Nicely developing characters between two seemingly unrelated stories. What does a man in 1799 who is coming to terms with his homosexuality have in common with a nowadays researcher living with Aspergers? Nothing, or maybe the coming to terms, or Africa. And still the two stories weave nicely together, both capture the reader, and the outcome of the story of both is touching. Overlying the stories is a beautiful description of gorillas and lions, a strong plot in both stories and well developed support characters.

The short description of the books makes you believe this is a detective novel where two unlikely characters solve a problem around a disappeared woman. Prepare for a much harsher read, a tale about a place where the life of a woman has no value. A place where corruption rules and keeps the truth about the disappearances of women hidden. Where violence is normal, even (or especially) in what is supposed to be the justice system. The main characters gain more and more detail, often ugly, building a picture of how people cope with a life where violence rules. The locations, the events - same thing, build up step by step, and likely not too fictional. Not a pretty book, not a nice detective novel, a very good read though.

Having lived in Glasgow, and knowing a bit about the areas, this is a book I like. It shows about life behind the scenes in a very rough area in a rough city. It shows what is hidden behind the characters of a noisy teenager, why she engages in sex and drugs where she knows she doesn't want either. It shows why the sister is so quiet, and still growing. And the almost painful regret of a gay gentleman. Good character development and good setting in the scenes so familiar to Glasgow.

A very personal book, both for the author and for the reader. When the reader can relate to the abuse the author shows how the different people respond differently to the abuse. The characters in the story develop well over time, it becomes more and more clear which choices are made by whom, and why. Having that said, when the reader can't relate to the abuse, the the book is probably no more than a recount of a fantastic crazy life of a mother.

I read the book for the second time over the past weeks, and it is still as magical as it was during the first read. The stories in the book weave together into a magical blanket: the fantasies around the magic, the love story, the dwellings of a boy looking for his future and all the normal people and their lives with the circus - an amazing feat. The use of the dates, the changing timeline: pay attention to it, makes the book all the more interesting.

An okay read, but nothing like the example he has to live up to. McCarthy's "The Road" is and remains unique in it's tone, the drawing of the atmosphere, of the thoughts of the main character. It isn't fair to compare the two titles, but yet that is what is done, and Heller wrote the lesser book.

The author is so adamant to not reveal any secrets that the story gets bland, there is no detail, nothing interesting in the book.

Great mix of facts, history and fantasy! The story is real enough to keep me reading on, yet has great jumps into the fantasy world.

After a few very dark and violent books in the Dresden serie, this one is back to the original caliber. Sure, it is still good fights evil, and of course, good wins (most of the times). In this book Butler shows his broad fantasy, more so than his dark side. He impresses me with the different scenarios, the unique solutions to all the bad situations that the hero finds himself in. He builds the personal relationships back into the story line, there is hope again for Dresden and the world.

Very clever writing of Hopkins in this book. Her experiment with the poetry format, the three different perspectives, the different fonts all make for a perspective on the lives of three women that has more dimensions than an ordinary novel. The characters of the three women are well defined, broad and deep, and give an insight in the lives of women who we would call 'ordinary', but turn out to have deep motives for what they do or not do. The story keeps a tension, problems are solved at some point, yet the lives of the three characters will go on when the book is finished, the book is a glimpse in three lives, unfinished and satisfactory at the same time.

Enger carefully builds Henning Juul as the main character in this novel, revealing his background, history and behaviors one part at a time. These characteristics are cunningly woven into the story, making for a detective novel where tweaks and twists in the plot come unexpected and naturally at the same time. The plot has enough twists to keep the book interesting until the very last page, even when the culprit has been unveiled. No artificial moves or jumps in the plot, the story logic is correct and intriguing. I enjoyed reading the book, and would look forward to next publications.

Listened to the audio version, read by Kevin Kenerly (unabridged). Well drawn characters, deep insights in the mayor players and there motives. The characters carry the story, not the usual other way round, making this a thriller in its own category. Kenerly's voice and interpretation is well suited for the book, giving it a right pace and insity.

Gripping and gruesome. Quite the book about parents living with the abduction and killing of their son and the long investigation to convict the killer. A book about the feelings of guilt, the "if I only" thoughts, and how these persist for 25 years. And the same parents living with a failing police team, learning how pride of individuals leads to the failing of an investigation, dragging it on for more than 25 years. Be ready for an intense read, for details that you probably won't like, and imagine that you're the parent of Adam.