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Friday, December 18, 2020

Review: Crooked River

Crooked River Crooked River by Douglas Preston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lent with Kindle Unlimited (Black Friday deal 3 months for the price of 1).
After a few books with too many Nazis and a not so good book last (Verses of the dead), a great, totally ridiculous book.
Bloody, mutilation, lots of killy, what's not to like.

Not to be read as a standalone, at least I do not think most people will appreciate it.
Solid 5 stars for far out ideas. Highly recommended, if you can stand it (but should have read other books in the series!). Reminds me of the movies Burn After Reading and Men who stare at goats, also the book and movie The Serpent and the Rainbow. Just so you get an idea without spoiling it, in what abyss the book will take you.

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Sunday, December 6, 2020

Review: The Cousins

The Cousins The Cousins by Karen M. McManus
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Pre-ordered the EPub Version (currently not listed on GR), arrived today and started immediatley.

Twisty, wow, there where so many and none of them I saw coming.
Gripping, fast read, highly recommended.

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Review: The Cousins

The Cousins The Cousins by Karen M. McManus
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Pre-ordered the EPub Version (currently not listed on GR), arrived today and started immediatley.

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Sunday, November 29, 2020

Review: The Postcard Killers

The Postcard Killers The Postcard Killers by James Patterson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Trigger Warnings: as expected for a serial killer book bloody, detailed killings, arranged.
A few straight sex scenes.
Straightforward Serial Killer book, surprisingly dumb investigators (police AND MC's).
As I guessed the surprisingly few twists, some might rate this lower. The suspense was good, though and kept me interested.
OK, read, more like 3.8 stars, rounded to 4. As usual with a Patterson book, felt a little formalistic. The influence of the co-author was good, with the setting in Europe, that felt real. Both settings, customs, and language like.

Recommended as a fast weekend read for serial killer fans. As far as I know a standalone, which is ok with me, the male MC (as ususal forgot his name after finishing the book) was not very remarkable, did not like him. Desiré the female MC was way more interesting.
As this was filmed as a movie, one of the reasons I stumbled over this book, I bought that movie on iTunes and will see it soon and comment here on it.

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Monday, November 23, 2020

Review: The Searcher

The Searcher The Searcher by Tana French
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

No normal police-procedural or whodunnit. Instead a coming-of-age-story with an Irish teen and an unusual mentor in a retired US-cop, named Cal. The US-cop bought himself a derelict house to restore in Ireland.
You get to know a lifestyle I as German born and still living in Hamburg, a rather large city, do not know but find interesting, also the typical little-town-where-everyone-knows-each-others-secrets - for better or worse.
For a long time in the story I was kept guessing what happened, then there is one twist, I had no clue and did not see coming.
Cal has trouble with his feelings about morals, ethics, wrong-or-right and how he should teach that to the teen.
Could have been a little shorter and the story could have moved at a faster step, so only 4 stars.
Still recommended, if you look for fast-page-turner thriller, like I usually do, you have to look elsewhere, but for great scenery, lots of Ireland and livestock with interesting characters, not simple black-and-white, but grey with changing darkness, you will be hard pressed to find something better - reading that, I wonder wether 4.5 star rounded to 5 might be justified, but I stick to my 4 stars.

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Review: The Searcher

The Searcher The Searcher by Tana French
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

No normal police-procedural or whodunnit. Instead a coming-of-age-story with an Irish teen and an unssual mentor in a retired US-cop. The US-copy bough himself a derelict house to restore in Ireland.
You get to know a lifestyle I (a German born and still living in Hamburg, a large city) do not know but find interesting, also the typical little-town-where-everyone-knows-each-others-secrets - for better or worse.
For a long time in the story I was keept guessing what happened, then there is one twist, I had no clue and did not see coming.
In at least one review or the blurb

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Saturday, October 31, 2020

Review: Mörderisches Sylt: Friesenkrimi

Mörderisches Sylt: Friesenkrimi Mörderisches Sylt: Friesenkrimi by Thomas Herzberg
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Review in German
Habe die anderen Hannah Lambert Bücher 1 und 2 gut gefunden, daß hier war enttäuschend.
3,5 Sterne, abgerundet auf 3, gerade noch ok. Nicht sicher,ob ich die Reihe weiterlese.
Zuviel Privatkram, dabei nicht mal als Romanze, sondern eher Depressive Selbstzweifel, und Zweifel am Job. Der Fall währe ok gewesen, die Ermittlungsarbeit schlängelt sich durch, nicht wirklich spannend. Auflösunginfo am Schluss ist ein grosses Ausschütten von Infos, um die Begründung des MO des Täters zu erklären. Auch während des Buches ist das Finden von Informationen weniger gezielt guter, hartnäckiger Ermittlungsarbeit zu verdanken, als dem Zufall (Casino zB).
Weiss nicht, ob mir das bei anderen Büchern nicht aufgefallen ist, aber Oles Frauengeschichten haben mich hier einfach nur genervt, waren aber gut integriert - ohne sie währe die Lösung nicht möglich gewesen.
Wenn ich das nächste Buch in der Reihe lese, dann vor allem mit der Hoffnung, das es wieder besser wird, vor allem spannender. Ich möchte einen Krimi lesen, kein depressives "werde-mit-dem-Leben nicht fertig" Drama.

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Review: Mörderisches Sylt: Friesenkrimi

Mörderisches Sylt: Friesenkrimi Mörderisches Sylt: Friesenkrimi by Thomas Herzberg
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

Review in German
Habe die anderen Hannah Lambert Bücher 1 und 2 gut gefunden, daß hier war enttäuschend.
3,5 Sterne, abgerundet auf 3, gerade noch ok. Nicht sicher,ob ich die Reihe weiterlese.
Zuviel Privatkram, dabei nicht mal als Romanze, sondern eher Depressive Selbstzweifel, und Zweifel am Job. Der Fall währe ok gewesen, die Ermittlungsarbeit schlängelt sich durch, nicht wirklich spannend. Auflösunginfo am Schluss ist ein grosses Ausschütten von Infos, um die Begründung des MO des Täters zu erklären. Auch während des Buches ist das Finden von Informationen weniger gezielt guter, hartnäckiger Ermittlungsarbeit zu verdanken, als dem Zufall (Casino zB).
Weiss nicht, ob mir das bei anderen Büchern nicht aufgefallen ist, aber Oles Frauengeschichten haben mich hier einfach nur genervt, waren aber gut integriert - ohne sie währe die Lösung nicht möglich gewesen.
Wenn ich das nächste Buch in der Reihe lese, dann vor allem mit der Hoffnung, das es wieder besser wird, vor allem spannender. Ich möchte einen Krimi lesen, kein depressives "werde-mit-dem-Leben nicht fertig" Drama.

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Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Review: Ganymed erwacht

Ganymed erwacht Ganymed erwacht by Joshua Tree
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Lent with Prime Reading on Amazon.de .
As this is a German book, a short comment in German.
Hätte spannender sein müssen, die Grundidee ist gut, Wordbuilding (dt. äh, Weltaufbau?) OK, aber zuviel Nebenkram, und bis die beiden POV / Handlungsstränge zusammenkommen, ist das Buch zuende.
Dafür gibt es einen Anhang mit Personen- und Begriffsliste. DAS! ist genial, fehlt mir oft.
Damit 3 solide Sterne als Bewertung, für einen Anfang einer Serie Empfehlung, aber es gibt besseres, vor allem, da es ein wenig an Expanse erinnert.
Wobei es halt auch ein Aspekt ist, daß ich von Ganymed den 2. und 3. Band kostenlos lesen könnte, aber im Moment keine Lust habe (und es evtl. aus Prime Reading / KU rausfällt).

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Thursday, October 15, 2020

Review: Sleepyhead

Sleepyhead Sleepyhead by Mark Billingham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Currently feels like a 3star book, I am 72% in and it drags, while the POV from Alison is funny and interesting, the one from the MC is not always, too single-mindedly focused on his #1 suspect, which I am still not sure is the right one. You can keep the guessing game only interesting so long, and I am now losing it.
Also I have another one as a suspect in mind, and hope for surprise, but it will not be one, if it is my guess...

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Friday, September 25, 2020

Review: Die alte Dame am Meer

Die alte Dame am Meer Die alte Dame am Meer by Anna Johannsen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wie im letzten Buch zuviel Privatkram, hätte wieder so etwa 10% weniger sein können, vor allem weil die Entscheidung so lange dauerte und mich nicht überzeugte.
Der Fall war gut und sehr verwickelt, gut gelöst.
Empfehlung, 3,5 Sterne, auf 4 aufgerundet.


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Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Review: One by One

One by One One by One by Ruth Ware
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

While the concept is that of other books, a single place and a group of people with a few kills, one of the most famous books by authors like Agatha Christie, it is well executed.

A gripping thriller, for me, may the reason is that have not read this kind of story where people get picked by a killer one by one for quite some time.

The main theme is based on a UK IT Startup, contemplating a buy-out (sell-out), Spotify was interested but at that point they declined. This was a book for me, with current technology up-to-date and adding to the story, also no mistakes, no exaggerated hacking. The author knows what she is doing. Also, while I do not really like genre "psychological thriller" and hated Gone Girl, and the overly hyped Gone-Girl-like books, and quickly DNFed them after a few mistakes, I liked this book (and I am not sure, if this even qualifies to be put in this genre!).

Very little romance, sex only mentioned. A hint of gay near the end.
The skiing scenes (as a wheelchair-bound person I cannot ski) where gripping and seemed very real to me.
Short chapters with alternating POV between two people (Erin and Liz, both female), some readers do not like this kind of writing, so beware, but I liked it.

Highly recommended page-turner, maybe for some 5stars is a bit much, but I stand by it. Standalone.


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Saturday, September 12, 2020

Review: GIER: Die Welt steht am Abgrund. Wie weit willst du gehen?

GIER: Die Welt steht am Abgrund. Wie weit willst du gehen? GIER: Die Welt steht am Abgrund. Wie weit willst du gehen? by Marc Elsberg
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Like Blackout, Helix and Zero this is both entertaining and educational, informative and based on science, while Helix was for me hard to get into, where a lot of POV's only came together at about 30% into the book, and it finally came together to be more suspenseful, this one is gripping from the start.

Together with simplifying the themes, explaining the mathematical theories with simple fables of farmers, this book shows a way to cope with problems, which feels real and hopeful.

Must-read, highly recommended, although some parts are a bit much and others are predictable.

This is available in english, but I read it in German (my first language).

Deutsche Rezension:
Wie Blackout, Helix und Zero ist dieses Buch sowohl unterhaltsam, als auch lehrreich, informativ und basiert auf Wissenschaft, während Helix für mich am Anfang mit den vielen Handlungssträngen mühselig reinzukommen war, die erst bei etwa 30% ins Buch zusammen kamen, und spannender wurden, ist dieses Buch von Anfang an spannend.

Die Themen werden vereinfacht, die mathematischen Theorien mit einfachen Fabeln von Bauern erklärt, damit zeigt dieses Buch einen Weg mit Problemen fertig zu werden, der sich sehr real und hoffnungsvoll anfühlt.

Must-read, dringende Empfehlung, auch wenn einige Sachen etwas heftig sind und andere vorhersehbar.

Das Buch ist sowohl in Deutsch, als auch in Englisch zu haben, ich habe es in Deutsch gelesen, (meine erste Sprache).

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Tuesday, August 18, 2020

Review: Verses for the Dead

Verses for the Dead Verses for the Dead by Douglas Preston
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This does not gripp me as much as the other books about Pendergast, I think the series has run its course and should end. So far looks like a 3 star to me, 86% in, nearing the end, the Killer is just found. If the ending does not please me, I might even give 1 star less.

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Saturday, August 15, 2020

Review: Pretty Corpse

Pretty Corpse Pretty Corpse by Linda Berry
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Lent with Kindle Unlimited, as the blurb sounded interesting, but this looks like a DNF a few chapters in. Case is ok, but the MC is a Patrol Cop who is investigating the case alone, being told off by the case officer (female who does not like her, having worked a few months together as patrol cops).
Also the love interest is her superior, blah, both things alone are enought for me to not like this setup.
The book is also so far not current, but was originally written 2001, so probably no social media etc.
Will FF through the book to see wether it was updated or not, and how the situations play out.
Hate investigations where a single (female) person does work alone and goes places and in dangerous situations without telling anyone or leaving messages. If this happens, then this will be instant-DNF and 1 star from me.

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Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Review: Truth and Lies

Truth and Lies Truth and Lies by Caroline Mitchell
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

Again I bought (pre-ordered a day before it is supposed to be published) a book after getting an email-info from Goodreads and skimming the blurb, which sounds interesting.
But reading the review I wrote for the one book I read by this author, I just hope, it will be better. Being warned, I will DNF or FFread it early, if it is not.

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Sunday, July 26, 2020

Review: Todesklippe

Todesklippe Todesklippe by Katharina Peters
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review in German, as this is not available in English.
Gekauft, als es kurz zum halben Preis erhältlich war.
Wie die anderen Bücher der Autorin, sehr verwickelter Fall mit zahlreichen Twists und realistischer Beschreibung der Ermittlungen. Sehr gute Zeichnung der Personen mit all ihren Fehlern und Problemen. Hier diesmal etwas mehr deutliche Romanze bzw. angedeuter Sex (off page).

Etwas härter, als die bisherigen Bücher (u.a. Folterszenen). Trigger-Warnungen: Vergewaltigung, Folter, Mißbrauch von Kindern (Prügel, Sex dieser aber nur angedeutet).

Spannender page-turner, volle 5 Sterne, und volle Empfehlung! Werde weitere Bücher leihen oder kaufen, allerdings eher, wenn sie ermässigt sind. Einige sind bei Kindle Unlimited.

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Review: Strandmord

Strandmord Strandmord by Katharina Peters
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

Review in German, as this is not available in English.
Gekauft, als es kurz zum halben Preis erhältlich war.
Wie die anderen Bücher, die ich aus der Reihe gelesen habe, sehr verwickelter Fall mit zahlreichen Twists und realistischer Beschreibung der Ermittlungen. Sehr gute Zeichnung der Personen mit all ihren Fehlern und Problemen. Ein wenig Romanze, aber nicht zuviel.

Spannender page-turner, volle 5 Sterne, und volle Empfehlung! Werde weitere Bücher leihen oder kaufen, allerdings eher, wenn sie ermässigt sind. Einige sind bei Kindle Unlimited.

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Review: Todesklippe

Todesklippe Todesklippe by Katharina Peters
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Review: The Approach

The Approach The Approach by Chris Holm
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Was available for free (well it is a short story) as I looked for it, and given the very short read, I would not pay the 99ct (just under 1 Eur) for it, that is now asked.
Also the 53 pages are more like 20-30, as an excerpt from Red Right Hand is included.
Not to fond of short stories, but this was ok.

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Review: The Approach

The Approach The Approach by Chris Holm
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

Available for free (well it is a short story).

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Sunday, July 19, 2020

Review: Turn to Dust

Turn to Dust Turn to Dust by Rachel Amphlett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Received an ARC from Author for an honest review.
Grisly case, and this time I did not guess any twist. Also in the case before I guessed how it would end, this time it was not as obvious (may be that this was not about children).
The case was twisted, but the investigation was long and tedious, ok, for being real, so I could have done with more suspense, and so only 4 stars, instead of 5. As I read this directly after the last one, it felt a little like these are all written after a formula, and I advise to take a break between 2 reading two of these books, like a few months or a year or the usual time it takes them to be published.

Highly Recommended, the entire series.

For fans of these series (Author - Heroine):
Angela Marsons - Kim Stone
Robert Bryndza - Detective Erika Foster
M.J. Arlidge - DI Helen Grace
Celina Grace - Kate Redman (too much romance and not strong enough heroine for me)
Griffiths, Elly - Ruth Galloway
Robert Dugoni - Tracy Crosswhite
Danielle Girard - Dr. Schwartzman (? not so sure wether this belongs here...)
Ashley Dyer - Ruth Lake & Greg Carver


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Review: Turn to Dust

Turn to Dust Turn to Dust by Rachel Amphlett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Received an ARC from Author for an honest review.
Grisly case, and this time I did not guess any twist. Also in the case before I guessed how it would end, this time it was not as obvious (may be that this was not about children).
The case was twisted, but the investigation was long and tedious, ok, for being real, so I could have done with more suspense, and so only 4 stars, instead of 5. As I read this directly after the last one, it felt a little like these are all writen after a formular, and I advise to take a break between 2 reading two of these books, like a few months or a year or the ususal time it takes them to be published.

Highly Recommended, the entire series.

For fans of these series (Author - Heroine):
Angela Marsons - Kim Stone
Robert Bryndza - Detective Erika Foster
M.J. Arlidge - DI Helen Grace
Celina Grace - Kate Redman (too much romance and not strong enough heroine for me)
Griffiths, Elly - Ruth Galloway
Robert Dugoni - Tracy Crosswhite
Danielle Girard - Dr. Schwartzman (? not so sure wether this belongs here...)
Ashley Dyer - Ruth Lake & Greg Carver



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Sunday, July 12, 2020

Review: Sylter Affären

Sylter Affären Sylter Affären by Ben Kryst Tomasson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Review in German, as this is not available in Englisch imho.
War ein paar Tage kostenlos, ist ausserdem bei Kindle unlimited.
Habe 3 Sterne aufgerundet vergeben, der Fall ist ganz gut. Aber mit den romantischen Nebengeschichten und den Häkel-Club hatte das Buch auf mich eher als Mystery funktioniert, denn als Thriller, und auch nicht so richtig page-turner-Qualitäten.
Setting ist Sylt, immerhin, aber auch da gibt es bessere Bücher.
Habe mich etwas zwingen müssen, daß möglichst schnell zu beenden, da ich was (hoffentlich!) besseres und spannenderes lesen wollte. Auch für ein verregnetes Wochenende gibt es besseres schnell zu lesen.

Die 3 Sterne sind also knapp, u.a. weil der Fall gut war und ich zwar vermutete, das der Täter im Buch vorkam (also kein unbekannter neuer Dritter!), aber ich war doch überrascht. Einiges andere war hingegen offensichtlich und insgesamt waren keine weiteren, unerwarteten, grossen Überraschungen dabei. Gähn. Evt sind die nächsten Bücher besser, einige Autoren wachsen ja, je mehr sie schreiben. Im Moment sind diese bei Kindle Unlimited - also ohne weitere Kosten für mich zu lesen, aber ich habe im Moment wenig Lust, noch mehr von diesem Autor zu lesen, dies wird wahrscheinlich das einzige Buch von diesem Autor bleiben.
Damit eher 2,5 Sterne aufgerundet und keine Empfehlung!

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Review: Sylter Affären

Sylter Affären Sylter Affären by Ben Kryst Tomasson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars



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Monday, July 6, 2020

Review: Find Me

Find Me Find Me by Anne Frasier
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Interesting beginning, but drags a little with too much going back in a few different pasts, but at least the chapters are short.
Major twist at 26% I did not see coming, and now I do not know how the book will progress, this is always a plus!
Setting with the desert is not really for me, and the two main characters are so far more or less blah, a little card-board-style and if this develops into a romance, I might DNF and not read anymore from this author.

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Sunday, July 5, 2020

Review: Take Me with You

Take Me with You Take Me with You by Tara Altebrando
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Review: The Woods

The Woods The Woods by Harlan Coben
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Got an email from Netflix that the limited series The Woods will be published tomorrow. Looked to me first like In the Woods, which was also filmed and which I saw with a Starz trial membership. Blurb is interesting, so I bought this book and will read it bevor I watch the series.


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Monday, June 29, 2020

Review: Defending Jacob

Defending Jacob Defending Jacob by William Landay
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Bought with an Amazon XMas Gift certificate from my Sister Katja and her Husband Andreas.
April 25th, 2020:
The limited TV series is now in Germany on AppleTV+ - of which I have the first year free with my iPhone 11.
The book is not translated in German, well that does not concern me, reading it english, but it is strange.
And the German title of the TV-Series is "Verschwiegen" not too bad, compared to "Quicksand" which has the German title "Im Traum kannst du nicht lügen" (translates to "You cannot lie in (a) dream"), which is also the title of the German translation of the book, but really bad and nonsensical nonetheless, imho. Probably the same people who thought “Thirteen reasons why” translates good to “Tote Mädchen lügen nicht” (meaning “Dead Girls do not lie”)...

Started reading this today, as I just checked and now all episodes of the TV-Series are available - meaning I can binge them, which is really the purpose of streaming series. But I will try to finish the book first, to better compare it to the series.

No real suspense, and I hate the father as a narrator. Will try to fast-forward and finish it today or tomorrow, as this smells like 2 star DNF-bore. The interesting parts are the social media relevations, but these are sprinkled sparingly inbetween. Not so sure wether I will like the TV-series, but I will try. Still waiting for a twist, hopefully one I did not guess.

Just having finished it, I still hate it. The ending of the story does not really twist it enough, and for me this is no justice, but rather a desperate ending.
No justice, no peace, ignore the police... (or the law).

Still, it was a surprise and that alone saves this mediocre book from getting 2 stars, pushing it to 3.
After the book ends, there are a few pages with more information and a section further reading, there one of the books is another book I have still on pause for a few years now for the missing suspense, and I will really count it more as a DNF We Need to Talk About Kevin - and it has also been filmed, which makes my question why? OK, then there are the people who filmed Gone Girl, so, obviously, there is an audience for bad movies from worse books.

Recommended if you want to bore yourself brainless. No suspense, only one twist (nearly the ending), no surprises and too many brainless thoughts from the father, quite a lot of do nothing to further the story. So to put it out there, not recommended as interesting, suspenseful entertainment or food for thought. Will watch the series on AppleTV+, probably in FF, if it is as bad as the book.
And I will never read another book by this author.

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Review: Schwarze Brandung

Schwarze Brandung Schwarze Brandung by Sabine Weiß
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Monday, June 8, 2020

Review: The Girl Beneath the Sea

The Girl Beneath the Sea The Girl Beneath the Sea by Andrew Mayne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lent this with Kindle Unlimited, which I paid for, as I found a few books, which I would have bought otherwise, so the fee for a few months is justified and cheaper than buying the books.

Petra's short and to the point 4star review alerted me to this book.

YA, in my opinion, no sex, very little romance - which is in this context ok for me. A lot of additional info, which is not always needed, but did not feel like a filler. What sets this apart are the descriptions of diving etc. where for me believable and felt true.
Also it was mostly not an "I do everything alone and know better and stumble into dangerous situations without anyone knowing where I am and what I do".
Instead it was more a motley crew, and decisions where guessed by the most knowledgeable or discussed shortly till a conclusion was reached.

Suspense could have been better, but for me the diving scenes and the scenery underwater more than made up for it. Also people get hurt, some die, so there is that, and for me this adds to the real feeling of the story. Some detailed descriptions of corpses the MC had to retrieve or found in the story may disturb some, but I see no reason for trigger-warnings.

Recommend it as a different kind of crime-book for people who like reading about diving or dive themselves.
Looking forward to the next book in the series, which is currently supposed to be published February 21, 2021, and should then also be on Kindle Unlimited.

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Saturday, May 30, 2020

Review: Forgotten Secrets

Forgotten Secrets Forgotten Secrets by Robin Perini
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Lent this with Kindle Unlimited, which I paid for, as I found a few books, which I would have bought otherwise, so the fee for a few months is justified and cheaper than buying the books.

This is more romance than thriller and for me no page-turner. Some nice twists, but one of them was advertised early on, and the others did not really safe it for me.
Looks like a 2-3 star review, proably 2.5 rounded to 3 and not recommended, and will be the only book by this author I will read. At about 50% I could not wait to finish it started skipping the romance parts.

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Friday, May 15, 2020

Review: Cross Her Heart

Cross Her Heart Cross Her Heart by Melinda Leigh
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Lent this with Kindle Unlimited, which I paid for, as I found a few books, which I would have bought otherwise, so the fee for a few months is justified and cheaper than buying the books.

Decent crime but no page-turner for me. Looks like three stars.
Jup, just finished it, and while I like the writing, will most probably not read another book by this author, it could have done with more suspense, and while there enough suspects, the killer was just meh for me, not enought investigation either, to much grief and family life. Even that I have read better Stillhouse Lake comes to mind.
Again, the blurb and comments by others promised more than this book delivered for me.

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Thursday, May 7, 2020

Review: Enna Andersen und das verschwundene Mädchen

Enna Andersen und das verschwundene Mädchen Enna Andersen und das verschwundene Mädchen by Anna Johannsen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lent this with Kindle Unlimited, which I paid for, as I found a few books, which I would have bought otherwise, so the fee for a few months is justified and cheaper than buying the books.
Review in German, as this book is imho not available in English translation (yet).


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Review: Forsaken

Forsaken Forsaken by J.D. Barker
My rating: 1 of 5 stars



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Saturday, May 2, 2020

Review: Tödlicher Crash

Tödlicher Crash Tödlicher Crash by Barbara Wimmer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Review in German, as this is a German book (my first language) and just published here, also no english translation (yet?).
Habe dieses Interview auf meinem Kindle gelesen ( Calibre wird morgens mit dem Rechner gestartet und stellt um 8 Uhr die aktuelle Netzpolitik.org als Kindle ebook zusammen und sendet es an den Kindle eReader, klappt meistens super) und sofort das Buch gekauft, u.a. auch weil der Preis mit knapp 5 Eur ok war - allerdings habe ich bei Thalia zugeschlagen und werde es auf einem Tolino lesen (Epos 1).

Hoffentlich wird das sowohl spannend als auch lehrreich und vor allem gut, so viele richtig gute Bücher im Bereich Fiction mit Hacking, Datensicherheit etc. gibt es ja nicht, oft sind Fehler drinnen, oder Sachen sind übertrieben. Auf dem anderen Ende des Spektrums fehlen dann Informationen oder die Sachen sind so schwammig, daß auch wieder nicht passt, weil durchscheint das er-sie-es keine Ahnung hat.
Die Balance zu halten, ist schwierig, vor allem, ohne eine Anleitung zu geben, wie es geht (illegales Hacking).
Die ersten 3 Bände der Millenium-Reihe waren da bei aller Langatmigkeit imho extrem gut, die Folgebände von David Lagercrantz nach Stieg Larssons Tod fallen etwas ab - die Beschreibungen sind ungenauer, und die Recherche zugunsten der Spannung nicht mehr so ausführlich.
Bin gespannt, wie das hier wird.

Etwas überladen, ausserdem dank der Sex-Szenen (!) NSFW, passte aber alles gut zusammen, einige Neben-&Privat-Hintergrundgeschichten waren mir etwas zu viel, weniger währe mehr gewesen, wenn es etwas kürzer gewesen währe, hätte das dem Buch m.E. gutgetan, dafür 1 Stern Abzug.

Ein kleiner Fehler, wo ein Satz halb falsch plaziert wurde, allerdings so, das nach 2-3mal Lesen klar wird, wie es lauten soll, habe ich nicht gemeldet (mach ich das noch?).
Das Deutsch ist übrigens etwas eigen, hat einen Österreichen Einschlag, immerhin gelesen besser zu verstehen, als so manche andere deutsche Dialekte zu hören (Bayrisch...). Als Hamburger (Norddeuscher) muss ich gestehen, nicht mal annährend Plattdeutsch zu verstehen (sprechen schon gar nicht).

Da keine grossen Vorkenntnisse vorausgesetzt werden, sollte das Buch auch absolute IT-Layen verständlich sein. Die beschriebenen Methoden sind alle realistisch, aber ohne so sehr in die Details zu gehen, daß sie als Anleitung dienen können. Auch wenn es stellenweise etwas heftig ist mit den Erklärungen und der Information zu den Motivationen der einzelnen, wird es sehr schlüssig dargestellt und vor allem nicht nur schwarz-weiss, sondern eben auch der graue Bereich, daß es aufgrund der Gesetze (Stichwort: Whistleblower) schwierig wird, legal an relevante Informationen zu gelangen.

Das Ende lässt fast auf eine Fortsetzung hoffen.

Dringende Empfehlung, aktuell ("15min. into the future"), einige nette Anspielungen (Kultur: Filme, etc.) und es gibt reichlich Stoff zum Nachdenken, auch und gerade für die, die es bisher nicht getan haben (Privacy, WhatsApp, etc.) - Alexa Echo hab ich hier auch neben mir stehen, und wusste schon beim Kauf, welche Gefahr das birgt.

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Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Review: Life Support

Life Support Life Support by Tess Gerritsen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lent with KU. Not sure wether I have read it before, but I checked, and think I did not.
A bit too much happening, but well woven intermingling threads and a little romance, some scenes might require a trigger-warning.
TR: detailed bloody scenes, birth, abuse.

For the too much happening I would give 0,5 stars less.
It is a medical thriller and the author knows what she is doing, so even though some might have looked like SF when it was written, in the 10 years since it was first published, some things have come to light, which for me shows how real the science in this book is.
Some scenes make this a little dated (payphone), but otherwise this feels not as old as it is.
So recommended, rounded up to 4 stars. If you liked her other medical standalone thrillers, you will like this one.

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