What do You think about Written In Bone (2007)?
Der Oskar für die grauslichsten Einstiege in Kriminalromane geht an.... Simon Becket!! Jedes mal auf Seite 1 beginnts mich zu schütteln in Chemie des Todes (Band 1) ging es um Larven und ihre Arbeit an einem toten Körper und in "Kalte Asche" um die Wirkung von Feuer auf Körper. Sehr sachlich - deshalb aber nicht minder grausam sondern eher mit verstärktem Ekelfaktor wird dem Leser extrem detailgetreu vermittelt, was passiert, wenn der Körper wie eine Kerze verbrennt. Ein mittlerweile bewährtes Konzept, mit dem der Autor dem Leser das Gruseln lehrt. Auch beim Szenario verlässt sich Beckett auf von ihm eingeführte Methoden: Eine verschworene Dorfgemeinschaft diesmal auch noch auf einer abgeschiedenen Insel, die durch ein Unwetter vom Rest der Welt isoliert ist. Der Plot hat ebenfalls Ähnlichkeiten mit dem ersten Band: Die Fährten sind vielfach ausgelegt und mehrmals dreht sich die Handlung in eine völlig andere Richtung. Auch diesmal war ich irgendwie auf der richtigen Spur tippte jedoch trotzdem ein bisschen falsch - aber so wie es letztendlich ausging, hätte ich es nie erwartet. Den Stern Abzug gibts für den Handlungsverlauf, der eben zu viele Parallelen mit Chemie des Todes aufweist und für den Cliffhänger am Ende. Ich hasse sowas! Alles im allem hat mir aber Kalte Asche um einen Hauch bessser gefallen. Fazit: Sprachlich ausgezeichnet, spannend, aber in der Handlung könnte sich der Autor mal völlig neue Konstellationen ausdenken.
—Alexandra
OK, so I said I was hoping that this series would get better? Well it did! I really enjoyed this one... it was fast paced, interesting characters (even the grumpy Policeman had his moments) and the plot was intriguing. The pictures that conjured up in your mind as reading the description of the initial crime scene were so easy as Beckett has a great way with his words to put those images in your head. Again, the twists and turns in who was the murderer had me guessing, double guessing then having no idea. The clues were there, but only put them together as the truth was finally revealed. The setting of this novel, an island which after being hit by a storm is totally cut off with communications to the mainland, makes the story even more chilling. Would actually love to see "Written In Bone" go onto the big screen, reckon it would make a great thriller. Can't wait to start the 3rd David Hunter to see what's happening next.
—Deb Bodinnar
"There aren't always answers to everything, no matter how hard we look. Sometimes you have to learn to just let things go."I can't even, my bits are scattered. This book was mindblowing. A lot of people didn't like it, and I have to say the beginning is kinda boring, but the end was amazing."Written in Bone" starts 18 months after the events of "The Chemistry of Death". David Hunter is in a remoted island, helping the police investigate the death of a person whose body was burned, but its feet and a hand. What appears to be an accidental death, soon turns into a murder investigation. To make matters worse, a storm hits the island, leaving its population with no communication.This book took me a while to finish. While a lot of people found "The Chemistry of Death" to be amazing, and this book OK, it was the other way around. Took me a little while to get into it, but I was glad I kept going.David was amazing, as usual. He's sharp, willing to help, an amazing character. But the poor guy always finds himself in the middle of crazy crap. There are so many developments throughout this book.The killer: say whaaaaaaaat? (view spoiler)[Grace.. really? Didn't see that one coming? And poor Michael, honestly. Their relationship was so fucked up. (hide spoiler)]
—Iris
