The Hypnotist

I wish I had read Russ's comments before I ordered The Hypnotist. I agree 100% with him. The Characters were all over the place, one had no affinity with any of them. It was unrealistic as the hypnotist was allowed free reign to crude, moronic violence and the story went backwards and forwards so much one got lost in the self gratification of the author. As for the reader I would not read another book with him reading it. I will stick with Henning Mankell and give me Sean Barratt every time thank you very much. Bernard (Cumbria (ex Scarborough Like Russ!!!)

Poor characterisation, unbelievable actions by authority figues - if this is the way that the police behave in Sweden I am glad I don't live there. Not helped by the reader.

There's a bit of fad for Scandinavian crime writers at the moment, on the back of the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo so I suppose it was inevitable that some of the less good ones would be translated and turned into audiobooks. The Hypnotist is dreadful.

It's dreadful for many reasons. First Eamonn RIley is his usual dreadful self, why do they keep using him? I will admit that he seems to be a little better than he was in the Lackberg novels, but the improvement is marginal at best. But it isn't the plodding and erratic delivery of Riley that ruins this book, it's the totally unrealistic way the characters behave.

Examples are the police keep letting this outsider make first interviews of suspects and visit crime scenes. The central character is not a copper but the author allows him to play at CSi like he is one. The characters are one dimensional and are played like automata, they come in, say their lines and disappear. The descriptions of places and events, while detailed enough, are written in such a way as to not be engaging, and frankly the drug addled doctor who is the central character should have been struck off years ago.

If you've finished the Millennium trilogy and what another fix of cool Nordic crime look elsewhere because this is rubbish. Click in the search box to the left and put in M-A-N-K-E-L-L, hit enter and you'll find some really cool Swedish crime.

While I cannot say this was one of my favourite books I did have to carry on and read/listen to it. I found that it was extremely violent, too much so and the accent of the detective was irritatingly stereotypical Scandanavian!

This was not one of my favorite titles, can't recommend this. Other titles much better.

What a masterpiece by Lars Kepler. This audiobook has brought me into a genre of books I never thought I'd be too interested in. Crime/Thriller. After listening to the first few chapters it's safe to say I was hooked right to the finish.

Eamonn Riley reads with such enthusiasm you feel like you're the extra (invisible) character in this book. It's gripping, gruesome, gory and great.

A must buy!