Shadow Man (2006) (edit title/settings)

• Rated 2 stars

“I don't know what to say really. It's like copy of "Criminal minds" - we have all the characters - James as Reid (just more rude), Smoky (by the way I really HATE that stupidly idiotic name) as Elle, Jason as Aaron, Alan as Derek, Leo as Penelope etc. So, story came after show so I do believe that it was the inspiration. Also we have all the same methods in catching criminal (get in the head of unsub, Cognitive Interview, being in room and talking what unsub did step by step - fuck they even have a jet, I don't know what to say...) as the elements of "sympathize" for characters. The attack on Smoky by serial killer Joseph Sands wasn't written well, I had no feelings of sadness for her or even Bonnie's fate. Main killer him self is so banal and uninteresting, absolutely not lifelike in comparison to real killers as Bundy, Dahmer, Gacy, BTK, Ramirez, etc. (ones who read stories about their lives or followed their crimes understand). Also, Smoky's like all the time crying and fainting is irritating, while Bonnie's behavior is much better described. Anyway, story it self is bearable but NOT original. If we get over really boring, pointless and badly written descriptions of Smoky's tortured soul and body and her (annoyingly) very very very much loved Matt and Alexa which give no compassion for character, the killer is too really lame. He is boring and copycat and pursuing him doesn't give any pleasure 'cause he's not at all smart when you look at story as hole. I figured after first letter who's the killer as should anybody with some brain. But, still there is his "college" in crime which you need to discover so that is the upper hand. As hole I hate book so I read it in 2 days because I wanted to read something else ASAP. (sadly I can't leave any book unread)

BEST and only thing in this book which gave me a shiver is the scene in which FBI is watching the montage made by killers - with mask on his face the lead killer stands in front of camera counting with his fingers and than starts song by Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter (RAPE, MURDER ... ) - followed by as you guess rape and murder. This scene for me is the work of genius! I hope he will leave that "duty" of his to make us feel sorry for the victims - which is nothing but boring and pathetic - because after all this is just story and it is really hard to feel anything for imagined people (at least fo me). ”

• Rated 5 stars

“Excellent thriller with many twists. ”

• Rated 3 stars

“Not a bad book with a good story, but certainly not one of my favourites. A better rating would be 3.5. ”

• Rated 5 stars

“4.5 STARS For those who love Clarice Starling in Silence of the Lambs or Karin Slaughter's novels. Dark material and tormented heroine. ”

• Rated 5 stars

“Enjoyed. Love Smoky”

• Rated 3 stars

“Special Agent Smoky Barrett hunted serial killers for the FBI. She was one of the best -- until a madman terrorized and killed her family, and left her face scarred and her soul brutalized. Turning the tables on the killer, Smoky shot him dead. The serial killer killed her best friend Annie King, this issue is enough to shocked her back to her FBI team. He is a new and fascinating kind of monster, a twisted genius . He issued Smoky a direct challenge, coaxing her back from the traumatic memory.The killer videotaped his latest crime ,then sent a message addressed to Agent Smoky Barrett. Suddenly game has changed. This deranged monster is hurting her close friends. Smoky is coming alive again to deal with the killer.”

• Rated 5 stars

“This book was one of the best books I've read because it keeps you guessing what will happen next and it is also one of those CSI type stories. This book was a book that actually made me wanna keep on reading because it kept me thinking about whats gonna happen next and who did what.”

• Rated 3 stars

“This book was okay - but a little too violent for me. The twist at the end was great though - I did not see that one coming! I like the Smoky character, but some of the other ones were hard for me to connect with. I especially didn't like the phrase "honey-love" that was used by one character - it seemed like every other sentence. Not sure if I'm going to read the other books in the series or not.”

• Rated 5 stars

“Wasn't sure if i would like this book but it was so gripping that i couldn't put it down, couldn't believe who jack jr was in the end - amazing can't wait to read the next book!!!”

• Rated 4 stars

“I absolutely loved shadowman, as a crime, serial killer book goes, this ticks all of the boxes and a few more. He really writes his characters well and you connect with smokey barrett(although i've got to admit when i first saw the book i was put off by her name), this is a really gripping first crime novel and i hope we get many many more of the standard. Great stuff. ”