Spoiler Discussion (January 2017) - A Tapping at my Door, by David Jackson

[Clare]

This is definitely a 5 star for me.

DS Nathan Codey was an interesting character, still damaged by the effects of the horrific attack when he was undercover. I could see this as a television drama but i am not sure who could play Cody.

I was surprised that the killers motivation for killing police officers was Hillsborough though. It made me uncomfortable mixing fact with fiction. The real families of the survivors and the 96 fought through the courts for 27 years for justice, they did not murder police officers. I would be interested in other peoples opinions.

[Mary]

Well if you are a fan of Edgar Allen Poe you will probably be drawn into this book immediately. Suspense, creepiness and close to horror were my first impressions and continued throughout the book. The novelty of police being the targets of a serial killer made it more interesting than the usual serial killer stories, of which, I think I have become a bit burned out by.

Detective Cody, a psychological mess, was fun and interesting as he could go from snapping at people to acts of kindness shortly after. The dry humor was a relief from the horror. (It reminded me of the gallows humor I and my peers used while working in emergency rooms...just to be able to continue working with the things seen.)

The pace and writing style made this a book to look forward to returning to every night. I will be reading more in this series not just because of stories or writing styles but also to find out how Cody fairs in life.

Totally surprised by the ending as well which I love. I always think that makes the writer smarter than me. So the read is worthwhile.

I give it 5 stars and recommend to anyone who likes suspense, mystery, detective or horror.

[Mary]

Clare wrote: "This is definitely a 5 star for me.

DS Nathan Codey was an interesting character, still damaged by the effects of the horrific attack when he was undercover. I could see this as a television drama..."

Hillsborough or any other disaster like it does always leave people wondering "Who's to blame?" I know that some just cannot let it go and the term "accident" is just not something they can accept or doesn't really seem to cover the scope of it. So, someone or a group MUST be blamed and punishment meted out.

[Clare]

I know is it only a story. I think sometimes I like my fiction all sewn up with the ends neatly tied up.

[Mary]

Clare wrote: "I know is it only a story. I think sometimes I like my fiction all sewn up with the ends neatly tied up."

:-)

[Desirae_nicole]

I finished last night, but skimmed the last 30% or so to get the ending. The author did a great job of creating some suspenseful scenes that could get your heart pounding as you read the thoughts racing through the characters heads. I did enjoy the suspense to a point, but was more interested in racing through to a conclusion last night than to let the suspense play out.

The story did have a lot to do with Cody's PTSD and I was disappointed that the character decided revenge was a better solution than counseling. But I guess that is how you keep a story arc going. I don't plan on reading anymore of this character series (at least one more, right?), but wasn't a bad read.