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Jefferson Winter #1
Broken Dolls
Jefferson Winter is no ordinary investigator.
The son of one of America's most renowned serial killers, Winter has spent his life trying to distance himself from his father's legacy. Once a rising star at the FBI, he is now a freelance consultant, jetting around the globe helping local law enforcement agencies with difficult cases. He's not got Da Vinci's IQ, but he's pretty close.
When he accepts a particularly disturbing case in London, Winter arrives to find a city in the grip of a cold snap, with a psychopath on the loose who likes abducting and lobotomising young women. Winter must use all his preternatural brain power in order to work out who is behind the attacks, before another young woman becomes a victim.
As Winter knows all too well, however, not everyone who's broken can be fixed.
The son of one of America's most renowned serial killers, Winter has spent his life trying to distance himself from his father's legacy. Once a rising star at the FBI, he is now a freelance consultant, jetting around the globe helping local law enforcement agencies with difficult cases. He's not got Da Vinci's IQ, but he's pretty close.
When he accepts a particularly disturbing case in London, Winter arrives to find a city in the grip of a cold snap, with a psychopath on the loose who likes abducting and lobotomising young women. Winter must use all his preternatural brain power in order to work out who is behind the attacks, before another young woman becomes a victim.
As Winter knows all too well, however, not everyone who's broken can be fixed.
382 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
134 people are currently reading
3,273 people want to read
About the author
James Carol
20books279followersJames Carol was born in Scotland in 1969, where he spent his early years. He moved to England in the eighties and has lived there ever since. At various times he has worked as a guitarist, sound engineer, guitar tutor, journalist, and a horse riding instructor.
The character of Jefferson Winter came about because he wanted to write a series of books that gave him as much freedom as possible. He figured that the more interesting he kept things for himself, the more interesting it would be for the reader.
Although the novels are written as a series, James approaches each book as a stand-alone. Each story is set in a different location, and has a different cast of characters. The beauty of this approach is that the novels can be read out of order.
Broken Dolls, the first Jefferson Winter thriller, will be published in January 2014. This will be followed in the Spring by Presumed Guilty, the first in a series of eBooks set during Winter’s FBI days. Watch Me, the second Jefferson Winter thriller, is scheduled for publication in September 2014.
When he’s not writing, James spends his time training horses and riders. An accomplished guitarist, he relaxes by writing and recording music. He lives in Hertfordshire with his wife and two children.
The character of Jefferson Winter came about because he wanted to write a series of books that gave him as much freedom as possible. He figured that the more interesting he kept things for himself, the more interesting it would be for the reader.
Although the novels are written as a series, James approaches each book as a stand-alone. Each story is set in a different location, and has a different cast of characters. The beauty of this approach is that the novels can be read out of order.
Broken Dolls, the first Jefferson Winter thriller, will be published in January 2014. This will be followed in the Spring by Presumed Guilty, the first in a series of eBooks set during Winter’s FBI days. Watch Me, the second Jefferson Winter thriller, is scheduled for publication in September 2014.
When he’s not writing, James spends his time training horses and riders. An accomplished guitarist, he relaxes by writing and recording music. He lives in Hertfordshire with his wife and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 472 reviews
February 6, 2017
Broken Dolls by James Carol was a very disturbing read it chilled me to the core , but thoroughly enjoyed it. The Characters were well scripted & very likeable especially Jefferson Winter & Sophie Templeton. This was a really good novel a page turner.
Di Mark Hatcher from Scotland yard calls Jefferson Winter to help him solve a case being the son of a serial killer & is a former FBI agent now profiler he agrees to help Hatcher solve a case involving a psychopath who tortures women keeps them for months then lobotomises them, which was hard to digest was left gasping as the kidnapping rises.
Four women were kept in the basement tied up so the Jack Cutter as Hatcher & Winter calls him can do whatever he wants with them some of the dialogue made me quite queasy but I soldiered on.
The plot heats up when Donald Cole's daughter Rachel Morris disappears Winter thinks she is Jack Cutters next victim, we find her held captive tortured & frightened for the life, Winter thinks that there are two uncus Jack Cutter & a woman which Hatcher dismisses on the spot, but as they dig deeper into the perp they find a disturbing development.
When DS Sophie Templeton gets taken there is nothing Winter & Hatcher wont do to catch this psychopath they put & plan in place BUT WILL RACHEL & SOPHIE SURVIVE!! only time will tell
Like I said this was very disturbing for me as a woman wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy it was a bit demeaning to woman early on, don't read this if you don't like a lot of gore.
Di Mark Hatcher from Scotland yard calls Jefferson Winter to help him solve a case being the son of a serial killer & is a former FBI agent now profiler he agrees to help Hatcher solve a case involving a psychopath who tortures women keeps them for months then lobotomises them, which was hard to digest was left gasping as the kidnapping rises.
Four women were kept in the basement tied up so the Jack Cutter as Hatcher & Winter calls him can do whatever he wants with them some of the dialogue made me quite queasy but I soldiered on.
The plot heats up when Donald Cole's daughter Rachel Morris disappears Winter thinks she is Jack Cutters next victim, we find her held captive tortured & frightened for the life, Winter thinks that there are two uncus Jack Cutter & a woman which Hatcher dismisses on the spot, but as they dig deeper into the perp they find a disturbing development.
When DS Sophie Templeton gets taken there is nothing Winter & Hatcher wont do to catch this psychopath they put & plan in place BUT WILL RACHEL & SOPHIE SURVIVE!! only time will tell
Like I said this was very disturbing for me as a woman wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy it was a bit demeaning to woman early on, don't read this if you don't like a lot of gore.
March 13, 2015
It's been a while since I last delved into the catch a serial killer genre and to be honest the repetitive nature of all the various different attempts eventually put me off. It turned into a chore searching for one that would bring something different to the table, characters that I could root for and a bad guy worthy of the accolade. My favourites of course being the darker stuff, point of view characters from the hunter and the hunted.
So Broken Dolls is my latest and a return to the crime thriller stuff that I liked to read before turning to fantasy and my latest thing, dark fiction and horror.
So could Broken Dolls manage to reinvigorate my feelings regarding that well-worn track searching for a killer who invariably tortures and kills, and eventually makes a mistake or is caught through sheer luck or ingenuity?
Well Jefferson Winter is the hunter, a former FBI profiler who contracts out as a consultant searching for serial killers and the like. He's got an incredibly high IQ of course, drinks, smokes and his father was caught and executed as a convicted serial killer. His latest case is in London, a brutal, cold blooded assailant who kidnaps and tortures his female victims, keeps them incapacitated for months, psychologically torments them and an all but final nail in the coffin. Using a particularly cringe worthy implement he takes their minds, leaving them a drooling vegetable.
Now the hunted doesn't really get a point of view standing barring one chapter, his latest victim Rachel does however, so through her treatment we get a first-hand view of the miscreantsmind games and violent inclinations.
Jefferson is partnered with a female detective named Templeton who, we're repeatedly told has the looks of a model and is absolutely stunning. When I say repeatedly, that's certainly how it felt, almost like a ‘setup another ideal victim scenario�. So you can probably guess what's going to happen to her and it’s a little bit painful to watch it develop.
So did Broken Dolls do it for me, well I'd have to say it did and it didn't. I'm still in two minds about Jefferson Winter the whole likening his intelligence to Da Vinci was cheap as was the model like detective. The thing that wasn't really exploited was the hunter’s killer father and the likelihood that he could go the same way, there could be a darkness to this character that may come in future episodes of his story and that's the intriguing element. There was a couple of surprises that caught me but nothing really earth shattering, a familiar false trail exercise but on the whole the paths are familiar, so it's down to the characters and there's just enough there to revisit this series.
Also posted at
So Broken Dolls is my latest and a return to the crime thriller stuff that I liked to read before turning to fantasy and my latest thing, dark fiction and horror.
So could Broken Dolls manage to reinvigorate my feelings regarding that well-worn track searching for a killer who invariably tortures and kills, and eventually makes a mistake or is caught through sheer luck or ingenuity?
Well Jefferson Winter is the hunter, a former FBI profiler who contracts out as a consultant searching for serial killers and the like. He's got an incredibly high IQ of course, drinks, smokes and his father was caught and executed as a convicted serial killer. His latest case is in London, a brutal, cold blooded assailant who kidnaps and tortures his female victims, keeps them incapacitated for months, psychologically torments them and an all but final nail in the coffin. Using a particularly cringe worthy implement he takes their minds, leaving them a drooling vegetable.
Now the hunted doesn't really get a point of view standing barring one chapter, his latest victim Rachel does however, so through her treatment we get a first-hand view of the miscreantsmind games and violent inclinations.
Jefferson is partnered with a female detective named Templeton who, we're repeatedly told has the looks of a model and is absolutely stunning. When I say repeatedly, that's certainly how it felt, almost like a ‘setup another ideal victim scenario�. So you can probably guess what's going to happen to her and it’s a little bit painful to watch it develop.
So did Broken Dolls do it for me, well I'd have to say it did and it didn't. I'm still in two minds about Jefferson Winter the whole likening his intelligence to Da Vinci was cheap as was the model like detective. The thing that wasn't really exploited was the hunter’s killer father and the likelihood that he could go the same way, there could be a darkness to this character that may come in future episodes of his story and that's the intriguing element. There was a couple of surprises that caught me but nothing really earth shattering, a familiar false trail exercise but on the whole the paths are familiar, so it's down to the characters and there's just enough there to revisit this series.
Also posted at
December 15, 2015
Broken Dolls is a fantastically disturbing crime novel that shares with us the horror of a particularly brutal and sadistic serial killer. If you like your crime novels with a bit of graphic eye popping moments, edge of your seat tension and some spine chilling moments, then you will love Broken Dolls, as did I.
Jefferson Winter is no ordinary investigator.
The son of one of America's most renowned serial killers, Winter has spent his life trying to distance himself from his father's legacy. Once a rising star at the FBI, he is now a freelance consultant, jetting around the globe helping local law enforcement agencies with difficult cases. He's not got Da Vinci's IQ, but he's pretty close.
I LOVE a book with a Profiler in it, yes, I am a fan of the FBI's Academy at Quantico and those that rise through it's training and field experience to be able to get into the heads of the world's worse killers. I wanted to be a Profiler when I left school (true!).
We are introduced to Jefferson Winter, an incredibly intelligent and insightful man who is also down to earth and very easy to connect with. He's been brought to England to work on a horrific case where young women are turning up released from torture and captivity LOBOTOMISED, that basically means that the front part of their brains, the part that holds the personality, ability to process, think, make decisions is mangled, gone, kaput, mashed potato brain.
Lobotomies were used years ago in mental institutions as a so called cure for the seriously insane, eventually someone realised they were just making zombies out of these insane people so the practice died off (thank God!). But this killer likes the technique and has practiced it well.
The killer abducts then holds the women for months, they show signs of extreme torture and abuse and then are released, essentially as a vegetable for the rest of their lives. Death would have been a kinder end result. It's a race against time for Jefferson to find the latest woman taken before it's too late and another woman is damaged for life. This killer has taste, he chooses his victims carefully, he has a preferred type, he's very clever and it makes for fascinating reading.
The plot is fast paced from the start, the book moves between Jefferson and the police profiling and hunting this madman and the killer and what he is getting up to with his latest victim. We also hear from the victim herself, what she is thinking, feeling, going through - that was done really well if you ask me. It's quite disturbing, I really was imagining how terrifying it would be,it's the type of book you lose time in reading. I devoured it.
The killer uses sadistic techniques and is well prepared to avoid being found, he has no intention of slipping up and making a mistake. The pace begins to really get traction in the latter half of the book and I was hardly breathing reading the last few chapters, yelling at the book, telling the characters what to do, you know those type of books? Where the tension spreads to you? Blimey, I needed a stiff drink after this one.
Very entertaining, will thrill any crime fan, I think it's got a touch of difference about it, I liked Jefferson, I think the plot was excellent with a unique aspect to it, it keeps you on your toes and interested, like watching a car crash, you don't want to look but you can't help yourself. The plight of these women is horrific. There are a few good twists in this book too, one that I DID NOT SEE COMING! That one slapped me upside the head and I was telling the author he did a very good job on that one.
A 4.5 star read this one for me, can't wait for the next book in this series, I am sure it's going to be a hit. Very chilling, thrilling and disturbing. What more do you want in your crime books featuring a serial killer? Oh yes! A savvy, smart Profiler who is on the case. Tick! We have a full house here.
Jefferson Winter is no ordinary investigator.
The son of one of America's most renowned serial killers, Winter has spent his life trying to distance himself from his father's legacy. Once a rising star at the FBI, he is now a freelance consultant, jetting around the globe helping local law enforcement agencies with difficult cases. He's not got Da Vinci's IQ, but he's pretty close.
I LOVE a book with a Profiler in it, yes, I am a fan of the FBI's Academy at Quantico and those that rise through it's training and field experience to be able to get into the heads of the world's worse killers. I wanted to be a Profiler when I left school (true!).
We are introduced to Jefferson Winter, an incredibly intelligent and insightful man who is also down to earth and very easy to connect with. He's been brought to England to work on a horrific case where young women are turning up released from torture and captivity LOBOTOMISED, that basically means that the front part of their brains, the part that holds the personality, ability to process, think, make decisions is mangled, gone, kaput, mashed potato brain.
Lobotomies were used years ago in mental institutions as a so called cure for the seriously insane, eventually someone realised they were just making zombies out of these insane people so the practice died off (thank God!). But this killer likes the technique and has practiced it well.
The killer abducts then holds the women for months, they show signs of extreme torture and abuse and then are released, essentially as a vegetable for the rest of their lives. Death would have been a kinder end result. It's a race against time for Jefferson to find the latest woman taken before it's too late and another woman is damaged for life. This killer has taste, he chooses his victims carefully, he has a preferred type, he's very clever and it makes for fascinating reading.
The plot is fast paced from the start, the book moves between Jefferson and the police profiling and hunting this madman and the killer and what he is getting up to with his latest victim. We also hear from the victim herself, what she is thinking, feeling, going through - that was done really well if you ask me. It's quite disturbing, I really was imagining how terrifying it would be,it's the type of book you lose time in reading. I devoured it.
The killer uses sadistic techniques and is well prepared to avoid being found, he has no intention of slipping up and making a mistake. The pace begins to really get traction in the latter half of the book and I was hardly breathing reading the last few chapters, yelling at the book, telling the characters what to do, you know those type of books? Where the tension spreads to you? Blimey, I needed a stiff drink after this one.
Very entertaining, will thrill any crime fan, I think it's got a touch of difference about it, I liked Jefferson, I think the plot was excellent with a unique aspect to it, it keeps you on your toes and interested, like watching a car crash, you don't want to look but you can't help yourself. The plight of these women is horrific. There are a few good twists in this book too, one that I DID NOT SEE COMING! That one slapped me upside the head and I was telling the author he did a very good job on that one.
A 4.5 star read this one for me, can't wait for the next book in this series, I am sure it's going to be a hit. Very chilling, thrilling and disturbing. What more do you want in your crime books featuring a serial killer? Oh yes! A savvy, smart Profiler who is on the case. Tick! We have a full house here.
December 9, 2017
Okay, okay - umsonst gestresst :D Ich hatte Unrecht mit meiner Vermutung, und das ist gut! :)
Das Buch war mir ein bisschen zu unrealistisch, sonst aber echt gut :)
Das Buch war mir ein bisschen zu unrealistisch, sonst aber echt gut :)
March 10, 2020
4,5/5
Esta novela me enganchó desde la primera página, una novela de lo más adictiva , con una historia original y cruda, un ritmo trepidante y con un impactante final, con giros sorprendentes. Es una novela que no da tregua al lector.
Toda la historia está construida alrededor de un personaje muy carismático que es el protagonista de la novela, el exprofiler del FBI, Jefferson Winter, que lleva una carga personal a cuestas, demostrarse a sí mismo y al mundo que no es como su padre.
Me ha gustado mucho toda la parte relacionada con el perfil del asesino en serie y cómo Winter llega a esas conclusiones. Es un personaje muy bien descrito, está muy definido.
Totalmente recomendable para los amantes de la novela negra.
Esta novela me enganchó desde la primera página, una novela de lo más adictiva , con una historia original y cruda, un ritmo trepidante y con un impactante final, con giros sorprendentes. Es una novela que no da tregua al lector.
Toda la historia está construida alrededor de un personaje muy carismático que es el protagonista de la novela, el exprofiler del FBI, Jefferson Winter, que lleva una carga personal a cuestas, demostrarse a sí mismo y al mundo que no es como su padre.
Me ha gustado mucho toda la parte relacionada con el perfil del asesino en serie y cómo Winter llega a esas conclusiones. Es un personaje muy bien descrito, está muy definido.
Totalmente recomendable para los amantes de la novela negra.
December 27, 2015
Jefferson Winter is the son of an executed serial killer, ex-FBI profiler, and international freelance consultant hunting serial killers. I found him to be a bit cocky because he's usually right, too perfect because the author gave him no flaws, and a lonely man because he moves on as soon as the killer is caught. He is described as a genius and has a sense of humor at times.
Early in the book, there were a few scenes that were condescending to women, which didn't sit well with me. Fortunately, that didn't last long and no sexual relationship developed between Winter and Sophie Templeton, the local female cop working the case.
I enjoyed the plot and the deductions that Winter made as he figured out the whodunnit. Winter does go rogue to solve cases and that is why he's ex-FBI, but it's fun to read.
Since this is a debut novel, I'm cutting James Carol some slack and giving this 4 stars. It did hold my interest. I have the second and third books and will move on to them next. I hope to learn more about Winter. Fingers crossed that I'm not disappointed.
Early in the book, there were a few scenes that were condescending to women, which didn't sit well with me. Fortunately, that didn't last long and no sexual relationship developed between Winter and Sophie Templeton, the local female cop working the case.
I enjoyed the plot and the deductions that Winter made as he figured out the whodunnit. Winter does go rogue to solve cases and that is why he's ex-FBI, but it's fun to read.
Since this is a debut novel, I'm cutting James Carol some slack and giving this 4 stars. It did hold my interest. I have the second and third books and will move on to them next. I hope to learn more about Winter. Fingers crossed that I'm not disappointed.
October 22, 2016
Mr Carol, I am really enjoying your books now that I have discovered them and this was no exception. This is an excellent thriller, fast paced, great characters and an excellent story that takes you in and does not let go until the end. Ex FBI profiler Jefferson Winters is the son of one of America's worst serial killers and he arrives in London to assist on a case where someone is kidnapping young women, keeping them for months and torturing them, a man that Winter intends to take off the streets. This really is great story telling and I loved every minute of it!
February 4, 2017
Super verhaal. Van begin tot einde spannend en moeilijk weg te leggen. Een aanrader!
February 18, 2019
"We build the foundation of our lives on faultlines and shifting sand, and in his last moments my father had managed to send a Richter-nine quake rattling through mine, destroying everything I'd held as right and true."
Is there anything worse than a sadistic serial killer? I didn't think so, but author James Carol changed my mind. Instead of murdering the victims' bodies, his "killer" murders their souls ... by giving them lobotomies. This takes a special kind of sicko, who can only be caught by a special kind of hero.
Jefferson Winter fits the bill. As the son of a serial killer, he is in touch with his dark side. Surprisingly, this doesn't make him a brooding, tortured man; his sense of humour is delightful. His wit is razor sharp, even though his IQ is (probably and by his own grudging admission) lower than Da Vinci's. Not that Winter gives a rat's arse. He isn't too bothered by rules, either, which is why he resigned from the FBI to become a jet-setting consultant. This case takes him to the UK. It's freezing and he'd much rather be in California, but at least the chemistry between him and DI Sophie Templeton creates some heat...
I can't believe I've only just heard of this author! Broken Dolls was a fresh, riveting read that left me a little breathless - and a lot excited about the rest of the series. Grammatically incorrect, I know, but I'm not that big on rules either 😉
Is there anything worse than a sadistic serial killer? I didn't think so, but author James Carol changed my mind. Instead of murdering the victims' bodies, his "killer" murders their souls ... by giving them lobotomies. This takes a special kind of sicko, who can only be caught by a special kind of hero.
Jefferson Winter fits the bill. As the son of a serial killer, he is in touch with his dark side. Surprisingly, this doesn't make him a brooding, tortured man; his sense of humour is delightful. His wit is razor sharp, even though his IQ is (probably and by his own grudging admission) lower than Da Vinci's. Not that Winter gives a rat's arse. He isn't too bothered by rules, either, which is why he resigned from the FBI to become a jet-setting consultant. This case takes him to the UK. It's freezing and he'd much rather be in California, but at least the chemistry between him and DI Sophie Templeton creates some heat...
I can't believe I've only just heard of this author! Broken Dolls was a fresh, riveting read that left me a little breathless - and a lot excited about the rest of the series. Grammatically incorrect, I know, but I'm not that big on rules either 😉
March 14, 2015
I kind of liked the premise and it has been a while since I've read the genre, so I thought I would give this a try. For the first fifty pages, I was undecided. There was some okay tension building, but also it felt kind of tropey. That second part is what carried on throughout the book. The plot was utterly predictable, with all of the stock characters that I've endured countless times in the past. Then there's Oh my God so Beautiful most Beautifulest but tough but so model-gorgeous Templeton who's also super tough but kind of really isn't at all. I could have played a drinking game with how often she's referred to in some way as attractive... and I would have gotten blackout drunk halfway through. Naturally, she finds a random way to damsel through the last part of the book because, duh, that's what happens when you're a pretty female. Ugh.
Minor gripe, the thing about leeches being equated to lobotomies... leeches are accepted in modern medicine as useful in certain procedures. Sometimes being better than more modern techniques. Just saying.
While there was a bit of a good premise, and some interesting (if somewhat predictable) profiling going on, the trite story line and characters make it highly unlikely I would venture further into this series.
Minor gripe, the thing about leeches being equated to lobotomies... leeches are accepted in modern medicine as useful in certain procedures. Sometimes being better than more modern techniques. Just saying.
While there was a bit of a good premise, and some interesting (if somewhat predictable) profiling going on, the trite story line and characters make it highly unlikely I would venture further into this series.
February 21, 2020
When I went into my unread library I read the back cover which described a serial killer who performed lobotomies. I wondered why I had bought the book but I knew I got it in the 3 for $10 section at the bookstore. However, whatever possessed me to purchase the book was right on the money. I will start by saying that the gruesomeness of this novel was well done and considering the subject matter it was tastefully done.
I love the idea of profilers - behavioural science. I've dealt with it during my career and it just fascinates me. The profiler in this novel is Jefferson Winter whose father was arrested as he was a serial killer. Years later Jefferson is in the FBI working as a profiler and his father is put to death by injection. His father's dying words were not spoken aloud but they were mouthed and aimed at his son Jefferson who was watching the execution. The words were "We're the same". Jefferson is haunted by these words but in this book this isn't really followed up and though this is a series I don't expect Jefferson to join in on the madness that his father was.
So Jefferson leaves the FBI and becomes a profiler/consultant. He goes to England where there is an unsub kidnapping women, torturing them and the final act he commits prior to releasing them is a lobotomy. Again though it sounds gruesome James Carol deals with the subject matter in a way that the picture is clearly delivered without really getting into the details. It is an excellent read.
So the clues are provided and followed up. Jefferson is truly a master at his craft and though there are many twists and turns the hunt for the perp goes on schedule. Jefferson finds various allies one would not expect but they are clearly very useful.
The one small beef I have with the book is that towards the ending Jefferson taps his ally for a vehicle and it's a V8 Maserati for its speed to get to the killers location. The thing is he is driving through a blizzard and a Maserati is clearly not the car of choice though Jefferson does admit that fact while speeding to the location - so that basis is covered so to speak.
The ending was also confusing in that the lead detective Jefferson is assisting altered the report. The author makes a big deal about this and at first I was a bit confused as to why any doctoring of the report was needed. I thought it was a great way to handle the killer. Yet the more I thought about it the report would have to be doctored due to the fact that Jefferson and the lead detective Hatcher were basically on a mission to execute the killer. In my mind no big deal but realistically some adjusting of what happened would have to be read into the report. Also on the note of the doctoring of the report is the fact that the killer recorded all his torturing but again I saw nothing wrong with what was on tape and how the report would eventually read. My review of the ending may sound confusing unless you have read the book.
So all in all I sometimes have to reach for books when it comes to the the 3 for $10 section. Another issue with the 3/10 is that I often get stuck with books that are a part of a series and I have chosen like the tenth one having read no others in the series. Luckily this happened to be the first in the series. After reading this book it was no reach at all. This is well written and held my attention. It was fun and exciting and I identified with everyone involved. In fact I have ordered the next three books in the series. I have discovered another author I really enjoy. I hope I don't jinx myself but I seem to have a knack of being able to identify books I really enjoy. I am not an easy rater as my average score would indicate. I have rated some books very low but the books I love like this one and most I seem to read I score high because I truly enjoy them.
If you like good detective work or even more love the idea of profiling then try this series out and it starts with this book. I rate this a nine out of ten. It was great and remember the subject matter is held well in check!!
I love the idea of profilers - behavioural science. I've dealt with it during my career and it just fascinates me. The profiler in this novel is Jefferson Winter whose father was arrested as he was a serial killer. Years later Jefferson is in the FBI working as a profiler and his father is put to death by injection. His father's dying words were not spoken aloud but they were mouthed and aimed at his son Jefferson who was watching the execution. The words were "We're the same". Jefferson is haunted by these words but in this book this isn't really followed up and though this is a series I don't expect Jefferson to join in on the madness that his father was.
So Jefferson leaves the FBI and becomes a profiler/consultant. He goes to England where there is an unsub kidnapping women, torturing them and the final act he commits prior to releasing them is a lobotomy. Again though it sounds gruesome James Carol deals with the subject matter in a way that the picture is clearly delivered without really getting into the details. It is an excellent read.
So the clues are provided and followed up. Jefferson is truly a master at his craft and though there are many twists and turns the hunt for the perp goes on schedule. Jefferson finds various allies one would not expect but they are clearly very useful.
The one small beef I have with the book is that towards the ending Jefferson taps his ally for a vehicle and it's a V8 Maserati for its speed to get to the killers location. The thing is he is driving through a blizzard and a Maserati is clearly not the car of choice though Jefferson does admit that fact while speeding to the location - so that basis is covered so to speak.
The ending was also confusing in that the lead detective Jefferson is assisting altered the report. The author makes a big deal about this and at first I was a bit confused as to why any doctoring of the report was needed. I thought it was a great way to handle the killer. Yet the more I thought about it the report would have to be doctored due to the fact that Jefferson and the lead detective Hatcher were basically on a mission to execute the killer. In my mind no big deal but realistically some adjusting of what happened would have to be read into the report. Also on the note of the doctoring of the report is the fact that the killer recorded all his torturing but again I saw nothing wrong with what was on tape and how the report would eventually read. My review of the ending may sound confusing unless you have read the book.
So all in all I sometimes have to reach for books when it comes to the the 3 for $10 section. Another issue with the 3/10 is that I often get stuck with books that are a part of a series and I have chosen like the tenth one having read no others in the series. Luckily this happened to be the first in the series. After reading this book it was no reach at all. This is well written and held my attention. It was fun and exciting and I identified with everyone involved. In fact I have ordered the next three books in the series. I have discovered another author I really enjoy. I hope I don't jinx myself but I seem to have a knack of being able to identify books I really enjoy. I am not an easy rater as my average score would indicate. I have rated some books very low but the books I love like this one and most I seem to read I score high because I truly enjoy them.
If you like good detective work or even more love the idea of profiling then try this series out and it starts with this book. I rate this a nine out of ten. It was great and remember the subject matter is held well in check!!
May 16, 2019
Follow Jefferson Winter, an ex-FBI profiler as he helps solve a case in England for the Metropolitan Police.
Broken Dolls is a great tale about the profiling of offenders. I liked how Jefferson explained to the reader how profilers worked and how offenders have signatures to their behaviour. I loved all this detail, not just in the profiling of offenders but how people think in general. I loved how James used real locations in his story and how he used real life crimes to build the advice Jefferson was putting forward. There were some great social observations throughout this story. I loved all the extra details that were thrown into this story which made it such an absorbing read. I really enjoyed this book and loved the parts when I wondered if Jefferson and the Police were simply getting it wrong and barking up the wrong tree. The joy I got from the detail and the great plot made Broken Dolls a very entertaining 5 star read.
Broken Dolls is a great tale about the profiling of offenders. I liked how Jefferson explained to the reader how profilers worked and how offenders have signatures to their behaviour. I loved all this detail, not just in the profiling of offenders but how people think in general. I loved how James used real locations in his story and how he used real life crimes to build the advice Jefferson was putting forward. There were some great social observations throughout this story. I loved all the extra details that were thrown into this story which made it such an absorbing read. I really enjoyed this book and loved the parts when I wondered if Jefferson and the Police were simply getting it wrong and barking up the wrong tree. The joy I got from the detail and the great plot made Broken Dolls a very entertaining 5 star read.
February 8, 2015
There is a new hero in my life and his name is Jefferson Winter! When I started this book a couple of days ago I was concerned as some fellow bookworms in my book club said it was so gory and they had to take a breather during the book...... Not me..... It was perfect for me (but now I am concerned how warped or depraved I am!). Each chapter galloped by at a fast pace, the dialogue and characters were faultless and I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. So much so that I am about to start book 2 right now!
March 5, 2017
A good little crime-thriller; Pretty much 'Criminal Minds' in book form, actually. I totally pictured Sophie Templeton as J-J, and they even say 'unsub',
Likeable characters, interesting plot. Not a murder-mystery, or a who-dunnit, in that (as with all serial killer books) the killer is obviously not a character we know, it's more about how Winter figures out who the unsub is when all of London is the suspect pool. I'd read the next one.
Likeable characters, interesting plot. Not a murder-mystery, or a who-dunnit, in that (as with all serial killer books) the killer is obviously not a character we know, it's more about how Winter figures out who the unsub is when all of London is the suspect pool. I'd read the next one.
July 9, 2017
4, 5 Sterne
Ein wirklich spannender Thriller mit einer guten Auflösung. Zunächst hatte ich Angst, dass es auf etwas anderes hinauslaufen könnte, was ich an Thrillern überhaupt nicht mag, aber dem war Gott sein dank nicht so.
Winter war mir zum Teil sehr sympathisch, ich mochte seine unkonventionelle Art, auch wenn mich seit meinem Jurastudium das Vorgehen der meisten Polizisten in Thrillern teilweise wirklich stört :) Allerdings war der Thriller an manchen Stellen extrem unrealistisch. Winter saugt sich tolle Ideen nur so aus den Fingern und löst auch einfach mal währenddessen nur aufgrund ein paar Unterlagen einen komplett anderen Mordfall. Ja, es gab ein paar kleine Hinweise, aber an manchen Stellen musste ich einfach nur mit dem Kopf schütteln...
Ein wirklich spannender Thriller mit einer guten Auflösung. Zunächst hatte ich Angst, dass es auf etwas anderes hinauslaufen könnte, was ich an Thrillern überhaupt nicht mag, aber dem war Gott sein dank nicht so.
Winter war mir zum Teil sehr sympathisch, ich mochte seine unkonventionelle Art, auch wenn mich seit meinem Jurastudium das Vorgehen der meisten Polizisten in Thrillern teilweise wirklich stört :) Allerdings war der Thriller an manchen Stellen extrem unrealistisch. Winter saugt sich tolle Ideen nur so aus den Fingern und löst auch einfach mal währenddessen nur aufgrund ein paar Unterlagen einen komplett anderen Mordfall. Ja, es gab ein paar kleine Hinweise, aber an manchen Stellen musste ich einfach nur mit dem Kopf schütteln...
April 23, 2015
Jefferson Winter is an ex-FBI Agent/Profiler. Jefferson Winter is now a free-lance consultant/hunter of serial killers. Jefferson Winter is the son of a serial killer. His father's last words to him before he ws executed for his crimes were ... We're the Same.
Someone in London is kidnapping young women, holding them for months .... undergoing unspeakable torture before performing a lobotomy and leaving them more dead than alive. After the third woman is found, DS Hatcher asks for Jefferson's help.
I had a hard time putting this one down for any length of time. The characters kept calling my name and I was drawn back into the mind of Jefferson Winter's genius in getting into the mind of his prey. If that wasn't enough action, the author threw in a couple of red herrings ... just to make it more interesting.
I am so glad this is just the beginning of what I know will be a terrific series. I look forward to following this oh-so-interesting man along on his forays into more criminal minds.
Rates a solid 4 stars for me.
Someone in London is kidnapping young women, holding them for months .... undergoing unspeakable torture before performing a lobotomy and leaving them more dead than alive. After the third woman is found, DS Hatcher asks for Jefferson's help.
I had a hard time putting this one down for any length of time. The characters kept calling my name and I was drawn back into the mind of Jefferson Winter's genius in getting into the mind of his prey. If that wasn't enough action, the author threw in a couple of red herrings ... just to make it more interesting.
I am so glad this is just the beginning of what I know will be a terrific series. I look forward to following this oh-so-interesting man along on his forays into more criminal minds.
Rates a solid 4 stars for me.
November 22, 2019
Başrolümüz Jefferson Winter FBI’in Davranış Bilimleri’nin profil uzmanıdır. Emekliliğinde ara ara davalara bakar ama bunun için üç şartı vardır.
1. Odası süit olmalı.
2. Viskisi en az 12 yıllık olmalı.
3. Ve dava ilginç olmalı.
Jefferson 11 yaşındayken babasının 15 genç kadını ormanda avlayıp öldürdüğü ortaya çıkar ve babası idam edilir. Hayatı boyunca bir seri katilin oğlu olma yükünü taşır. Babasının ölürken söylediği son sözler şunlardır:
Biz ikimiz aynıyız.
Londra sokaklarında kurbanlarını sağ bırakan katil işkence yaparak ve lobotomi uygulayarak kişiliklerini tamamen yok eder. Hiçbir kurban katille ilgili bilgi veremez. Jefferson’ın işi zor olacaktır. Çünkü ortada ceset yoktur. Yaşayan ölüler vardır.
Ve Jefferson Mozart’a bayılır 🙈
1. Odası süit olmalı.
2. Viskisi en az 12 yıllık olmalı.
3. Ve dava ilginç olmalı.
Jefferson 11 yaşındayken babasının 15 genç kadını ormanda avlayıp öldürdüğü ortaya çıkar ve babası idam edilir. Hayatı boyunca bir seri katilin oğlu olma yükünü taşır. Babasının ölürken söylediği son sözler şunlardır:
Biz ikimiz aynıyız.
Londra sokaklarında kurbanlarını sağ bırakan katil işkence yaparak ve lobotomi uygulayarak kişiliklerini tamamen yok eder. Hiçbir kurban katille ilgili bilgi veremez. Jefferson’ın işi zor olacaktır. Çünkü ortada ceset yoktur. Yaşayan ölüler vardır.
Ve Jefferson Mozart’a bayılır 🙈
December 30, 2015
These 5 stars are for pure entertainment value certainly enhanced by listening on audio.
Jefferson Winter comes to life in this absorbing and exciting crime drama - he is an ex-FBI agent assisting on a nasty serial crime case in London England.
Ok, I'll admit it's a tad formulaic and nothing I haven't read before BUT Jefferson is awesome and the story was so well pulled together that the ring of familiarity was inconsequential.
I loved it! And I'm listening to the next one straight away as it's a brilliant holiday read.
Just a quick note on the voice actors - superb! - got all the accents perfectly.
Jefferson Winter comes to life in this absorbing and exciting crime drama - he is an ex-FBI agent assisting on a nasty serial crime case in London England.
Ok, I'll admit it's a tad formulaic and nothing I haven't read before BUT Jefferson is awesome and the story was so well pulled together that the ring of familiarity was inconsequential.
I loved it! And I'm listening to the next one straight away as it's a brilliant holiday read.
Just a quick note on the voice actors - superb! - got all the accents perfectly.
June 3, 2018
Brutal!!! Imposible soltarlo porque desde la primera página he adorado a Winter!!! Es capaz de entender mejor que nadie como piensan los asesinos en serie y éste que persiguen especialmente cruel. Quiero MÁS POR FAVOR, TRADUZCANLOS YA!!!!
October 17, 2017
I have this one for a while and since I'm in the mood for mystery thriller after finishing Robert Bryndza's Detective Erika Foster series, I figure it's time for me to try it.
The premise is very interesting -- Jefferson Winter, an ex-FBI genius profiler, is a son of a serial killer himself! This book opens with Winter watching his father's execution. When his father mouthed "We're the same" to Winter, it haunts him, so he decides to quit the FBI. Winter still works as freelance consultant, offering his psychological insights on unsubs.
In Broken Dolls Winter is hired by Scotland Yard to help with cases of four women being tortured and lobotomized. The fifth woman has been abducted and based on the timeline of the case of the previous four, Winter needs to figure out who the killer is before the killer adds another victim.
I'm happy to say that I think this is a GREAT start as introduction of a new-to-me author. The writing is good, it flows nicely to me. And of course the case is riveting.
The only 'letdown' is probably because the book is written with 1st person narrative, I can't really follow Winter's deduction. I mean, when he says "I know it" (or something like that) the process to get there is all in his head ... I learned how to enjoy it without trying to figure out the cases myself *lol*.
YAY! I have a new mystery thriller series to follow.
The premise is very interesting -- Jefferson Winter, an ex-FBI genius profiler, is a son of a serial killer himself! This book opens with Winter watching his father's execution. When his father mouthed "We're the same" to Winter, it haunts him, so he decides to quit the FBI. Winter still works as freelance consultant, offering his psychological insights on unsubs.
In Broken Dolls Winter is hired by Scotland Yard to help with cases of four women being tortured and lobotomized. The fifth woman has been abducted and based on the timeline of the case of the previous four, Winter needs to figure out who the killer is before the killer adds another victim.
I'm happy to say that I think this is a GREAT start as introduction of a new-to-me author. The writing is good, it flows nicely to me. And of course the case is riveting.
The only 'letdown' is probably because the book is written with 1st person narrative, I can't really follow Winter's deduction. I mean, when he says "I know it" (or something like that) the process to get there is all in his head ... I learned how to enjoy it without trying to figure out the cases myself *lol*.
YAY! I have a new mystery thriller series to follow.
January 20, 2022
Inquietante, cruda, negra y adictiva.
Jefferson Winter, experto en perfiles criminales, superdotado e hijo de un asesino en serie.
Winter ayudará a cazar a un criminal que captura mujeres, las tortura y después de hacerles una lobotomía, para evitar que hablen, las suelta.
Jefferson Winter, experto en perfiles criminales, superdotado e hijo de un asesino en serie.
Winter ayudará a cazar a un criminal que captura mujeres, las tortura y después de hacerles una lobotomía, para evitar que hablen, las suelta.
April 20, 2017
A crime procedural book with it's own take on it. Broken Dolls was just such a lot of fun!
The Plot consists of a psychopath who abducts women, tortures them and sets them free after a lobotomy.... Yeah not for the faint of heart actually. The police force now ask for the help of PI Jefferson Winter and his expertise in order to track this guy down, before he can strike again.
This book was a brilliant read! It's fast paced, quirky and has a lotta good humor as well. knows how to build suspense. We feel it at the end of every chapter and it's insanely tough to put this book down. Semester exams be screwed, this was worth it.
Jefferson Winter is up on the list of favorite detectives for sure. We get insight into his thinking and how he analyses each person based on small quirks we hardly notice normally. There are even moments when he goes full Sherlock and has these slow-mo (personal opinion), third person visualizations of what happened in a crime scene. So satisfying.
This book surprised me with it's lack of cliches'. I tried to guess how the story was going to go or what was going to happen next but I was almost always wrong. is anything but predictable and I had a really good time reading this. Bring on the sequel!
The Plot consists of a psychopath who abducts women, tortures them and sets them free after a lobotomy.... Yeah not for the faint of heart actually. The police force now ask for the help of PI Jefferson Winter and his expertise in order to track this guy down, before he can strike again.
This book was a brilliant read! It's fast paced, quirky and has a lotta good humor as well. knows how to build suspense. We feel it at the end of every chapter and it's insanely tough to put this book down. Semester exams be screwed, this was worth it.
Jefferson Winter is up on the list of favorite detectives for sure. We get insight into his thinking and how he analyses each person based on small quirks we hardly notice normally. There are even moments when he goes full Sherlock and has these slow-mo (personal opinion), third person visualizations of what happened in a crime scene. So satisfying.
This book surprised me with it's lack of cliches'. I tried to guess how the story was going to go or what was going to happen next but I was almost always wrong. is anything but predictable and I had a really good time reading this. Bring on the sequel!
May 21, 2017
In plaats van een schrijversduo gingen Jac en ik de uitdaging aan als lezersduo van De Poppenspeler (het debuut) van James Carol.
Onze conlusie is dat dit een geweldig spannende thriller is.
Proloog van het boek is sterk en maakt je direct nieuwsgierig. Jefferson Winter is ex fbi agent en nu werkzaam als zelfstandig opererende profiler die door de Metropolitan Police wordt ingehuurd om klaarheid te brengen in een serie verknipte verminkingen die een abjecte psychopaat toebrengt aan vrouwen, die hij ontvoert, manipuleert, martelt en totaal verminkt door een lobotomie toe te passen (een ouderwetse, barbaarse en onmenselijke ingreep die vroeger rond het midden vd 20e eeuw in de Psychiatrie veel is gebruikt).
Het vijfde slachtoffer is Rachel Morris. Zij wordt door de verminker aangeduid als “nummer vijf�. Het doel is uiteindelijk het breken van de geest van de gevangene. Winter gebruikt zijn kennis als profiler om de dader langzaam maar zeker te lokaliseren. Door een onvoorziene gebeurtenis die niet in de lijn der gebeurtenissen ligt, wordt de druk extreem opgevoerd om de dader te tracereren en te neutraliseren.
Een zinderend debuut van James Carol. Vijf sterren.
Onze conlusie is dat dit een geweldig spannende thriller is.
Proloog van het boek is sterk en maakt je direct nieuwsgierig. Jefferson Winter is ex fbi agent en nu werkzaam als zelfstandig opererende profiler die door de Metropolitan Police wordt ingehuurd om klaarheid te brengen in een serie verknipte verminkingen die een abjecte psychopaat toebrengt aan vrouwen, die hij ontvoert, manipuleert, martelt en totaal verminkt door een lobotomie toe te passen (een ouderwetse, barbaarse en onmenselijke ingreep die vroeger rond het midden vd 20e eeuw in de Psychiatrie veel is gebruikt).
Het vijfde slachtoffer is Rachel Morris. Zij wordt door de verminker aangeduid als “nummer vijf�. Het doel is uiteindelijk het breken van de geest van de gevangene. Winter gebruikt zijn kennis als profiler om de dader langzaam maar zeker te lokaliseren. Door een onvoorziene gebeurtenis die niet in de lijn der gebeurtenissen ligt, wordt de druk extreem opgevoerd om de dader te tracereren en te neutraliseren.
Een zinderend debuut van James Carol. Vijf sterren.
January 27, 2022
Novela negra muy adictiva, el psicópata es espeluznante pero todo el libro gira en torno a su protagonista, el investigador, sin duda podría ser una serie porque tanto su vida como su personalidad dan para ello.
November 10, 2017
Broken dolls by James carol was the most unexpected disappointed for me this year. I did not see it coming. I really believed that the book is going to be a new favorite of mine. It turns out I could not be further from the truth. I didn’t hate it but that’s not saying much because I rarely hate books. I didn’t love it either. I didn’t even like it. So where does that leave me? The simple truth is that I did not care, not about the story, not about the characters, not about the ending, not about anything. The book is just blank story for me that I’ll probably forget about by the next day.
The story is forgettable. The plot is so predictable and it lacks the thrill and the suspense this genre is well known for. There’s a lack of urgency and frantic despair to solve the case and the pace is unbelievably boring. I knew exactly how the story is going to end, I just did. These kinds of books are known for their ability to keep you hostage till the final chapter and deliver an emotional thrilling punch that leave you in awe of the genius reveal. Every reveal was like shrugging and saying HUH instead of screaming, what the hell just happened. The lack of twists and turns also contributed to this lackluster average experience. Every important thing that could’ve made the book more suspenseful, I figured out before it was revealed. Let’s count them down:
So either I’m genius or the plot is not that complicated. Take your pick
The main character is an ex-FBI profiler and the son of a notorious serial killer who killed fifteen women. So we have a complex dark past that should’ve been exploited better or at least mentioned in a more profound way so we get drawn to the main character more. What I liked about him is that he keeps a clear head during the whole investigation and he’s in control of his emotional response to what’s happening to the victim. And my admiration pretty much ends there. He was too smug, too confident and too detached from the other characters which created a predictable, if not boring dynamic between him and the rest of the characters. The author sometimes dug deeper and revealed a glimpse of the man underneath the facade of the confident successful profiler. I honestly don’t know if that’s enough to lure me in for another book of the series. Definitely not right away, but maybe in the far future there’s a slight chance that I’ll give the books and the character another chance.
The story is forgettable. The plot is so predictable and it lacks the thrill and the suspense this genre is well known for. There’s a lack of urgency and frantic despair to solve the case and the pace is unbelievably boring. I knew exactly how the story is going to end, I just did. These kinds of books are known for their ability to keep you hostage till the final chapter and deliver an emotional thrilling punch that leave you in awe of the genius reveal. Every reveal was like shrugging and saying HUH instead of screaming, what the hell just happened. The lack of twists and turns also contributed to this lackluster average experience. Every important thing that could’ve made the book more suspenseful, I figured out before it was revealed. Let’s count them down:
So either I’m genius or the plot is not that complicated. Take your pick
The main character is an ex-FBI profiler and the son of a notorious serial killer who killed fifteen women. So we have a complex dark past that should’ve been exploited better or at least mentioned in a more profound way so we get drawn to the main character more. What I liked about him is that he keeps a clear head during the whole investigation and he’s in control of his emotional response to what’s happening to the victim. And my admiration pretty much ends there. He was too smug, too confident and too detached from the other characters which created a predictable, if not boring dynamic between him and the rest of the characters. The author sometimes dug deeper and revealed a glimpse of the man underneath the facade of the confident successful profiler. I honestly don’t know if that’s enough to lure me in for another book of the series. Definitely not right away, but maybe in the far future there’s a slight chance that I’ll give the books and the character another chance.
July 7, 2015
ส่วนผสมของ Criminal Minds + NCIS และความเป็นวิล เกรแฮ� จา� Hannibal เล็กๆ
เราเลือกเล่มนี้เพราะอยากอ่านนิยายสืบสวนที่พระเอกหม่นๆอึมครึม� แต่คุณพี่วินเทอร์แกก็จะสาดแสงแรงกล้าเกินไปหน่อย
แต่ถ้าใครชอบพระเอกฉลาด� อวดเก่งหน่อย� กวนตีนนิดๆ และมีปมเล็กๆ ก็น่าจะหลงคุณพี่วินเทอร์ได้อยู่ไม่น้อย
จริงๆแล้� เราก็ชอบพี่แกแหละ แต่อย่างที่บอก อารมณ์เราตอนนี้อยากได้พระเอกสีหม่นน่� คุณพี่เลยยังไม่เกิ�
ราจะไม่แปลกใจถ้าล่มนี้ป็Ȩล่มแรกของคȨขียนคนȨ�
มันมีข้อมูลหลายอย่างที่ใส่มาตู้มๆทื่อๆ บางตอนนี่เหมือนได้อ่านจิตวิทยาอาชญกร 101 กันเลยทีเดียว
โดยรวมเรารู้สึกว่� ถึงข้อมูลที่ให้มามันจำเป็นแหล� แต่มันยังไม่เนียนกับบทสนทนาเท่านั้นเอง
ตลอดเวลาที่อ่าน เรานึกถึง Criminal Minds ตลอดเลย
ทั้งจังหวะของเรื่อ� ตัวละค� บทสนทน� บรรยากาศโดยรวมของเรื่อ� มันได้กลิ่นซีรี่ย์เรื่องนี้ตลอด
ถามว่าสนุกมั้ย ก็สนุกนะ แต่มันไม่ตื่นเต้�
เพราะถ้าเป็นแฟนนิยายหรือหนังประเภทนี้ก็จะสามารถเดาเหตุการณ์ทุกอย่างได้เกือบทั้งหมดตั้งแต่ 1/3 แรกของเล่�
สั้นๆคือขา� WOW Element น่�
คิดว่าถ้าใครยังใหม่กับแนวฆาตรกรต่อเนื่องและทฤษฎีที่ใช้ในการวิเคราะห์ฆาตรกรประเภทนี� คงตะตื่นตาตื่นใจกับเล่มนี้ดี
แต่ถ้าใครเคยดู Criminal Minds บอกเลยว่� ไม่มีอะไรใหม�
อ้� ยกเว้นวิธีการลงลายเซ็นของฆาตรกร อะนะ
เราเลือกเล่มนี้เพราะอยากอ่านนิยายสืบสวนที่พระเอกหม่นๆอึมครึม� แต่คุณพี่วินเทอร์แกก็จะสาดแสงแรงกล้าเกินไปหน่อย
แต่ถ้าใครชอบพระเอกฉลาด� อวดเก่งหน่อย� กวนตีนนิดๆ และมีปมเล็กๆ ก็น่าจะหลงคุณพี่วินเทอร์ได้อยู่ไม่น้อย
จริงๆแล้� เราก็ชอบพี่แกแหละ แต่อย่างที่บอก อารมณ์เราตอนนี้อยากได้พระเอกสีหม่นน่� คุณพี่เลยยังไม่เกิ�
ราจะไม่แปลกใจถ้าล่มนี้ป็Ȩล่มแรกของคȨขียนคนȨ�
มันมีข้อมูลหลายอย่างที่ใส่มาตู้มๆทื่อๆ บางตอนนี่เหมือนได้อ่านจิตวิทยาอาชญกร 101 กันเลยทีเดียว
โดยรวมเรารู้สึกว่� ถึงข้อมูลที่ให้มามันจำเป็นแหล� แต่มันยังไม่เนียนกับบทสนทนาเท่านั้นเอง
ตลอดเวลาที่อ่าน เรานึกถึง Criminal Minds ตลอดเลย
ทั้งจังหวะของเรื่อ� ตัวละค� บทสนทน� บรรยากาศโดยรวมของเรื่อ� มันได้กลิ่นซีรี่ย์เรื่องนี้ตลอด
ถามว่าสนุกมั้ย ก็สนุกนะ แต่มันไม่ตื่นเต้�
เพราะถ้าเป็นแฟนนิยายหรือหนังประเภทนี้ก็จะสามารถเดาเหตุการณ์ทุกอย่างได้เกือบทั้งหมดตั้งแต่ 1/3 แรกของเล่�
สั้นๆคือขา� WOW Element น่�
คิดว่าถ้าใครยังใหม่กับแนวฆาตรกรต่อเนื่องและทฤษฎีที่ใช้ในการวิเคราะห์ฆาตรกรประเภทนี� คงตะตื่นตาตื่นใจกับเล่มนี้ดี
แต่ถ้าใครเคยดู Criminal Minds บอกเลยว่� ไม่มีอะไรใหม�
อ้� ยกเว้นวิธีการลงลายเซ็นของฆาตรกร อะนะ
May 22, 2019
A book about a profiler who explains his insights logically and satisfactorily.
Jefferson Winters was eleven when he discovered that his father was a serial killer. He could not understand how he and his mother could have remained unaware. Since then, he has tried his best to understand serial killers. But thankfully his past is not constantly emphasized. Winters spent 13 years in the FBI but is now a global consultant as serial killers are not limited to USA. In this book he is consulting in England. Incidentally, the author is British and this is the first book in the series.
There are chapters which deal with the interaction between the serial killer and his current victim but they fall short of becoming torture porn and thus remain readable.
It is only at the end, when time is running out, that Winters starts making leaps unbound by logic and therefore only 4* for what was otherwise a captivating thriller.
At the moment there are 4 books in this series. All of them are good with the third and fourth being better. They are standalone novels and can easily be read on their own. But there are also 3 novellas, which deal with Winters' early years and should be avoided.
Jefferson Winters was eleven when he discovered that his father was a serial killer. He could not understand how he and his mother could have remained unaware. Since then, he has tried his best to understand serial killers. But thankfully his past is not constantly emphasized. Winters spent 13 years in the FBI but is now a global consultant as serial killers are not limited to USA. In this book he is consulting in England. Incidentally, the author is British and this is the first book in the series.
There are chapters which deal with the interaction between the serial killer and his current victim but they fall short of becoming torture porn and thus remain readable.
It is only at the end, when time is running out, that Winters starts making leaps unbound by logic and therefore only 4* for what was otherwise a captivating thriller.
At the moment there are 4 books in this series. All of them are good with the third and fourth being better. They are standalone novels and can easily be read on their own. But there are also 3 novellas, which deal with Winters' early years and should be avoided.
April 15, 2017
Spannend en de titel is sprekend verbonden aan het verhaal! Zeker een aanrader in de sfeer van silence of the lambs klopt!
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August 20, 2017
Ich fand es toll. Sicherlich gab es ein paar langatmige Szenen, doch gebe ich hier gern 5 Sterne. Der Schreibstil hat mich total mitgerissen und die Idee hinter der Geschichte war einfach gut.
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