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The Killing Circle: A Novel by Andrew Pyper
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The Killing Circle: A Novel

by Andrew Pyper

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1072663,094 (3.26)28
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A blurb reads

A spine-chilling, mind-twisting psychological thriller — Andrew Pyper’s most gripping novel yet — in which a writing circle is haunted by a serial killer.

I seem to be the only reader who did not enjoy this book. I am not a fan of writing negative reviews of fiction: the things that can turn a reader off from a book are so subjective that they wouldn't necessarily apply to anyone else, and I would hate to discourage another reader from taking a chance on what is almost universally praised as "Frightening and action-packed" (Los Angeles Times), "Spookily terrific" (Winnipeg Free Press), "One great read: darkly lyrical and atmospheric, it's as haunting as it is gripping. Highly recommended" (Harlan Coben).

I'll just note that there were stylistic elements that did not agree with me, and that unfortunately harmed what is undoubtedly a good read. ( )
  EdKupfer | Nov 2, 2009 |
Pyper has a talent for creating creepy scenarios which somehow seep into real life. This time, he uses a story within a story creating a mirror effect to loose the reader in the possibilities of horror. I particularly enjoyed walking down the streets of Toronto - it makes the story that much lively. Pyper has a vivid imagination and although this is not his best, it's definitely a thrill. ( )
  Cecilturtle | Sep 14, 2009 |
In "The Killing Circle", we are plunged into the complicated world of ones inner self, facing all kinds of voices and fantasies. We are particularly invited into the mind of Patrick Rush, an aspiring novelist.

Patrick wishing to unleash his own creativity joins Conrad White's writing workshop, a dark and mysterious group that meet each week to share their secret tales. Suffering from a mental block and a lack of fertile imagination he becomes frustrated and envious of Angela's tale of the Sandman. He plagiarize her story and submits it for publication. Problems arise when an eerie similarity is discovered between the novel and multiple murders that are being investigated by Toronto's police force. Paranoia sets into the group when one by one its members disappear.

This is one dark, very complex and compelling plot with very disturbing moments. Fear and obsession is palpable, the first person narration brings out the sense of dread and horror and provides an insight into the mind of a murderer. This novel played with my mind, there were moments when I felt like abandoning it but new developments piqued my interest, I stayed riveted to every word in order to find out the killer's identity.

Even with its interesting characters and steady moving pace this spooky thriller, full of bogeymen may not be for everyone one ( )
  Tigerpaw70 | Aug 9, 2009 |
Had the feeling that Pyper got bored with this novel about half way through the second draft and just published it the way it stood, before breathing any life into it. About half way through deciding to read this book ... don't.
  Kinch | Aug 1, 2009 |
Just ok. I sped read through last half just to finish it. Author's wife dies and he's left w/their young son to pick up the pieces. Joins a writing circle 'cause he's always wanted to be a published writer. Steals someone's story from the circle and publishes it as his own. Body count mounts. ( )
  shelnutt | May 10, 2009 |
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Series (with order)
Canonical Title
Original publication date
People/Characters
Important places
Important events
Awards and honors
Epigraph
Dedication
For Heidi
First words
I didn't know my son could tell directions from the stars.
Quotations
Last words
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
Disambiguation notice
Publisher's editors
Blurbers
Original publication date2008
People/CharactersPatrick Rush, Sam Rush, Tamara Rush, The Sandman, Angela Whitmore, Petra Dunn (show all 20)
Important placesToronto, Ontario, Canada, Whitley, Ontario, Canada
Awards and honorsReading List Award shortlist (2009)
DedicationFor Heidi
First wordsI didn't know my son could tell directions from the stars.
Last words(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
BlurbersCoben, Harlan
Book description

Amazon.com Product Description (ISBN 0312384769, Hardcover)

From acclaimed, internationally bestselling author Andrew Pyper, a suspenseful page-turner that explores the repercussions of the most dishonest of thefts: stealing another’s story and calling it your own.When Patrick Rush, journalist, single father, and failed novelist, decides to join a creative writing circle, it seems a fertile time for the imagination. Throughout Toronto, a murderer is striking at random, leaving his victims’ bodies mutilated and dismembered, and taunting the police with cryptic notes.
            Influenced by the atmosphere of menace and fear, the group begins to read each other their own dark, unsettling tales. One, Angela, tells a mesmerizing story about a childstealer called the Sandman. Patrick, though, ?nds fantasy and reality becoming blurred. Is the maniac at large in fact the Sandman? What does Angela really know? And is he himself being stalked by the killer?
            It is only when his son is snatched that Patrick understands what he must do: embark on a horrifying journey into the unknown and track down the elusive ?gure known as the Sandman.
            At once a complex and compulsive read, The Killing Circle explores the side effects of an increasingly fame-mad culture, where even the staid realm of literature can fall prey to ravenous ambition and competition.

"Extraordinary . . . Powered by an ingeniously nonlinear narrative and suffused with a tone thick with dread, this is easily Pyper’s most ambitious—and absorbing—work to date.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
The Killing Circle is one great read: darkly lyrical and atmospheric, it’s as haunting as it is gripping. Highly recommended.” —Harlan Coben
“Very smart, very scary, very good: once I started I couldn’t stop. Fans of dark and witty suspense will love The Killing Circle.” —Peter Abrahams, author of Oblivion

(20080707)

(retrieved from Amazon Fri, 24 Apr 2009 07:57:51 -0400)

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