talra

Meh. The villain is revealed in the first 80 pages, but you have to sit through another 340 pages until the end. I actually didn't finish it - it was getting tedious so I skipped to the last couple chapters (which I have never done before in my life.)

This book is an odd combination of boring (since you know what is going to happen) and can't-look-away bad. None of the characters are sympathetic or likeable. Also, it's not really scary or suspenseful. I would say that it is more sensationalist and grotesque than anything else (other than lame, that is.) Scenes of brutal violence plus an overly contrived plot does not equal a brilliant suspense novel.

Also, there are numerous editing and fact-checking errors; at least one of the methods of murder is physically impossible. Anyway, I read most of it because it came highly recommended, but I personally would not recommend it. The premise has potential, but it was ridiculously drawn out and the writing was labored. I won't be reading his future novels.

Bad. Just...bad.

I would just like to take this opportunity to remind people that they should check the little box marked "this review contains spoilers" at the bottom right of their review form IF THEIR REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS. It is very unkind to ruin the endings of books for other people. Even if you're upset and you wish you'd known the ending before you'd starting reading doesn't mean that you should go ahead and let everyone else know what the ending is. I for one did not appreciate knowing the ending to this novel before I'd even picked up my reserved copy at my local library.

I HATED this book. Honestly. It's one of the few books that I can say that about. It is, in my opinion, a hugely over-hyped waste of ink and paper. I would give it negative stars if I could.

As much as I like Anne Rice, this book was really not worth reading. I actually don't think that I finished it. Either that or I hated it so much that I blocked out those memories. Who knows?