A re-read after many years. Above average serial killer thriller which I guess was in the right place at the right time to be a hit. The killer is made too obvious (despite some rule-breaking internal dialogue where the narrator effectively lies to the reader, which isn't the same as cleverly misleading us) and the over-the-top ending isn't really earned but I'm glad it was adapted to TV because that's how I discovered Ken Stott. ( )

A serial killer is murdering men who seem to have nothing in common... the pattern is also not clear from the beginning, but all of them are left with a silver spoon in their mouth...
Very suspenseful and not for weak nerves ;-) ( )

I had previously read Boris Starling's Vodka and noticed in some of the reviews people were talking about this, Messiah, as being on par with, or even better than Vodka in some cases, as such when I saw this was available at my local bookstore I grabbed it.

I am pleased to say it's an excellent read, there's plenty of gory crime drama within. In the story there's a serial killer on the loose killing people in the fashion of the way the apostle's died. Running parallel to this is the subplot surrounding the lead detectives life - that he was responsible for his brother being caught for a murder, and that he himself had killed a boy and walked away.

The unfolding narrative of the primary plot is well done, and the twists and turns it takes are executed brilliantly, it's not until the very end that things become clear, and even then there's still some more shocks to the story line within the pages.

Whilst the structure of the story means re-reading will be a lesser experience, the initial read is still great and it's well worth picking up if you enjoy crime and/or serial killer novels. ( )

My friend, Jean sent me this book out of the clear blue. I think she thinks I would have turned my nose up at it because I don't generally like British mysteries. (She was right, but I've now learned my lesson.) This is one of the greatest books I've read in forever. It's a first novel and it's a gripper from beginning to end. Brutal murders, carefully planned and executed are turning up and Investigator Red Metcalf, renowned for his case solving, is stumped. But, that's only the tip of the iceberg for this one. It's creepy, it's crawly and my friend at Seattle Mystery Bookshop nailed it when he said that not many authors have the kind of guts for this kind of plot. I just read where Starling is only 29 - I'm looking for years and years more just like this one. ( )

Wonderful book. Cracking plot, sizzling tension and very gory. Not for the feint hearted. ( )