Wulf's Book Reviews

Seven Deadly Wonders by Matthew Reilly My rating: 1 of 5 stars Matthew Reilly's " Seven Deadly Wonders " is akin to reading a 90s action B-movie. Unfortunately, the novel fails to deliver a compelling narrative, with both the plot and characters lacking believability. While Reilly attempts to blend high-octane action with historical mysteries, the result is a muddled execution that leaves much to be desired. From the outset, the characters come off as one-dimensional and unconvincing. They are supposedly a diverse group from various backgrounds, but this diversity is sadly superficial. This oversight detracts significantly from the novel, creating a sense of sameness that undermines the story's potential. For instance, Big Ears dangling precariously over a ledge is a moment ripe with tension but falls flat due to clichéd dialogue and character interactions: » Big Ears was dangling over the edge of Level 1 directly above her, helpless. ‘I can’t get to her...

Strong Poison by Dorothy L. Sayers My rating: 3 of 5 stars I’ve long wanted to read some of the more “classic” mysteries in the hopes of finding another Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, or Miss Marple. I was also inspired by 1986’s mystery-adventure “ Killed Until Dead ” in which Wimsey and other classic sleuths investigate. Unfortunately, Dorothy L. Sayers' " Strong Poison " failed to impress, feeling distinctly dated. Published in 1930, it suffers from the mannerisms, the tone, and the zeitgeist of the previous decade which detracted from my overall enjoyment. Right from the outset, the narrative was bogged down by a significant information dump delivered through the judge's summarising of the case to the jury. This served as an intro, and while I appreciate thorough background, it dragged on unnecessarily for the first 12% of the novel, making for a tedious start. Lord Peter Wimsey, the supposed star of the show, comes across as unsympathetic and rat...

Her Dying Secret by Lisa Regan My rating: 4 of 5 stars I really enjoy Lisa Regan's Josie Quinn novels . Regan almost always succeeds in crafting intricate plots and compelling characters. After the previous instalment’s short departure from Josie’s usual haunts, I wondered where “ Her Dying Secret ” would take us. Thankfully, it is firmly set in the familiar world of Josie Quinn and her friends and colleagues in Denton. As for her friends, most of them are absent: Misty and her son, Harris, are mentioned a few times but play no role. The same is true for her parents and her twin sister, which is slightly sad but doesn’t detract much from the novel’s overall appeal. Regan’s prose continues to channel an atmosphere thick with suspense and emotional tension. This is especially the case since the story opens with a car accident, the body of a murdered woman in the car, and a child in danger. A recurring issue in Regan's works, however, is the narrative ending way bef...

Bretonische Sehnsucht von Jean-Luc Bannalec Meine Bewertung: 1 von 5 Sternen Jean-Luc Bannalec hat sich mit seinen Romanen um den eigenwilligen Kommissar Dupin eine treue Anhängerschaft erarbeitet. Der neueste Band, " Bretonische Sehnsucht ", setzt diese Tradition fort, doch leider nicht in der gewohnten Qualität. Als langjähriger Leser der Romane des Autors und Fan der bretonischen Atmosphäre, war meine Vorfreude groß. (Allerdings war ich von meiner Frau schon etwas “vorgewarnt” worden.) Dennoch muss ich gestehen, dass dieses Werk weit hinter meinen Erwartungen zurückblieb. Zu Beginn möchte ich die deutlich gesteigerte Esoterik in diesem Roman ansprechen, die die Sicht auf den Fall und mein Lesevergnügen ungemein trübte. Bannalec hat in seinen früheren Werken stets ein Gefühl für das Lokalkolorit bewiesen, doch diesmal treibt er es zu weit ins Mystische. » Sie haben Seelen, die Leuchttürme. Seelen, Persönlichkeiten und Gefühle. Wie wir Menschen. « Auch die Ch...