.
Anyway, what did I not like about this book?
1. Will Piper
Unfortunately, the main character. A 48 year-old alcoholic, who is apparently not as attractive as he used to be, but still attractive enough that every woman he meets wants to sleep with him. He also enjoys sexually harrassing the women who are unfortunate enough to have to work with him. Which is okay, because... he's secretly A Really Good Guy? I don't know.
When he first meets Nancy his thoughts are something like 'she'd be kind of attractive if she lost some weight :/'. And 200 pages later, progress: 'Finally, now that she has lost weight, and changed the parts of her character that I didn't like, I can sleep with her. .
Later, when they have a relationship (sort of), he casually considers that he would definitely cheat on her if the opportunity presented itself.
He feels like a self-insert character for every man over 45 who thinks that his boss is an asshole, feels that he's smarter than everyone around him, and imagines that every 20 year-old woman he meets wants to sleep with him. So I guess I'm simply not the right target group to understand the depth of his character.
2. The setup is ridiculous
This entire section is one big spoiler, sorry.
3. Not enough mystery
Okay, so the Spanish title ('The Library of the Dead') itself is one big spoiler, which is actually the dumbest thing I can think of. Who the fuck chose that title. But even without that, halfway through the book you already know most of what's going on. After that you mostly just wait for Will to catch on and figure out what you already know.
4. Everyone's a horrible person
Even apart from Will, who is only nice to women he wants to sleep with, none of the main characters are really likable. (Except Nancy, I guess, but as soon as she starts to like Will of all people I gave up on her as well.)
Every woman is rated immediately on how attractive she is, because even though the POV changes constantly, Will is unfortunately always there to take over. Also, more than once a character acts homophobic for absolutely no reason (by which I mean: why was that necessary for the plot again? just so we can be absolutely sure they're a dick?).
In conclusion: This book was terrible and I will definitely never read anything else by this author.
March 12, 2015
The main character is an FBI agent expert in serial killers. He is tall, has a square jaw, a former wife and a neglected daughter.
Jaw has a drinking problem and is not very disciplined.
Jaw has been assigned the case of the Doomsday killer, coupled with a young female partner.
His partner is a pain in the ass, but (you guess), very slowly they come to a sort of complicity. Obviously the two of them fall in love, obviously Jaw overcomes his drinking problem, obviously he makes it up with his neglected daughter and most obiously of all, he resolves the case!
All wonderfully SOLVED: the case, the alcohol, the daughter, the Peter Pan syndrome, EVERYTHING!
The villain is a former Jaw's college classmate, a skinny nerd, ugly and complexed (how original, isn't it?). Jaw got all the hotties and he even got the leftovers, so he wants revenge. The nerd has access to a database of names of persons with the date of their death. He picks up a name, sends him a postcard (September, 22 you will die!), then the doomed dies. This database was written on parchment by medieval monks in contact with God.
The novel and the trilogy are based on this mediocre expedient. I imagine that the unwary lover of books with the big surprise is annoyed because I ruined the ending, I SPOILERED, as the saying goes. To the meddling and incautious who is reading this comment through a useless hand over his eyes, who now is terribly angry I say, you are a fool. You are reading shit; I'm giving you the opportunity to abandon it: you know how it ends, there is nothing more of any interest.
At least thank me.
Jaw has a drinking problem and is not very disciplined.
Jaw has been assigned the case of the Doomsday killer, coupled with a young female partner.
His partner is a pain in the ass, but (you guess), very slowly they come to a sort of complicity. Obviously the two of them fall in love, obviously Jaw overcomes his drinking problem, obviously he makes it up with his neglected daughter and most obiously of all, he resolves the case!
All wonderfully SOLVED: the case, the alcohol, the daughter, the Peter Pan syndrome, EVERYTHING!
The villain is a former Jaw's college classmate, a skinny nerd, ugly and complexed (how original, isn't it?). Jaw got all the hotties and he even got the leftovers, so he wants revenge. The nerd has access to a database of names of persons with the date of their death. He picks up a name, sends him a postcard (September, 22 you will die!), then the doomed dies. This database was written on parchment by medieval monks in contact with God.
The novel and the trilogy are based on this mediocre expedient. I imagine that the unwary lover of books with the big surprise is annoyed because I ruined the ending, I SPOILERED, as the saying goes. To the meddling and incautious who is reading this comment through a useless hand over his eyes, who now is terribly angry I say, you are a fool. You are reading shit; I'm giving you the opportunity to abandon it: you know how it ends, there is nothing more of any interest.
At least thank me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2022
"Un presunto asesino cuyos crímenes parecen aleatorios, un niño que desde un monasterio pudo ser clave a la hora de cambiar el curso de la historia y unas postales que alterarán muchas vidas, esos son los elementos principales de la trama. Esta novela se deja leer y no está mal, pero tiene muchos altibajos y varios aspectos podrían haber sido mejor desarrollados. Se tenía que haber jugado mejor con el hecho clave del libro, pero queda como un adorno porque ni se reflexiona bien sobre él. Como distracción, el libro es una buena opción porque resulta entretenido casi siempre, pero no es extraordinario".
Reseña completa: https://entrelalecturayelcine.blogspo...
Reseña completa: https://entrelalecturayelcine.blogspo...
September 12, 2016
(review in english below)
Soube-me mesmo bem ler esta história!
Um mistério medieval à mistura com a Área 51 e um assassino em série, embrulhados numa escrita agradável e com um bom ritmo.
Gostei dos personagens e da forma como a história está contada, como tudo começa a fazer sentido bem antes do final, mas sem nunca perder o interesse.
Ao princípio os saltos cronológicos são um pouco confusos mas depois tudo vai encaixando mais facilmente e difícil é parar de ler.
Recomendado a fãs de Dan Brown, mas não só!...
Agora vou ver se o Glenn Cooper já escreveu mais alguma coisa!
I really enjoyed reading this story!
A medieval mistery mixed with Area 51 and a serial killer, all wrapped up in a pleasant and dynamic writing.
I liked the characters and the way the story is told, how everything starts to make sense long before the end of the book but never losing interest.
In the beginning the chronological leaps are a bit confusing but then everything falls into place and it's hard to stop reading.
Recommended to Dan Brown fans, but not only those!...
Now I'll go check if Glenn Cooper has written any more books!
Soube-me mesmo bem ler esta história!
Um mistério medieval à mistura com a Área 51 e um assassino em série, embrulhados numa escrita agradável e com um bom ritmo.
Gostei dos personagens e da forma como a história está contada, como tudo começa a fazer sentido bem antes do final, mas sem nunca perder o interesse.
Ao princípio os saltos cronológicos são um pouco confusos mas depois tudo vai encaixando mais facilmente e difícil é parar de ler.
Recomendado a fãs de Dan Brown, mas não só!...
Agora vou ver se o Glenn Cooper já escreveu mais alguma coisa!
I really enjoyed reading this story!
A medieval mistery mixed with Area 51 and a serial killer, all wrapped up in a pleasant and dynamic writing.
I liked the characters and the way the story is told, how everything starts to make sense long before the end of the book but never losing interest.
In the beginning the chronological leaps are a bit confusing but then everything falls into place and it's hard to stop reading.
Recommended to Dan Brown fans, but not only those!...
Now I'll go check if Glenn Cooper has written any more books!
August 30, 2012
Mi aspettavo molto ma molto di più, visto tutto l'entusiasmo con cui si sente parlare di questo libro. Di solito diffido dai best seller, ma incuriosita l'ho preso in prestito in biblioteca. Meno male che non l'ho comprato! Che dire, sicuramente l'idea è originale, ma lo svolgimento distrugge ogni suspance. Non so, magari Cooper non lo ha immaginato come un giallo, ma io mi aspettavo, visto l'inizio, un po' più di attesa. A un quarto di libro già si capisce cosa sta succedendo e l'idea dell'assassino viene meno, con lei viene meno anche l'interesse per la storia.
Il libro si apre con un omicidio, al quale ne seguono altri. l'agente dell'FBI Will Piper comincia a lavorare al caso che gli è stato affidato d'improvviso insieme a Nancy, giovane collega che lavora al caso con lui. La vicenda è intrecciata alla vita di Mark Shackleton, informatico che lavora all'area 51 (ex compagno del college di Will). E'lui il famigerato assassino Doomsday?
Se la trama fosse solo questa si sarebbe davanti ad un giallo in piena regola, ma Cooper ha avuto la brillante idea di farcire il tutto con due vicende "storiche" legate ai fatti, rispettivamente svoltasi nel 777 e nel 1947: la costruzione della Biblioteca ed il ritrovamento della stessa da parte di un gruppo di ex militari divenuti archeologi.
Se queste parti fossero state messe in fondo, come appendice a mio modesto parere il libro sarebbe risultato molto più avvincente fino alla fine, invece questa scelta ha penalizzato fortemente la curiosità del lettore, che dopo 100 pagine ha già chiaro il funzionamento delle cose.
Il libro si apre con un omicidio, al quale ne seguono altri. l'agente dell'FBI Will Piper comincia a lavorare al caso che gli è stato affidato d'improvviso insieme a Nancy, giovane collega che lavora al caso con lui. La vicenda è intrecciata alla vita di Mark Shackleton, informatico che lavora all'area 51 (ex compagno del college di Will). E'lui il famigerato assassino Doomsday?
Se la trama fosse solo questa si sarebbe davanti ad un giallo in piena regola, ma Cooper ha avuto la brillante idea di farcire il tutto con due vicende "storiche" legate ai fatti, rispettivamente svoltasi nel 777 e nel 1947: la costruzione della Biblioteca ed il ritrovamento della stessa da parte di un gruppo di ex militari divenuti archeologi.
Se queste parti fossero state messe in fondo, come appendice a mio modesto parere il libro sarebbe risultato molto più avvincente fino alla fine, invece questa scelta ha penalizzato fortemente la curiosità del lettore, che dopo 100 pagine ha già chiaro il funzionamento delle cose.
October 9, 2017
Gostei da história algo fantástica contada neste livro. A narrativa, que abrange 3 épocas, está bem encadeada e coloca-nos diante de questões de fundo:livre arbítrio ou destino? Como seria o mundo se todos conhecessemos a data da nossa morte?
November 10, 2013
What a nice story! I definitely want more. Glenn Cooper rocks!
October 11, 2015
Odlicna knjiga, jedna od boljih koje sam ove godine procitala i jedva cekam da se bacim na ostale njegove knjige!
December 13, 2017
Veramente affascinante, l'idea della biblioteca è qualcosa di fantastico.
June 30, 2021
Histoire bien ficelée. Malgré le fait que je me suis sentie un peu perdue au début de certains chapitres, tous les morceaux s'imbriquent bien à mesure que je tournais les pages.
Beaucoup de longueurs descriptives inutiles a mon avis, mais l'histoire est bien.
Premier tome de cette série, je vais probablement acheter les autres, mais je n'ai pas assez embarquer pour les dévorer un à la suite de l'autre.
3.5/5
Beaucoup de longueurs descriptives inutiles a mon avis, mais l'histoire est bien.
Premier tome de cette série, je vais probablement acheter les autres, mais je n'ai pas assez embarquer pour les dévorer un à la suite de l'autre.
3.5/5
December 30, 2020
Not only do I rarely rate a book less than three stars, but I almost never DNF one either. Often books that I wasn't sure about at first end up being fantastic stories in the end.
Yeah... I didn't see that happening with Library of the Dead at all. Plus, it was getting physically hard to read it what with all the eye rolling it prompted.
Probably the best way I could describe the 40 pages I suffered through is to refer you to Season 4 Episode 6 of The Good Place. Brent, the embodiment of what happens to Ivy League Frat Bros in their late 40s, writes a book called, "Six Feet Under Par: A Chip Driver Mystery." Spoiler alert: the novel is a sexist, ridiculous pile of crap.
Not only were most of the characters in Library of the Dead basically Brent clones, but I honestly felt like I had somehow ended up reading a Chip Driver novel. One line from "Six Feet Under Par" would not have been out of place in LOD at all:
"Chip gazed at the sexy outline of the murder victim on the floor. 'What a waste of curves,' he growled. 'She's sitting on the lap of angels now.'"
I kept hoping LOD would get better, but it was just so clichéd and poorly written. It's also hard to be interested in what happens to douchebags who constantly objectify women and treat everyone around them as less than.
I did come away with a good lesson though! I learned to never take a new book with you to the hot tub without a backup. Otherwise after you throw it in the snow you'll have nothing else to read.
Yeah... I didn't see that happening with Library of the Dead at all. Plus, it was getting physically hard to read it what with all the eye rolling it prompted.
Probably the best way I could describe the 40 pages I suffered through is to refer you to Season 4 Episode 6 of The Good Place. Brent, the embodiment of what happens to Ivy League Frat Bros in their late 40s, writes a book called, "Six Feet Under Par: A Chip Driver Mystery." Spoiler alert: the novel is a sexist, ridiculous pile of crap.
Not only were most of the characters in Library of the Dead basically Brent clones, but I honestly felt like I had somehow ended up reading a Chip Driver novel. One line from "Six Feet Under Par" would not have been out of place in LOD at all:
"Chip gazed at the sexy outline of the murder victim on the floor. 'What a waste of curves,' he growled. 'She's sitting on the lap of angels now.'"
I kept hoping LOD would get better, but it was just so clichéd and poorly written. It's also hard to be interested in what happens to douchebags who constantly objectify women and treat everyone around them as less than.
I did come away with a good lesson though! I learned to never take a new book with you to the hot tub without a backup. Otherwise after you throw it in the snow you'll have nothing else to read.
February 8, 2011
Stopped at the local Borders for a “beach read” and found this book in the “bargain” section. What a find! The story jumps from present day to early days (starting at 777) to post WWII as it reveals a library of sorts discovered on an island owned by England. Since England had enough on their plate to recoup after the War, they contact President Truman. The story opens with a class reunion of four college roommates, one currently an FBI agent. Will Piper is one of the best hunters of serial killers and one has just popped up in New York. There isn’t any obvious link between the victims, nor is there a pattern to the killer’s MO. He is labeled the DOOMSDAY KILLER. The early centuries are important because a seventh son is born to a seventh son. Is he good or evil? Appearing to be a deaf mute, he has a talent for writing. It is soon learned he is writing the birth and death of everyone. Descendents are born, more mutes whose sole interest and purpose is to document the births and deaths. Toss in Area 51 and you have one fast-moving, intense thriller. Will discovers everything links to the DOOMSDAY KILLER and he suddenly finds himself off the case. But Will is too involved and the case is too challenging. Soon people are hell bent on stopping Will and his source at any cost. BOOK OF SOULS appears to be a follow-up, one book I will really seek.
April 12, 2017
1'5/5
Oh, DIOS, POR FIN SE HA TERMINADO. Os contaré la historia de cómo esta novela llegó a mis manos. Resulta que participé en una cadena de libros en la que tú enviabas tu libro favorito a alguien y leías el libro favorito de alguien. Pues cada vez estoy más segura de que la chica que me mandó esto cogió cualquier libro de bolsillo, porque... Bueno. BUENO.
Me parece que el libro son escenas y escenas, descripciones y descripciones, todas innecesarias. De verdad, CUÁNTO relleno. Aparece el portero de un hotel y te describen hasta lo que estaba haciendo el sábado por la tarde y el número de pie que calza, pero luego el individuo no vuelve a aparecer.
La trama... En fin. A las 100 páginas ya sabía lo que iba a pasar, y estuve esperando hasta el final por si acaso me sorprendía. Pero jobar, la sinopsis te cuenta prácticamente el desenlace del misterio.
Y lo que sí que no he soportado es el increíble lenguaje machista. Cada mujer que salía se describía en función a sus pechos, a su juventud, o a lo bueno o gorda que lo viera el protagonista. EN SERIO. Hacía comentarios muy denigrantes, y todas las mujeres que aparecen en la novela son... prácticamente marionetas sin cerebro, moscas molestas o fangirls del súper macho protagonista.
En fin. It's over.
Oh, DIOS, POR FIN SE HA TERMINADO. Os contaré la historia de cómo esta novela llegó a mis manos. Resulta que participé en una cadena de libros en la que tú enviabas tu libro favorito a alguien y leías el libro favorito de alguien. Pues cada vez estoy más segura de que la chica que me mandó esto cogió cualquier libro de bolsillo, porque... Bueno. BUENO.
Me parece que el libro son escenas y escenas, descripciones y descripciones, todas innecesarias. De verdad, CUÁNTO relleno. Aparece el portero de un hotel y te describen hasta lo que estaba haciendo el sábado por la tarde y el número de pie que calza, pero luego el individuo no vuelve a aparecer.
La trama... En fin. A las 100 páginas ya sabía lo que iba a pasar, y estuve esperando hasta el final por si acaso me sorprendía. Pero jobar, la sinopsis te cuenta prácticamente el desenlace del misterio.
Y lo que sí que no he soportado es el increíble lenguaje machista. Cada mujer que salía se describía en función a sus pechos, a su juventud, o a lo bueno o gorda que lo viera el protagonista. EN SERIO. Hacía comentarios muy denigrantes, y todas las mujeres que aparecen en la novela son... prácticamente marionetas sin cerebro, moscas molestas o fangirls del súper macho protagonista.
En fin. It's over.
April 4, 2017
«Proprio così», disse Atwood, battendo la mano sul tavolo. «Usiamo un metodo scientifico per dimostrare che la scienza è una sciocchezza.»
Bello bello bello! Diverso dai soliti thriller dai quali vengono tratti quei noiosi e inverosimili film stereotipati (anche se, diciamolo, non è che io legga tanti thriller), eppure mantiene sempre quel tocco di classicità che piace cogliere in un bel romanzo.
Le prime settanta pagine circa, sono quasi insopportabili, la confusione tra le varie storie che si intersecano è incredibile. Ma procedendo con la lettura, sarà che il lettore si abitua, sarà che arrivato ad un certo punto Cooper si sia deciso a far le cose con più ordine, la storia va avanti con regolarità e scorrevolezza. Una volta che ci si immerge nella vicenda vi assicuro che è letteralmente impossibile staccare gli occhi dalle pagine.
Vivamente consigliato!
July 22, 2016
πολύ καλό μυστηριο, καλή συνεχεια των γεγονοτων. ξεκουραστη γραφη...η ιστορια ειναι λιγο καπως...γενικα πολυ ευχαριστο
September 25, 2020
Esta bien, es entretenido pero me esperaba mas investigación policial, seguiré con el resto de la serie.
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