Psalm Killer

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Summary: An incredibly challenging and suspenseful mystery
Review: A search for a strange and defiant killer in Northern Ireland leads a British Catholic detective into a labyrinth of calculated murders,violent reprisals,and government intrigue. Petit creates strong characters and has a richly descriptive prose style. The story concerns a hunt for a serial killer in Ireland; the search leads through plots and counter-plots in Northern Ireland's struggles. A glossary is included to help the reader with the numerous political and military groups. The ending is a little elusive- I would appreciate help from any reader

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Summary: Petit is the best new author all round in my opinion.
Review: As a thriller this gripped me. It's not simple, and the relationships between characters and shadowy undercover organisations ("good" and bad) is confusing at times, but it has the ring of reality (for Belfast) about it. It's tense, challenging and satisfying.

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Summary: If you loathe Tom Clancy, read this book.
Review: Before reading the book I was put-off by what seemed a rather tacky and opportunist way making commercial use of Northern Ireland to spice up a airport-book style serial killer or thriller yarn. Quite wrong. And gladly so, for the book was so very good. Stayed up all night to read it. Then read it again. Rather than opportunistic, the story traced links between the breakdown in individual sanity, family, government, and society - and how these all can exaccerbate each other. But it wasn't heavy-handed about it. I think the label of "crime fiction" does it a disservice. It is much better than the best of standard crime fiction, and has a quite different aim than such books. Actually it's much better than many books that get published under the more general, and theoretically higher quality, "contemporary fiction" label. The technical skills of narrative and character writing aren't 100% - when compared to leading fiction writers, that is. But the subject matter is one that such writers would probably never approach, certainly in this amount of (well written) factual detail. Couldn't put it down. Want to read everything he's written now.

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Summary: one of the best thrillers for years
Review: Forget about wasting your money on Hannibal, this is 20 times better. You actually begin to wonder if parts of this book could be true in relation to what has happened in Northern Ireland over the last 25 years. Highly recommended.

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Summary: Good book, a little disjointed
Review: I enjoyed reading this book without being kept up by it. I was impressed with the good setting (Belfast in Ireland), which allowed the writer to use a traditionally violent and secretive town as a backdrop to his story.

The main characters were generally easy to picture, and behaved in a manner which created a good empathy with the reader. The hero's behaviour was at times a little predictable (the love interest), and at other times a little puzzling (getting bashed up in a strange situation in which he placed himself - and also his eventual demise).

Unfortunately for all its length, the book failed to resolve many of the subplots and dismissed many of the fringe characters (oh he's dead - but no real reason or explanation given). I also had trouble keeping up with the fringe characters and what organisation they were supposed to belong to - but I guess that was one of the points of the book.

There were also questions about the killer that never were resolved.

On the upside, I enjoyed the chapters where Candlestick's past was unfolding, and the book was certainly a page turner.

A good enough read, but hardly a legendary tale or groundbreaking stuff.

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Summary: One of the worst novels I have ever read in 22+ years...
Review: I have tried to read this book three times. All three times, I couldn't get into it. This last time, frustrated beyond all get out that I couldn't get into the book, I flipped ahead and read the ending. Wow, glad I didn't waste my time.

Basically, nothing of any importance happens for the first 99 percent of the book. I am not exaggerating. Absoulutely NOTHING that has ANYTHING TO DO with what this book promises by the description of the plot on the cover ever happens. Then everything is wrapped up seemingly right out of the blue, leaving the reader feel stupid. This isn't a thriller, nor a mystery, not a political thriller, rather a jumbled mishmash of all three that tries to be complex but ends up cheating the reader. This is an exersise in futility to read, bottom line. The writing is good (if clustered in places), the characters decent, but the plot is just...insulting. Calling this book a mere waste of paper doesn't even do justice.

One of the single worst books I have EVER even tried to read. If you liked this book, then good for you. Heck, if you could make yourself read through this five hundred page mess of a novel, you deserve an award for having the patience and tolerance of Job.

I hope that I have expressed to you, the reader, what a waste this novel is. Not at all recommended. Unless you're a masochist.

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Summary: The Psalm Killer
Review: Not surprising that the reader reviews are mixed - this is an offbeat book. If you like complex mysteries like Peter Straub's Throat, check this one out. The writing is very good, strong characters, dark mood, interesting twists. And if you understand the musical clues at the end, please e-mail me and explain!

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Summary: Very depresssing and very unsatisfying ending
Review: Read Kirkus review. It is right on. This is good writer but as one of the other reviewers commented, I don't have the fogiest idea what the ending is supposed to be all about. If anyone has figured it out, I also would like to know

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Summary: A complex dive into the confusing heart of Irish violence
Review: This book takes you into the grimy heart of Ireland at the height of the Troubles. It exposes the dark underside of a beautiful land and its charming, violent contradictory people. The Irish Problem, like the Yugoslavian one, has its root in events that took place decades or even centuries ago. Petit evokes this by moving back and forth between the early Seventies and the present. He does not shrink from taking on the convoluted politics or the confusing local slang and the result is a book that moves along but does not leave the reader feeling patronised. Some of the descriptions of violence are graphic in the extreme and at the time of reading seem almost excessive. Only after the book is finished does one realise that the descriptions pale beside the reality that happens every day over there. The characters are not standard issue though the inevitable affaire was a little predictable. There is a formula for murder/ mystery and while Chris Petit avoids it bravely for the most part, on occasion he lapses and the plot suffers.

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Summary: Petit is the best new author all round in my opinion.
Review: This novel is a must read for anybody who likes to read about demonic murders and a killer investigation. Candlestick is the ultimate criminal and Cross is the poster child for a investigator. This book kept my spine stiff from page one all the way to the end. The killings are brutal, and the detail this man writes is the best. Hands down a must have novel. I also found it easy to understand certain things with the glossary that is behind the book, (whice I think some novels I read should have.) not only was this helpful, but it made the story much more realistic. I loved the book, and I plan to read it again soon. I have told many of my friends about it, and they should be reading it soon. At age 15 and a regular horror novel reader, this one is one of the best I have seen in a long time. Rock on, Chris Petit!!!!!!!!!