Library of the dead by Glenn Cooper - interesting plot!

 My rate: ☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠ (7/10 Skulls) 

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  Original Title: Library of the dead (Will Piper #1)

Norwegian Title: De dødes bibliotek

Written by: Glenn Cooper

Genre: Thriller, Conspiration

Written for: Adult

Pages: 462

Publisher: Arrow Books

Published: 2009

Published in Norway: 2009

My copy: 2009 (Hardcover)

Norwegian Publisher: Schibsted

I read it: April 11 - June 27, 2012

     Source: Bought

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(Goodreads)

The most shocking secret in the history of mankind is about to be revealed...A murderer is on the loose on the streets of New York City: nicknamed the Doomsday Killer, he's claimed six victims in just two weeks, and the city is terrified. Even worse, the police are mystified: the victims have nothing in common, defying all profiling, and all that connects them is that each received a sick postcard in the mail before they died - a postcard that announced their date of death. In desperation, the FBI assigns the case to maverick agent Will Piper, once the most accomplished serial killing expert in the bureau's history, now on a dissolute spiral to retirement. Battling his own demons, Will is soon drawn back into a world he both loves and hates, determined to catch the killer whatever it takes. But his search takes him in a direction he could never have predicted, uncovering a shocking secret that has been closely guarded for centuries. A secret that once lay buried in an underground library beneath an 8th Century monastery, but which has now been unearthed - with deadly consequences. A select few defend the secret of the library with their lives - and as Will closes in on the truth, they are determined to stop him, at any cost...

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My Review

I had been curious about this book in a long time and finally got to read it. I didn't knew much about it, what it was really about but some books has covers and titles that I just have to get the book only because of those two reasons. Sometimes a great cover and a good title is enough for me to buy a book.

Library of the dead is about some people in New York who recieve kind of a weird or maybe I should call it a grotesque postcard from a stranger. On their postcards there's written a date when they are going to die. Is it just a bad joke or is it for real?

I didn't know what to expect of this book before I started reading it. The book made me think of The Da Vinci - Code. After all the talk about that book and reading it I was kind of tired of books that was about conspiration and stuff like that. Thought they were all the same and needed to take a break. But after taking a break from that genre I was beginning to miss reading about it and after reading the synopsis of Library of the dead I really wanted to read it.

Library of the dead was really exciting and entertaining almost all the way through and sometimes hard to put down. Why I spent so long time before I finished it is because I mostly read it on the bus and at work during lunch. Sometimes I skipped lunch at work just to be alone and read a few pages.

If  you like murder mysteries, old secrets and pasts meeting modern times than Library of the dead  is a must read for you!

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The Broken Shore by Peter Temple - a slow paced crime novel

My rate: ☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠ (3/10 Skulls)

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Original Title: The Broken Shore

Norwegian Title: Mørk Kyst

Written by: Peter Temple

Genre: A crime novel

Written for: Adult

Pages: 395
Publisher: Picador

Published: 2005

Published in Norway: 2010

My copy: 2011 (Paperback)
Norwegian Publisher: Forlaget Press
I read it: September 29 - October 28, 2011
Source: Bought

Challenge(s): 100 Books in a Year Challenge

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(Goodreads)

Winner of the Ned Kelly Award for Crime Fiction (Australia)

Joe Cashin was different once. He moved easily then. He was surer and less thoughtful. But there are consequences when you’ve come so close to dying. For Cashin, they included a posting away from the world of Homicide to the quiet place on the coast where he grew up. Now all he has to do is play the country cop and walk the dogs. And sometimes think about how he was before.

Then prominent local Charles Bourgoyne is beaten and left for dead. Everything seems to point to three boys from the nearby Aboriginal community; everyone seems to want it to. But Cashin is unconvinced. And as tragedy unfolds relentlessly into tragedy, he finds himself holding onto something that might be better let go.

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Every place got dark secrets ...

Joe Cashin is an ordinary cop from a small place in Australia. After a hard life he returns to his home place where he lived as a young boy. He lives with two dogs and likes to listen to classical music. But his life gets really busy when a man named Charles Bourgoyne is found killed. He has been beaten to death and three boys from another culture gets the blame. But are they really guilty? Something makes Cashin think they don't have the guilty ones ... yet. But who killed Bourgoyne and why? Soon Cashin finds out about a dark, secretly  past about his home place...

I had high hopes and I really mean HIGH hopes for The broken shore 'cause this book has gotten a lot of good reviews. Finally a crime novel that will capture me I thought but I was wrong. I have never read anything by Peter Temple before and I like to try books by authors I haven't read anything by or heard of. I like to explore different type of books. But this book was truly not for me even though I'm a big fan of crime novels. The book was very slow pace and it felt like "nothing ever happened". Some parts were exciting though but easily forgotten. I just never got into the book no matter how much I tried. I felt like forcing through the book instead of reading it (if you know what I mean...).

The broken shore was a boring and dry read. I'm not picky when it comes to crime novels but it felt like this book was not for me even though it has gotten a lot of good words. It was somehow worth a read but I just didn't get impressed. It was just an okay read. No more than that. Sorry!

You're next by Gregg Hurwitz - superexciting! If you are fan of books by Harlan Coben, you'll love this one!

My Rate: ☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠ (9/10 Skulls)

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Original Title: You're next

Norwegian Title:There is no Norwegian Edition

Written by: Gregg Hurwitz

Genre: Thriller

Written for: Adult

Pages: 437
Publisher: Sphere

Published: Jaunary 6, 2011

Published in Norway: -

My copy: 2011 (Paperback)
Norwegian Publisher: -

I read it: September 18 - September 24, 2011
Source: Bought

Challenge(s): 100 Books in a Year Challenge

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Back of the Book

‘Outstanding in every way’

LEE CHILD

‘Uniquely believable and sympathetic’

JAMES PATTERSON

‘Thriller writing at its best’

TESS GERRITSEN

Every family has its secrets. His might get them killed.

‘I know you, don’t I?’ Five words – that’s all it takes to plunge Mike Wingate and his family into mortal danger. Mike doesn’t recognize the crippled stranger who approaches him at a party … but the stranger seems to know all about him.

What has Mike done? Do they have the wrong man? Overnight, the threats become attacks, and Mike, his wife and their young daughter learn they aren’t safe anywhere – especially not in their own home. But there’s no time for Mike to figure it out, because his enemies have killed before – and he’s next.

Gripping from its first lines to its extraordinary twist ending, YOU’RE NEXT is a heart-pounding thriller to rival the very best of Linwood Barclay and Harlan Coben.

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What would you do to protect your family?

Mike Wingate is a happy man who has a fantastic wife and a fantastic daughter. He is proud of who he has become despite his sad childhood. As a boy he got abandoned at a playground in an unfamiliar place. His father left him there without knowing why. But he do knows and remembers that his dad acted weird that day and if he remembers correctly, his dad also got a red spot on his shirt.

But despite that sad and not understanding why his dad left him, Mike has become a strong and loving guy, which his wife and daughter can confirm. But at a party to honour Mike through his job , a guy stumble across him and claims to recognize Mike. Mike is pretty sure that the man is mistaking him for someone else. He has never seen that man before. And he understands that the guy is having spooky plans for him for some reason with some other guys. They want Mike but why? And what does Mike have to do to protect his family? And how is he gonna protect himself and his family from that guys without knowing who they are and what they want?

I had never heard about Gregg Hurwitz before. It was just a coincidence that I came across his book. The synopsis sounded really cool and exciting and the cover wanted me to go into that house and see what would happen. I wanted to know more about the book so I just had to get it. The title also made me very curious. You're next ... the title gives me shivers and makes me think that's bad news. So, I couldn't resist and I'm glad I got the book. I wanted to know what would happen with Mike and his family.

You're next is a thrilling and exciting book that keeps you awake night after night as you are reading it. There were nights I was going to read just a few pages but the pages just kept flying by. I didn't get a lot of sleep the nights I was reading this book 'cause I had hard times putting it down. You’re next is a thrilling an exciting book. So like I said, I didn't get much sleep the nights I was reading it but that's ok. I rarely sleep before 3-4 am anyway. Probably not a good idea to read before sleeping 'cause I'm addicted to reading, especially just before going to sleep. It's a weird "habit". But what's great about books is that we can read them whenever we want to. And I always read before sleeping 'cause then I don't get distracted by my TV and PC.I get to read more at night than during the day. But enough about that.

This is a wild and crazy thriller with exploding characters and concept. I pretty much liked everyone but not a fan of the daughter Kat. I think she was acting a bit older than her real age and she really annoyed me somehow. But I did like Shep a lot. A friend of Mike who is trying to help him to get out of the mess. I liked their friendship. They've been friends in many years and they are good friends even though it takes years before they see each other again. It's moving how they support each other.

You're next is definitely a book for you if you like books by Harlan Coben and fast paced thrillers.

Hightlights: Fast paced, fun thriller that keeps your attention all the way!

Downhill: Didn't like Kat much. Annoying and a bit whiny. I don't know why but I just couldn't like her.

Dreamcatcher by Stephen King - exciting but also confusing!

My Rate: ☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠ (5/10 Skulls)

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Original Title: Dreamcatcher

Norwegian Title: Drømmejegerne

Written by: Stephen King

Genre: Horror, sci-fi

Written for: Adult

Pages: 694
Publisher: Nel
Published: 2001

Published in Norway: 2002

My copy: 2002 (Paperback)
Norwegian Publisher: Aschehoug

I read it: July 26 - August 17, 2011
Source: My own personal "library"

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Back of the Book

In Derry, Maine, four young boys once stood together and did a brave thing. Something that changed them in ways they hardly understand.

A quarter of a century later, the boys are men who gone their separate ways. Though they still get together once a year, to go hunting in the north woods of Maine. But this time is different. This time a man comes stumbling into their camp, lost, disoriented and muttering about lights in the sky.

Before long, these old friends will be plunged into the most remarkable events of their lives as they struggle with a terrible creature from another world. Their only chance of survival is locked in their shared past – and in the Dreamcatcher.

‘King retains his crown’ Guardian

‘Nobody does it better’ Daily Telegraph

‘Yet another masterpiece from Stephen King … a narrative that never loosens its gip’ Evening Standard

‘King has inspired a whole generation to read. He’s made them read good, witty prose … a fabulous teller of stories who can create an entire new world and make the reader live in it … Dreamcatcher must be one of his best’ Express

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Lights in the sky is just ordinary lights, right? Or is it something else?

The childhood friends Jonesy, Beaver, Henry and Pete has been together since they were kids. Even though they have gone separate ways they still meet once a year to go hunting.

On hunting they spend the days in the cabin they call Hole in the Wall. (And at the cabin there's a Dreamcatcher which will be a big part of the story).

One of the friends, Jonesy has had a rough year after getting in a serious car accident which gave him a bad hip. While the other guys are out hunting, he spends instead time up in a tree where he sits and read in a book. All of the sudden he hears a sound. At first he thinks it's an animal coming but instead he sees a lost and confused man. He has been lost in the woods a while and Jonesy brings him in the cabin and takes care of him while he waits for the rest of the guys to come back from hunting. But for some reason Jonesy is unsure of this guy. Something is not right. Before he knows it, a real nightmare begins ...

This is the first publishing after Stephen King himself got hit by a van and almost caused his life. But luckily he survived and he continued writing this book even though he was having pain after the accident.

This book has been standing on my shelf for at least 7 or 8 years so it was about time to read it. Sometimes I forget what books I already have. Oh well... Better late than never. But I've been wanting to see the movie adaption for a long time but first I must read the book. Reading the book after seeing the adaption is kind of wrong for me...I've heard the movie is bad even though that the great Morgan Freeman is in it and Thomas Jane (who also was in another Stephen King movie: The Mist). But we'll see. I'm pretty sure I'm gonna see it anyway.

Light phenomena is something I've always been interested in so that's why I got really curious about this book. It made me think of The X-files which I was a huge fan of (and still am!). That's why I got really high hopes for the book but unfortunately they were a little too high this time. Like most of you know by now I'm also a huge fan of Stephen King! He is my big hero when it comes to authors but this book I'm afraid is not one of his best. I really wanted to like this book but I ended up by liking only parts of it. The beginning was very fast paced but in the middle of the book I got a little lost and I was struggling a bit with the motivation to keep reading. The book wasn't like I had imagined it to be and I got a bit disappointed because of that.

Dreamcatcher didn't answer my expectations completely and somewhere the excitement got a bit slowed down and the book got a bit confusing for me. And some parts were also a little too childish. Through burping, farting and pooping we end up in a crazy and surreal world that is kind of hard to explain with words. Even though Dreamcatcher got a bit too childish and over dramatized, I really did enjoy the beginning and the end. It was very, very exciting parts. Too bad that the middlepart were kind of boring and confusing. At least it was for me. Not the best book by King but still it's an okay read!

Here is a very interesting interview with Stephen King who talks about the book and the accident he was involved in.

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