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greenblack's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jdtangney's review
2.0
Meh. Cheap, tawdry pandering to American audiences. (Hint: "literally" does not mean what Mr Bruen thinks it means.) Maybe my expectations were off, but I expected a bit more depth, the kind of soulfulness that has made Irish literature something to write home about for the last dozen centuries.
yorugua1891's review against another edition
5.0
"I'd sworn I was out of the investigation business, but this was personal, or so the lunatic who wrote it implied."
I was surprised by this book because there is a slight shift in Bruen's style. Part of this relates to form, such as the use of chapters with titles, giving the story a more structured presence, which was clearly present before. But there is also a change in the mood of the narration. Don't get me wrong, this is still a dark, gritty story, but Jack's narration has bursts of humor that provide nice variations to its usual pace. In my mind, the author is mirroring changes to come in the main character with these changes in style, but I will have to keep reading the following books in the series to see if I am right or not. What is definitely clear is that Bruen is a master storyteller, since the change does not lower the quality of his work in the least. This one is among his best so far.
The elements of the story are along the lines of what we usually get. There is the main case Jack works on, even though he had decided to stay away from this type of work. The fact that the case found him via letters from the murderer telling him in advance that more victims will come is just a small detail to spice things up. As always, there is an ancillary case involving animals. Of course, we also get to see what is happening with the stories of the different secondary characters. For example, Ridge is battling a malignant tumor and needs Jack's support. On top of this, there is a revelation about an event in the past that may change everything!
If you are a reader of this series, you better stop reading this right now and go get this book immediately. You can thank me later :)
I was surprised by this book because there is a slight shift in Bruen's style. Part of this relates to form, such as the use of chapters with titles, giving the story a more structured presence, which was clearly present before. But there is also a change in the mood of the narration. Don't get me wrong, this is still a dark, gritty story, but Jack's narration has bursts of humor that provide nice variations to its usual pace. In my mind, the author is mirroring changes to come in the main character with these changes in style, but I will have to keep reading the following books in the series to see if I am right or not. What is definitely clear is that Bruen is a master storyteller, since the change does not lower the quality of his work in the least. This one is among his best so far.
The elements of the story are along the lines of what we usually get. There is the main case Jack works on, even though he had decided to stay away from this type of work. The fact that the case found him via letters from the murderer telling him in advance that more victims will come is just a small detail to spice things up. As always, there is an ancillary case involving animals. Of course, we also get to see what is happening with the stories of the different secondary characters. For example, Ridge is battling a malignant tumor and needs Jack's support. On top of this, there is a revelation about an event in the past that may change everything!
If you are a reader of this series, you better stop reading this right now and go get this book immediately. You can thank me later :)
drakaina16's review against another edition
2.0
My dad recommended this book. Going in, I didn't realize it was the seventh book in the series. I feel I may have enjoyed it more had I read them in order.
angrygreycatreads's review
4.0
Sanctuary is book 7 in the Jack Taylor series. Jack is suffering greatly from all his excesses, from currently falling off the wagon, and the beatings he has taken over the years. On top of this he starts receiving mail from a killer, communicating with him about the victims. Jack fueled by rage induced by the memories of Serena’s Death tracks the killer down to deliver his form of justice and save another child’s life.
This book connects very strongly to the events at the end of Book 4 and continuing forward. I think it would be difficult to appreciate Jack’s mind set and his relationships without having read them. I enjoyed this more for the ongoing story line of Serena than for the mystery in this particular installment, although that was good as well.
This book connects very strongly to the events at the end of Book 4 and continuing forward. I think it would be difficult to appreciate Jack’s mind set and his relationships without having read them. I enjoyed this more for the ongoing story line of Serena than for the mystery in this particular installment, although that was good as well.
5wamp_creature's review
4.0
Author chose not to curb-stomp us with the ending this time. Huh.
These books are 1/3 the length of most in the genre. But all the work gets done.
These books are 1/3 the length of most in the genre. But all the work gets done.
flogigyahoo's review
5.0
Ken Bruen is funny, smart, fascinating. What more can one say about Ken Bruen? He's great. Read the book.