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Maggie O'Dell #8
Damaged
New York Times bestselling author Alex Kava joins the Doubleday list with her best novel yet.
On Pensacola Beach, the Coast Guard prepares for a Category 5 hurricane that has entered the Gulf of Mexico. When the air crew patrols the waterways, they spot a huge fishing cooler about a mile offshore. Drug traffickers have been known to dump coolers with smuggled product to avoid detection and pay fishermen to retrieve them. But when the crew open this cooler, they’re shocked by what they find: body parts tightly wrapped in plastic.
Though she is putting herself in the projected path of the hurricane, Special Agent Maggie O’Dell is sent to investigate. Eventually, she’s able to trace the torso in the cooler back to a man who mysteriously disappeared weeks earlier after a hurricane hit Port St. Lucie, Florida. Only Port St. Lucie is on the Atlantic side. How did his body end up six hundred miles away in the Gulf of Mexico?
Cliffhanger chapters, behind-the-scenes forensic details, colorful characters, and satisfying twists have become the trademarks of Kava’s psychological thrillers. In Damaged, she ratchets up the suspense a notch by sending Maggie into the eye of an impending monster hurricane to track down a killer.
On Pensacola Beach, the Coast Guard prepares for a Category 5 hurricane that has entered the Gulf of Mexico. When the air crew patrols the waterways, they spot a huge fishing cooler about a mile offshore. Drug traffickers have been known to dump coolers with smuggled product to avoid detection and pay fishermen to retrieve them. But when the crew open this cooler, they’re shocked by what they find: body parts tightly wrapped in plastic.
Though she is putting herself in the projected path of the hurricane, Special Agent Maggie O’Dell is sent to investigate. Eventually, she’s able to trace the torso in the cooler back to a man who mysteriously disappeared weeks earlier after a hurricane hit Port St. Lucie, Florida. Only Port St. Lucie is on the Atlantic side. How did his body end up six hundred miles away in the Gulf of Mexico?
Cliffhanger chapters, behind-the-scenes forensic details, colorful characters, and satisfying twists have become the trademarks of Kava’s psychological thrillers. In Damaged, she ratchets up the suspense a notch by sending Maggie into the eye of an impending monster hurricane to track down a killer.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2011
381 people are currently reading
2544 people want to read
About the author
Alex Kava
51 books2,584 followersALEX KAVA IS A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR of the critically acclaimed Maggie O’Dell series and a new series featuring former Marine, Ryder Creed and his K9 dogs. Her stand-alone novel, One False Move, was the 2006 One Book One Nebraska. Published in over thirty countries, Kava’s novels have made the bestseller lists in the UK, Australia, Germany, Japan, Italy and Poland. Her novel Stranded was awarded both a Florida Book Award and the Nebraska Book Award. She is a member of the Nebraska Writers Guild and International Thriller Writers. Kava divides her time between Omaha, Nebraska and Pensacola, Florida.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 434 reviews
August 11, 2016
This is number eight in the Maggie O'Dell series and to be totally honest it was the first one I actually enjoyed reading. Which just shows that I have a very different view of things from other readers of this series since many of their reviews say this one was boring!
Things I liked were:-
1. No mention was made at all of Nick Morelli.
2. Not much mention was made of Maggie's love life (a little but it did not get in the way of the story)
3. Maggie played a very small role in the whole thing, apart from one moment of real action which was brilliant and totally unlike her.
4. The most notable character was Liz and Kava should write a series about her. Forget Maggie.
5. I quite like Ben Platt. Let's hope we really have forgotten Nick Morelli.
6. It is a short book with a very pretty cover and it is very readable.
I have nearly stopped reading this series several times along the way but now I am glad I persevered.
Things I liked were:-
1. No mention was made at all of Nick Morelli.
2. Not much mention was made of Maggie's love life (a little but it did not get in the way of the story)
3. Maggie played a very small role in the whole thing, apart from one moment of real action which was brilliant and totally unlike her.
4. The most notable character was Liz and Kava should write a series about her. Forget Maggie.
5. I quite like Ben Platt. Let's hope we really have forgotten Nick Morelli.
6. It is a short book with a very pretty cover and it is very readable.
I have nearly stopped reading this series several times along the way but now I am glad I persevered.
August 22, 2016
Maggie O'Dell is dispatched to Pensacola, Florida along with Charlie Wurth, deputy director of Homeland Security, who requested her help. A cooler with packaged body parts was found off the coast and her job is to help figure out if something's afoul. Meanwhile, Dr. Benjamin Platt is also sent to Pensacola to help determine what's killing soldiers who've survived surgery following limb amputations but die inexplicably. Oh, and both of them are flying into the path of Hurricane Isaac.
I liked this story as both investigations proceeded on parallel paths without an obvious connection for a time. It was interesting and without needless distraction. I also liked how the threat of the hurricane in the background effected the tension level and the scope of both investigations.
However, after a really good climax, I felt the story ended abruptly with unnecessary loose ends. One more chapter would have sufficed to explain some critical aspects. It was a good story that was building to an exciting conclusion but ended with a whimper.
3.5 stars
I liked this story as both investigations proceeded on parallel paths without an obvious connection for a time. It was interesting and without needless distraction. I also liked how the threat of the hurricane in the background effected the tension level and the scope of both investigations.
However, after a really good climax, I felt the story ended abruptly with unnecessary loose ends. One more chapter would have sufficed to explain some critical aspects. It was a good story that was building to an exciting conclusion but ended with a whimper.
3.5 stars
December 3, 2016
Damaged, the 7th book in the series finds Maggie O'Dell, FBI profiler on a new assignment in Pensacola, Florida, to investigate the gruesome discover of body parts in a fisherman's boat.
At the same time, Colonel Benjamin Platt, Maggie's new love interest from Exposed, is investigating a fatal contagion outbreak that is killing soldiers who had been deployed in Afghanistan.
These two cases begin with no obvious links but as the investigations proceed, it soon becomes evident that there are connections between the two unrelated cases.
Past and new secondary characters are in this action filled and fast paced thriller.
Damaged is a solid read with a good conclusion and some open subplots that set up the next books.
At the same time, Colonel Benjamin Platt, Maggie's new love interest from Exposed, is investigating a fatal contagion outbreak that is killing soldiers who had been deployed in Afghanistan.
These two cases begin with no obvious links but as the investigations proceed, it soon becomes evident that there are connections between the two unrelated cases.
Past and new secondary characters are in this action filled and fast paced thriller.
Damaged is a solid read with a good conclusion and some open subplots that set up the next books.
July 31, 2019
WOW! This was a superb read.
Fast phased and on the edge of your seat.
I couldn't put it down, would have finished it in a day if I didn't need to earn a living.
Usually Alex Kava's books is more relaxed not as phased and wound-up. I must say, I like the change.
Fast phased and on the edge of your seat.
I couldn't put it down, would have finished it in a day if I didn't need to earn a living.
Usually Alex Kava's books is more relaxed not as phased and wound-up. I must say, I like the change.
August 12, 2016
FBI Agent Maggie O'Dell is sent to Florida to investigate a fishing cooler that was found by the Coast Guard. The cooler contained a foot, three hands, and a torso; each individually wrapped in plastic. An autopsy of the torso helps Maggie discover the identity of a man who disappeared from the Atlantic coast earlier in the year during a hurricane. How did he end up in a cooler floating in the gulf? With a new hurricane bearing down on the Florida panhandle, Maggie only has hours before she must evacuate the area.
I thought the eighth book in the Maggie O'Dell series was very uneven. We knew who the villain was pretty much from the beginning, so there was really no guess work. This story was told from the point-of-view of several characters. Many chapters ended abruptly. I wanted to continue the scene, but the story would pick up hours later. Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer Liz Bailey played just as big a part as Maggie. I wouldn't mind reading more about Liz. Maybe Kava could write a series featuring her character. My rating: 3 Stars.
I thought the eighth book in the Maggie O'Dell series was very uneven. We knew who the villain was pretty much from the beginning, so there was really no guess work. This story was told from the point-of-view of several characters. Many chapters ended abruptly. I wanted to continue the scene, but the story would pick up hours later. Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer Liz Bailey played just as big a part as Maggie. I wouldn't mind reading more about Liz. Maybe Kava could write a series featuring her character. My rating: 3 Stars.
February 7, 2015
Another clever what if scenario. Kava sure has a vivid imagination. Well developed secondary characters and an entertaining if grizzly read.
Note to self. Remember that taking refuge in a walk in fridge in a morgue during a hurricane is not a bright idea.
Note to self. Remember that taking refuge in a walk in fridge in a morgue during a hurricane is not a bright idea.
September 23, 2010
Hurricane Katrina sure did a number off the Gulf of Pensacola Bay in Florida. The Coast Guard is nearly finished cleaning up the mess. Elizabeth is part of the Coast Guard team. She retrieves a cooler but this cooler isn’t packing lunch meat. Inside the cooler are body parts.
Maggie O’Dell is called out to the scene to investigate the murder. Tracking down a killer is one thing but tracking down a killer before a hurricane hits is another thing.
It has been a while since I have read a book by author, Alex Kava. When I saw that she had a new book out titled, Damaged, I thought I now was a good time to read her again. Damaged is book eight of the Maggie O’Dell novels.
The story line wasn’t very exciting and neither were the characters. In fact that might have fallen asleep through half of the book. It was very unforgettable. In fact I finished this book a long time ago but I found no motivation to want to write my review for a long time. The plot was pretty predictable and uninteresting. I kept reading hoping that it would be better but it never did. If you are looking for something good to read then this is not the book for you.
Maggie O’Dell is called out to the scene to investigate the murder. Tracking down a killer is one thing but tracking down a killer before a hurricane hits is another thing.
It has been a while since I have read a book by author, Alex Kava. When I saw that she had a new book out titled, Damaged, I thought I now was a good time to read her again. Damaged is book eight of the Maggie O’Dell novels.
The story line wasn’t very exciting and neither were the characters. In fact that might have fallen asleep through half of the book. It was very unforgettable. In fact I finished this book a long time ago but I found no motivation to want to write my review for a long time. The plot was pretty predictable and uninteresting. I kept reading hoping that it would be better but it never did. If you are looking for something good to read then this is not the book for you.
December 4, 2022
Spannend wie immer, der Einblick in menschliche Abgründe ist erschreckend. Hier kommt einiges beieinander, was die Situation sich zuspitzen lässt. Jetzt muss ich mir noch irgendwie die Folgebände besorgen, denn ich will mehr von Maggie.
January 9, 2025
Thanking Lily for the choice. Enjoyed this read, kept me hooked. Would have been a 3.5 hadn’t lily picked out the 8th book of a 12 part series. I would read this author again. Would make a good criminal minds episode.
October 14, 2010
This is the 7th in Alex Kava's Maggie O'Dell series. In this outing, FBI Agent O'Dell is called in when a Coast Guard Search and Rescue team finds a large cooler floating in the Gulf of Mexico. The thinking is that a ship was perhaps disabled or, worse, sinking. But the only thing found is the cooler. Contrary to protocol, team members open the cooler to find neatly wrapped body parts. O'Dell is told to find out what happened. In the meantime, there is a Category 5 hurricane heading toward Florida.
Kava has three distinct story lines. One is Maggie O'Dell's story. Another is what is causing the epidemic of deaths of wounded soldiers whose limbs were amputated. While the third is an-almost sleazy funeral director and his new friend, Joe Black, and what they're up to. By the end of the book, Kava cleverly ties the three story lines together not by happenstance, but in a way that makes sense.
This is a real page turner, with plenty of action, and will keep even the most jaded reader reading into the wee hours of the morning. This is a plot-driven novel rather than a character-driven one. The characters are all interesting, and the reader will want to know more about them. Since I haven't read the first six books in this series, I don't know whether these are on-going characters and thus fleshed out in the earlier books or whether Kava merely focuses on her plots rather than her characters - either way it works.. Kava gives just enough information about O'Dell to make me want to know more and to drive me to want to read the first six books in the series. Even if you like your novels to provide you with every detail about the characters, you'll enjoy this read because it is, as the saying goes, a real barn burner.
The one thing I didn't like was the ending. It felt like the author had written more (or should have), but decided to delete the rest of the chapter. In fact, I checked the next page to see where the rest of the chapter had gone. The ending felt rushed, almost as if Kava got bored with the manuscript or was on a deadline. Yes, O'Dell solved her case, the doctor found out what was killing the soldiers, and the funeral director and his buddy were caught out, but I wanted something more about the characters before the book ended.
Kava has three distinct story lines. One is Maggie O'Dell's story. Another is what is causing the epidemic of deaths of wounded soldiers whose limbs were amputated. While the third is an-almost sleazy funeral director and his new friend, Joe Black, and what they're up to. By the end of the book, Kava cleverly ties the three story lines together not by happenstance, but in a way that makes sense.
This is a real page turner, with plenty of action, and will keep even the most jaded reader reading into the wee hours of the morning. This is a plot-driven novel rather than a character-driven one. The characters are all interesting, and the reader will want to know more about them. Since I haven't read the first six books in this series, I don't know whether these are on-going characters and thus fleshed out in the earlier books or whether Kava merely focuses on her plots rather than her characters - either way it works.. Kava gives just enough information about O'Dell to make me want to know more and to drive me to want to read the first six books in the series. Even if you like your novels to provide you with every detail about the characters, you'll enjoy this read because it is, as the saying goes, a real barn burner.
The one thing I didn't like was the ending. It felt like the author had written more (or should have), but decided to delete the rest of the chapter. In fact, I checked the next page to see where the rest of the chapter had gone. The ending felt rushed, almost as if Kava got bored with the manuscript or was on a deadline. Yes, O'Dell solved her case, the doctor found out what was killing the soldiers, and the funeral director and his buddy were caught out, but I wanted something more about the characters before the book ended.
February 5, 2022
Damaged
3 Stars
Gives the impression that Kava was asked to churn out a book in a rush and this was the rather hurried result.
The identity of the killer is revealed pretty early and his initial motivation is obvious. For some reason, his undergoes a personality change toward the end that has no real foundation and detracts from the overall storyline.
That said, the plot revolving around the discovery of body parts in a fishing cooler is compelling and the idea of someone carving up people for their body parts is exceedingly creepy. The story ends a little abruptly and a more detailed explanation would have wrapped things up more coherently.
As for being another installment in the Maggie O'Dell series, Damaged offers absolutely nothing in the way of character development or additions to Maggie's ongoing conflict with her new superior or her relationship with her half-brother, Patrick.
Unfortunately, this series seems to be dying a miserable death.
3 Stars
Gives the impression that Kava was asked to churn out a book in a rush and this was the rather hurried result.
The identity of the killer is revealed pretty early and his initial motivation is obvious. For some reason, his undergoes a personality change toward the end that has no real foundation and detracts from the overall storyline.
That said, the plot revolving around the discovery of body parts in a fishing cooler is compelling and the idea of someone carving up people for their body parts is exceedingly creepy. The story ends a little abruptly and a more detailed explanation would have wrapped things up more coherently.
As for being another installment in the Maggie O'Dell series, Damaged offers absolutely nothing in the way of character development or additions to Maggie's ongoing conflict with her new superior or her relationship with her half-brother, Patrick.
Unfortunately, this series seems to be dying a miserable death.
January 28, 2011
This was my ER win from July and I have to say the wait was worth it. I don't know if it was because I just read a very long and difficult book on the Tudor period or if I just needed a nice light read.
Damaged is a novel about Maggie O'Dell, a criminal profiler for the FBI. I have watched the show Criminal Minds and know that I really enjoy the intricacies of the thought processes of criminals and how the profiler is able to conclude those thoughts.
Maggie is recruited by a friend from the Department of Homeland Security, Charlie Wurth to help with profiling due to the discovery of a cooler with body parts in it. The cooler is found in the Gulf near Pensacola Beach Florida by the Coast Guard. The catch is that Maggie is going down to Pensacola when a hurricane is predicted to land in Pensacola.
I found myself not wanting to put the book down. The chapters moved quickly and always wanting to know what would happen next. I read this book in less then one day.
Damaged is a novel about Maggie O'Dell, a criminal profiler for the FBI. I have watched the show Criminal Minds and know that I really enjoy the intricacies of the thought processes of criminals and how the profiler is able to conclude those thoughts.
Maggie is recruited by a friend from the Department of Homeland Security, Charlie Wurth to help with profiling due to the discovery of a cooler with body parts in it. The cooler is found in the Gulf near Pensacola Beach Florida by the Coast Guard. The catch is that Maggie is going down to Pensacola when a hurricane is predicted to land in Pensacola.
I found myself not wanting to put the book down. The chapters moved quickly and always wanting to know what would happen next. I read this book in less then one day.
March 19, 2010
If you like like CSI and/or Patricia Cornwell, this will be your favorite read of the summer. FBI Agent Maggie O'Dell is a great character and in this one she has a monster hurricane hampering her efforts to solve a string of murders. Plus: how can you not like a feisty FBI Agent with a cool dog named Harvery???
November 29, 2010
I adore Alex Kava's books and every book I've read is a 5 star read.
This one lost a star because the focus was taken off Maggie O'Dell, with Liz Bailey, a secondary character, grabbing a lot of attention.
And capturing the bad guy was a tad predictable, without the head-snapping plot twists I'm used to in Alex's books.
This one lost a star because the focus was taken off Maggie O'Dell, with Liz Bailey, a secondary character, grabbing a lot of attention.
And capturing the bad guy was a tad predictable, without the head-snapping plot twists I'm used to in Alex's books.
December 22, 2023
5 Stars. Certainly one of Kava’s best O’dell books. Enjoyed every minute of this fast paced thriller.
This case was interesting and different. Unfortunately, when thinking about it, the book described something that in today’s world wouldn’t really surprise me. Greed and Evil on full display.
I took too long in between Kava books. I won’t make that mistake again.
This case was interesting and different. Unfortunately, when thinking about it, the book described something that in today’s world wouldn’t really surprise me. Greed and Evil on full display.
I took too long in between Kava books. I won’t make that mistake again.
June 29, 2010
Damaged is the 8th novel in the series of Maggie O'Dell is an FBI profiler. Maggie has proven herself and become the "go to person" for the complex serial killer cases. In Damaged, O'Dell is mentally and psychologically exhausted from her latest case, but she's tough and unwilling to give an unsympathetic boss leverage over her. Maggie has learned to keep her demons to herself. When a cooler filled with body parts is found floating in Florida, her boss sends her down to assist. Maggie ends up in middle of a hurricane trying to help local officials identify a container of body parts, determine whether the parts come from murder victims - and if so, stop the killer.
Maggie's dropped in an unfamiliar city with a minimal support system. Part of the book's strength comes from Kava's description of just how Maggie overcomes these difficulties and learns to make alliances. Things don't come easily for Maggie and she appreciates every consideration and kindness that she receives. Not surprisingly, other folks that are similarly situated warm up to Maggie.
One such character is Liz Bailey. Although she's a secondary character in the novel, Liz stands out. She's a rescue diver which means that she's lowered from a moving chopper into dangerous waters and volatile situations. While her courage, technical expertise, and her fast thinking have saved lives, Liz has been assigned to a new team and must prove herself to them. Like Maggie, Liz faces an unsympathetic and chauvinistic supervisor -- and Liz's handling of him and his pettiness bring a certain something to the story.
This is my first Alex Kava novel and I particularly liked her strong women characters. One thing that struck me was how Kava delved into the dynamics between Maggie O'Dell and her direct supervisor FBI Assistant Director Raymond Kunze and (2) the pettiness and power tripping demonstrated by Liz Bailey's direct supervisor towards the competent rescue diver. Both women respond the only possible way -- they take it on the chin and win my sympathy. I love that both Maggie and Liz prove themselves through their competence and work ethic. It was those small moments that made the book stand out to me.
Despite my focus on the work politics that the two lead women face, Damaged is a detective thriller first and foremost. Kava carefully crafts the story so that the action and clues build on each other to give us a fast-paced and complex thriller. If you're looking for a detective or crime thriller with strong characters and an interesting plot line, Damaged will surely satisfy.
ISBN-10: 0385531990 - Hardcover $24.99
Publisher: Doubleday (July 13, 2010), 272 pages.
Review copy provided by the publisher.
March 22, 2012
Alex Kava's Maggie O'Dell series is one I have followed faithfully for 7 books and was eager to get back to. Damaged is book number 8 and, sadly, became a disappointment when compared to some of the previous books...
Maggie is called to the Pensacola Bay after a container is found at sea filled with an assortment of human limbs. May a serial killer be on the loose? At the same time, her friend, Colonel Benjamin Platt is called to investigate the sudden death of several wounded soldiers that seem to have been infected with something.
I loved the first scene of the book. When the aircrew finds the container and discovers what it has inside. I thought it really promising but when Maggie O'Dell appears on the scene she seems a weaker character than in the previous books. I think Liz Bailey appeared as the stronger of the two.
Besides that the crimes weren't absorbing and suspenseful as they could be, and as Kava as done in other stories. The killer is obvious ever since he shows up but he behaves so naturally that instead of being horrified by what he was doing I was just curious about the why he was doing it. I think I would have liked a bit more suspense in this story.
I also felt that there were a few loose ends. For instance there's an explanation for the appearance of the container where it showed up but there's no mention from the killer to having lost it, or worry that it could be found. And we never find out what really happened to the man whose torso showed up on the container and his relationship with the killer...
Regarding O'Dell and Platt's relationship I don't feel that there's much chemistry between them. I remember when Morelli was on the scene and I kept waiting for the next book to see what was going to happen between them. I'm afraid I'm not as eager to see what is going to happen next with these two.
But I do hope Kava will be able to surprise me with the next book. I would sure like to read another winner!
Grade: 3/5
Maggie is called to the Pensacola Bay after a container is found at sea filled with an assortment of human limbs. May a serial killer be on the loose? At the same time, her friend, Colonel Benjamin Platt is called to investigate the sudden death of several wounded soldiers that seem to have been infected with something.
I loved the first scene of the book. When the aircrew finds the container and discovers what it has inside. I thought it really promising but when Maggie O'Dell appears on the scene she seems a weaker character than in the previous books. I think Liz Bailey appeared as the stronger of the two.
Besides that the crimes weren't absorbing and suspenseful as they could be, and as Kava as done in other stories. The killer is obvious ever since he shows up but he behaves so naturally that instead of being horrified by what he was doing I was just curious about the why he was doing it. I think I would have liked a bit more suspense in this story.
I also felt that there were a few loose ends. For instance there's an explanation for the appearance of the container where it showed up but there's no mention from the killer to having lost it, or worry that it could be found. And we never find out what really happened to the man whose torso showed up on the container and his relationship with the killer...
Regarding O'Dell and Platt's relationship I don't feel that there's much chemistry between them. I remember when Morelli was on the scene and I kept waiting for the next book to see what was going to happen between them. I'm afraid I'm not as eager to see what is going to happen next with these two.
But I do hope Kava will be able to surprise me with the next book. I would sure like to read another winner!
Grade: 3/5
June 9, 2010
The story is set in the Gulf of Mexico as a hurricane is heading towards the panhandle. The protagonist, Maggie O'Dell, takes a near back seat to this story, as a couple of other character emerge.
Liz is a U.S. Coast Guard swimmer. She is dropped out of helicopters to rescue people (and the occasional dog or two) and retrieve odd items found floating around the ocean - like a very large, very specialized cooler containing three feet, a torso, and a hand. Kind of gruesome. This brings Maggie, a profiler, onto the scene.
Meanwhile, possible love interest who has a fascination with microscopic killers is called to Florida on a top secret mission to explore a new illness striking soldiers recently losing a limb in the Middle East.
Did I mention the hurricane? It's going to hit New Orleans, of course, because that makes the news channels. But wait, it looks like it will hit Florida, after all, as the residents expected. They always expect hurricanes. Just can't catch a break.
Throw in the unsavory yet socially gifted character of Joe Black who uses Scott's funeral home for his personal freezer. What is he freezing? Eventually, Scott's sister-in-law, the previously mentioned Liz, will find out.
All these characters (including the hurricane) eventually meet together and provide an enjoyable read. The story moves along at a comfortable pace and a darker side of organ donation is explored.
Entertaining, if a little gruesome, read.
This book was provided to me by Doubleday publishing. In return, I have provided an honest review.
Liz is a U.S. Coast Guard swimmer. She is dropped out of helicopters to rescue people (and the occasional dog or two) and retrieve odd items found floating around the ocean - like a very large, very specialized cooler containing three feet, a torso, and a hand. Kind of gruesome. This brings Maggie, a profiler, onto the scene.
Meanwhile, possible love interest who has a fascination with microscopic killers is called to Florida on a top secret mission to explore a new illness striking soldiers recently losing a limb in the Middle East.
Did I mention the hurricane? It's going to hit New Orleans, of course, because that makes the news channels. But wait, it looks like it will hit Florida, after all, as the residents expected. They always expect hurricanes. Just can't catch a break.
Throw in the unsavory yet socially gifted character of Joe Black who uses Scott's funeral home for his personal freezer. What is he freezing? Eventually, Scott's sister-in-law, the previously mentioned Liz, will find out.
All these characters (including the hurricane) eventually meet together and provide an enjoyable read. The story moves along at a comfortable pace and a darker side of organ donation is explored.
Entertaining, if a little gruesome, read.
This book was provided to me by Doubleday publishing. In return, I have provided an honest review.
September 11, 2011
A coast guard rescue ends of with a cooler full of body parts. The FBI is called onto the scene. While promising much, this is pendantic at best. And what really irks me in novels is that while the author wraps the protagonist up in a bow at the end, she forgets to address her characterss feelings for those who were lost. Does anyone else feel that our modern authors try to build to a crescendo - all action but no real substance - and leave us wanting.
I read a comment on a blog today about how we should be reading what betters us, professionally speaking. I am a communciations/marketing professional. The bloggers point was that if we read inferior writing, we will begin to mirror that in our own writing. While I need to think about this further for myself and my professional writing, my reading as enthusiast self has to agree. We should demad better from modern writers. I can't say that any new novel that I have read over the past 20 years would ever qualify as a classic. I recognize that I favor the criminal/who dunnit type novel, but Poe, McInness and many previous writers put our modern day writers to shame. If I continue to be frustrated, I will definitely be more selective of my modern day reading. Classics will never cease to charm and deserve a revisit.
I read a comment on a blog today about how we should be reading what betters us, professionally speaking. I am a communciations/marketing professional. The bloggers point was that if we read inferior writing, we will begin to mirror that in our own writing. While I need to think about this further for myself and my professional writing, my reading as enthusiast self has to agree. We should demad better from modern writers. I can't say that any new novel that I have read over the past 20 years would ever qualify as a classic. I recognize that I favor the criminal/who dunnit type novel, but Poe, McInness and many previous writers put our modern day writers to shame. If I continue to be frustrated, I will definitely be more selective of my modern day reading. Classics will never cease to charm and deserve a revisit.
March 1, 2011
This book was a disappointment for me. First, there are a lot of POV characters. None of these characters felt fully developed. Their stories eventually, sort of, tie together. In the meantime, it's exhausting to follow them all. The plot is all over the place. There is a lot going on in a kind of chaotic mess. None of it really pulls me into the story. Instead, I find myself being shoved in so many directions, so quickly, that I'm never allowed to plant my feet down in any one spot. In the end, I simply didn't care.
September 18, 2010
I'm just not finding this book as exciting as her other novels. It just can't seem to keep my interest. I find myself reading a few chapters and putting it down to go do other things. With only 259 pages, this should have been a quick read but after three days I was still only halfway through it. You would think with a category 5 hurricane and a cooler filled with body parts, this would be an exciting fast paced book - so not the case.
It finally picked up the pace and got interesting though not exciting. All in all not as good as usual but not a bad story either.
It finally picked up the pace and got interesting though not exciting. All in all not as good as usual but not a bad story either.
January 19, 2015
I debated what to rate this. Most of the book bored me, I liked all the parts with Maggie, but found the rest boring. Then it picked up near the end and got interesting for her to completely gloss over how it was resolved. It was SUPER short, like "I'm here, all is well" and then it was days later. UGH!! Details would have been good. Could have been a 3 star book, but gotta rate down for that. Disappointing.
March 18, 2025
Kolejny tom z agentką specjalną Maggie O'Dell tym razem zaprowadzi nas na Florydę. Kobieta spróbuje rozwikłać sprawę, w której istotną rolę będzie odgrywać pewna wyłowiona lodówka rybacka, wypełniona różnymi częściami ciała. Wstępne badania mówią, że to są części pochodzące od różnych osób. Także trzeba zidentyfikować ofiary i połączyć wszystko w spójną całość, żeby znaleźć sprawcę.
Z niepokojem czytałam "Kolekcjonera", bo bardzo lubię wcześniejsze powieści Kavy i o ile "Czarny piątek" był niezłym wyjściem z tego gorszego okresu pisarskiego to tutaj od nowa mamy spory spadek formy. Ponownie mamy ograniczenie czasowe w postaci huraganu Isaac, który ma uderzyć we Florydę i narobić sporo szkód. Natomiast ten wątek jest trochę naciągany, więc nie odczuwamy tego wyścigu z czasem, który czasem naprawdę potrafił przyspieszyć w czytelniku tętno. Co więcej, autorka postanowiła postawić wszystko na jedną kartę i szybko możemy odkryć kto był tym kolekcjonerem, ale równocześnie nie dostajemy nic w zamian. Czytamy tę historię i czytamy, a jak już odłożymy to mamy takie - no było okej, ale nic specjalnego. Oczywiście fabuła jest prowadzona dosyć dynamicznie, więc ten czas dosyć szybko mi minął, ale patrząc na całokształt to ta książka pozostawia po sobie spory niedosyt.
Oby kolejny tom był tym faktycznym powrotem do formy.
Z niepokojem czytałam "Kolekcjonera", bo bardzo lubię wcześniejsze powieści Kavy i o ile "Czarny piątek" był niezłym wyjściem z tego gorszego okresu pisarskiego to tutaj od nowa mamy spory spadek formy. Ponownie mamy ograniczenie czasowe w postaci huraganu Isaac, który ma uderzyć we Florydę i narobić sporo szkód. Natomiast ten wątek jest trochę naciągany, więc nie odczuwamy tego wyścigu z czasem, który czasem naprawdę potrafił przyspieszyć w czytelniku tętno. Co więcej, autorka postanowiła postawić wszystko na jedną kartę i szybko możemy odkryć kto był tym kolekcjonerem, ale równocześnie nie dostajemy nic w zamian. Czytamy tę historię i czytamy, a jak już odłożymy to mamy takie - no było okej, ale nic specjalnego. Oczywiście fabuła jest prowadzona dosyć dynamicznie, więc ten czas dosyć szybko mi minął, ale patrząc na całokształt to ta książka pozostawia po sobie spory niedosyt.
Oby kolejny tom był tym faktycznym powrotem do formy.
March 10, 2019
This was an excellent story. Lots of plots and subplots yet all plausible. I learned quite a bit about the lack of government oversight of the tissue replacement industry and the way some can manipulate the cadaver donor market for profit. It was suspenseful, educational and enjoyable—proof yet again that gifted writers can make a long running series fresh and enthralling.
November 6, 2020
Een wat minder deel van deze serie.
April 24, 2024
Not as exciting as some of Maggie O'Dell books, but the story keeps you going, ending sooner than expected
July 11, 2017
I felt like I should have been checking the weather channel for hurricane updates as I was reading this.
January 21, 2018
Reads like a action blockbuster movie, only better. Great cast of characters. This book is a good example of why I am reading more, and watching less TV. Excellent series.
November 13, 2014
Thrillers zijn niet direct m'n ding, gezien ik meestal Fantasy (en de occasionele Sci-Fi) lees. Van Alex Kava had ik dan ook nog nooit gehoord, maar dankzij een wedstrijd op Facebook (in de groep Boekenfans) heb ik een exemplaar van Damaged (Slachtoffers als Nederlandstalige titel) gewonnen. Ook van mijnentwege dank aan Stefanie Roels en Els Ebraert voor het exemplaar.
Slachtoffers, deel 8, past in een reeks (ondertussen 10 delen) met terugkerende personages en vooral het hoofdpersonage Maggie O'Dell. Maar elk boek zou op zichzelf staan, hoewel het wellicht helpt voorgaande delen te hebben gelezen om meer vertrouwd te zijn met het/de hoofdpersonage(s). Beetje analoog met politieseries op televisie: Flikken, A Touch Of Frost, Morse, Louis, Wallander, enz...
Ook was het al een tijdje geleden dat ik nog Nederlandstalige fictie had gelezen, daar ik vooral in het Engels lees en me dus weer een beetje diende aan te passen aan m'n moedertaal, die hier toch wel met een ferme Nederlandse (geen Belgische) invloed gebruikt wordt. Maar goed, ondanks enkele nieuwe woorden voor me, of hoe ze gebruikt worden (kanjer, aftaaien, ...), liet de vertaling het toch toe vlot door het verhaal te raken.
Waar gaat het over? Orkaan Isaac is op komst en in Florida neemt men de nodige maatregelen om zich in veiligheid te brengen. Oplossen van misdaden is ondergeschikt op dat moment. Zoals met elke orkaan vallen er slachtoffers, alleen hier worden slachtoffers gemaakt, opzettelijk. Mensen die anders wellicht in veiligheid zouden geraken/zijn ondergebracht worden afgemaakt voor hun ledematen en dit, blijkbaar (want dat lees je pas op het einde), niet alleen voor operaties, maar ook voor congressen als studiemateriaal voor nieuwe ontwikkelingen en medische vooruitgang (of "vooruitgang", hoe je het ook wilt bekijken).
Hoe het verhaal precies verloopt, ga ik niet zeggen. Maar enkele pro's en contra's van mijnentwege:
PRO'S:
+ het verhaal leest vlot
+ korte hoofdstukken, wat natuurlijk de vlotheid bevordert
+ layout qua witruimte, lettergrootte
+ nuttige info op het einde over wat fictie was en wat er waargebeurd was, want blijkbaar is Slachtoffers gebaseerd op wat zich enkele jaren afspeelde aan de kusten van de US of A inzake orkanen.
CONTRA'S:
- bepaalde vertalingen of gebruik van woorden (zoals gezegd, ligt aan Nederlands Nederlands, niet Belgisch)
- korte hoofdstukken: jawel, het is ook een minpunt, want het komt over alsof maar de helft van het verhaal wordt verteld en zo maak je het spannend, natuurlijk. Maar dan krijg je ook (volgend punt)...
- leemtes: wat met Scott, die zich opsloot in de koelcel tot de storm overwaaide? Wat met Joe Black op het einde? enz... enz...
- een groot handvol personages, echter weinig background daarover, waardoor je zelf de leegtes moet invullen en het verhaal proberen "completer" te maken. En als je dan gewend bent, zoals in Fantasy, om hele beschrijvingen te lezen, een wereld te zien ontplooien met verschillende personages, dan is dit maar mager.
- van de hak op de tak springen qua hoofdstukken, m.a.w., ze sluiten niet op elkaar aan. Zoals met televisieseries wordt er afgebroken en komen andere personages/scenes in beeld die niets te maken hebben met het voorgaande. Om dan terug te komen of nog een derde situatie aan te kaarten. In plaats van de hoofdstukken wat verder uit te bouwen zodat er niet zoveel moet gesplitst worden.
In het begin is het even je hoofd erbij houden (vond ik toch), maar dan vormt de puzzel zich beetje bij beetje, kan je linken leggen of vermoedens bevestigd zien. Zoals het feit dat Joe Black eigenlijk geen zuivere kerel was. Noodgedwongen? Verder vond ik het wel leuk om lezen - en eerlijk gezegd, ik wist het niet - maar afgaande op andere frauduleuze praktijken in de wereld zou ook handel in lichaamsdelen een illegale, lucratieve bezigheid zijn. Maar geen pers die daarom maalt, evenmin als de erbarmelijke omstandigheden waarin arbeiders in China, India, ... voor een schamel loon en in mensonwaardige omstandigheden werken voor Westerse bedrijven die de producten dan hier aan een hoge prijs verkopen.
Hoe dan ook, qua thrillers, of afgaande op Slachtoffers, denk ik dat Alex Kava eerder mainstream-thrillers schrijft: niet te dik, makkelijk te lezen en te begrijpen, even lekker tussendoor, ontspannend (thriller, ontspannend?), enz.. Voor het diepgaandere en spannendere werk zijn er, zoals met alles, betere auteurs en boeken. Vandaar de wat lage score.
Slachtoffers, deel 8, past in een reeks (ondertussen 10 delen) met terugkerende personages en vooral het hoofdpersonage Maggie O'Dell. Maar elk boek zou op zichzelf staan, hoewel het wellicht helpt voorgaande delen te hebben gelezen om meer vertrouwd te zijn met het/de hoofdpersonage(s). Beetje analoog met politieseries op televisie: Flikken, A Touch Of Frost, Morse, Louis, Wallander, enz...
Ook was het al een tijdje geleden dat ik nog Nederlandstalige fictie had gelezen, daar ik vooral in het Engels lees en me dus weer een beetje diende aan te passen aan m'n moedertaal, die hier toch wel met een ferme Nederlandse (geen Belgische) invloed gebruikt wordt. Maar goed, ondanks enkele nieuwe woorden voor me, of hoe ze gebruikt worden (kanjer, aftaaien, ...), liet de vertaling het toch toe vlot door het verhaal te raken.
Waar gaat het over? Orkaan Isaac is op komst en in Florida neemt men de nodige maatregelen om zich in veiligheid te brengen. Oplossen van misdaden is ondergeschikt op dat moment. Zoals met elke orkaan vallen er slachtoffers, alleen hier worden slachtoffers gemaakt, opzettelijk. Mensen die anders wellicht in veiligheid zouden geraken/zijn ondergebracht worden afgemaakt voor hun ledematen en dit, blijkbaar (want dat lees je pas op het einde), niet alleen voor operaties, maar ook voor congressen als studiemateriaal voor nieuwe ontwikkelingen en medische vooruitgang (of "vooruitgang", hoe je het ook wilt bekijken).
Hoe het verhaal precies verloopt, ga ik niet zeggen. Maar enkele pro's en contra's van mijnentwege:
PRO'S:
+ het verhaal leest vlot
+ korte hoofdstukken, wat natuurlijk de vlotheid bevordert
+ layout qua witruimte, lettergrootte
+ nuttige info op het einde over wat fictie was en wat er waargebeurd was, want blijkbaar is Slachtoffers gebaseerd op wat zich enkele jaren afspeelde aan de kusten van de US of A inzake orkanen.
CONTRA'S:
- bepaalde vertalingen of gebruik van woorden (zoals gezegd, ligt aan Nederlands Nederlands, niet Belgisch)
- korte hoofdstukken: jawel, het is ook een minpunt, want het komt over alsof maar de helft van het verhaal wordt verteld en zo maak je het spannend, natuurlijk. Maar dan krijg je ook (volgend punt)...
- leemtes: wat met Scott, die zich opsloot in de koelcel tot de storm overwaaide? Wat met Joe Black op het einde? enz... enz...
- een groot handvol personages, echter weinig background daarover, waardoor je zelf de leegtes moet invullen en het verhaal proberen "completer" te maken. En als je dan gewend bent, zoals in Fantasy, om hele beschrijvingen te lezen, een wereld te zien ontplooien met verschillende personages, dan is dit maar mager.
- van de hak op de tak springen qua hoofdstukken, m.a.w., ze sluiten niet op elkaar aan. Zoals met televisieseries wordt er afgebroken en komen andere personages/scenes in beeld die niets te maken hebben met het voorgaande. Om dan terug te komen of nog een derde situatie aan te kaarten. In plaats van de hoofdstukken wat verder uit te bouwen zodat er niet zoveel moet gesplitst worden.
In het begin is het even je hoofd erbij houden (vond ik toch), maar dan vormt de puzzel zich beetje bij beetje, kan je linken leggen of vermoedens bevestigd zien. Zoals het feit dat Joe Black eigenlijk geen zuivere kerel was. Noodgedwongen? Verder vond ik het wel leuk om lezen - en eerlijk gezegd, ik wist het niet - maar afgaande op andere frauduleuze praktijken in de wereld zou ook handel in lichaamsdelen een illegale, lucratieve bezigheid zijn. Maar geen pers die daarom maalt, evenmin als de erbarmelijke omstandigheden waarin arbeiders in China, India, ... voor een schamel loon en in mensonwaardige omstandigheden werken voor Westerse bedrijven die de producten dan hier aan een hoge prijs verkopen.
Hoe dan ook, qua thrillers, of afgaande op Slachtoffers, denk ik dat Alex Kava eerder mainstream-thrillers schrijft: niet te dik, makkelijk te lezen en te begrijpen, even lekker tussendoor, ontspannend (thriller, ontspannend?), enz.. Voor het diepgaandere en spannendere werk zijn er, zoals met alles, betere auteurs en boeken. Vandaar de wat lage score.
June 25, 2010
This is my first time meeting Maggie O'Dell. I want to meet her again. This means picking up the other Maggie O'Dell novels, Black Friday and Exposed. It will be a pleasure to do so.
A hurricane is heading towards Pensacola, Florida ....
The book starts with Liz Bailey having just joined a new Coast Guard team as their rescue swimmer in Pensacola. Although she has lived through New Orleans rescues in the aftermath of Katrina, she's now in the position of having to prove herself all over again to a new group as the only female. She retrieves a cooler from the ocean, and, against protocol, but at the insistence of her new boss Wilson, the cooler is opened inside of their helicopter only to reveal body parts wrapped in plastic.
Maggie O'Dell is an FBI profiler, who also happens to have one of "those" bosses, Assistant Director Raymond Kunze - the type of boss who will deflect blame onto anyone other than himself, and Maggie happens to often be the butt of his deflections. She has just come home from a scene where a serial killer case she was working on ended up with Kunze shooting and fatally wounding the killer. Maggie happens to have been close enough to catch the splatter and ruin her clothing, her mood, and her day.
After showering, her friend Charlie Wurth, the deputy director of the Department of Homeland Security telephones her to ask if she would accompany him to Pensacola to investigate a fishing cooler that the Coast Guard found in the Gulf.
Colonel Benjamin Platt, Maggie's special friend, has just been called to Pensacola in an attempt to find the cause and cure for a mysterious virus that has begun infecting and killing soldiers after they've gone through surgery.
How these stories intertwine and connect is a page-turning journey that will have you saying to yourself, "Just one more chapter, then I'll call it a night".
You know quickly "whodunnit", but maybe you don't .. you'll have to read to find out.
I hate spoilers, so actually saying any more about the plot would be giving some of the good stuff away. Suffice it to say that the characters here are interesting and genuine. You'll find yourself saying, "Hmmm ... I know someone like that" as you read about them.
The thrills abound, with unexpected turns throughout, but not dizzying turns. These are enjoyable turns, and you will have this book finished before you know it. The ending has it's own share of surprises, and you will definitely be pleased once you realize that you've turned the last page. It's like having a good meal topped by a not-too-heavy dessert; you'll close the pages satisfied that you've spent your reading time wisely.
A hurricane is heading towards Pensacola, Florida ....
The book starts with Liz Bailey having just joined a new Coast Guard team as their rescue swimmer in Pensacola. Although she has lived through New Orleans rescues in the aftermath of Katrina, she's now in the position of having to prove herself all over again to a new group as the only female. She retrieves a cooler from the ocean, and, against protocol, but at the insistence of her new boss Wilson, the cooler is opened inside of their helicopter only to reveal body parts wrapped in plastic.
Maggie O'Dell is an FBI profiler, who also happens to have one of "those" bosses, Assistant Director Raymond Kunze - the type of boss who will deflect blame onto anyone other than himself, and Maggie happens to often be the butt of his deflections. She has just come home from a scene where a serial killer case she was working on ended up with Kunze shooting and fatally wounding the killer. Maggie happens to have been close enough to catch the splatter and ruin her clothing, her mood, and her day.
After showering, her friend Charlie Wurth, the deputy director of the Department of Homeland Security telephones her to ask if she would accompany him to Pensacola to investigate a fishing cooler that the Coast Guard found in the Gulf.
Colonel Benjamin Platt, Maggie's special friend, has just been called to Pensacola in an attempt to find the cause and cure for a mysterious virus that has begun infecting and killing soldiers after they've gone through surgery.
How these stories intertwine and connect is a page-turning journey that will have you saying to yourself, "Just one more chapter, then I'll call it a night".
You know quickly "whodunnit", but maybe you don't .. you'll have to read to find out.
I hate spoilers, so actually saying any more about the plot would be giving some of the good stuff away. Suffice it to say that the characters here are interesting and genuine. You'll find yourself saying, "Hmmm ... I know someone like that" as you read about them.
The thrills abound, with unexpected turns throughout, but not dizzying turns. These are enjoyable turns, and you will have this book finished before you know it. The ending has it's own share of surprises, and you will definitely be pleased once you realize that you've turned the last page. It's like having a good meal topped by a not-too-heavy dessert; you'll close the pages satisfied that you've spent your reading time wisely.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 434 reviews