The Lonely Dead
1 journaler for this copy...
This is the first book of his I have read and whilst I will probably read his first novel, The Strawmen, I won't rush out to buy it.
For those who have read the first novel, the Strawmen thread continues in this novel as Ward Hopkins and buddies are up against the Upright Man.
The other thread is a bit of an oddity - I am deliberately saying very little about the storyline as it is easily spoiled. It is quite well written but doesnt quite grip the reader
Both stories are squeezed into 500 pages, and it is the Straw Men story that suffers most from this brevity - there was enough here for a full novel. Some short cuts are taken, and more than a few questions left unanswered.
For all this, the Lonely Dead is still a good read, and is certainly better than the average thriller. It disappoints for what it could have been, based on reviews of his first novel, rather than what it is. Hopefully next time Marshall won't compromise.
For those who have read the first novel, the Strawmen thread continues in this novel as Ward Hopkins and buddies are up against the Upright Man.
The other thread is a bit of an oddity - I am deliberately saying very little about the storyline as it is easily spoiled. It is quite well written but doesnt quite grip the reader
Both stories are squeezed into 500 pages, and it is the Straw Men story that suffers most from this brevity - there was enough here for a full novel. Some short cuts are taken, and more than a few questions left unanswered.
For all this, the Lonely Dead is still a good read, and is certainly better than the average thriller. It disappoints for what it could have been, based on reviews of his first novel, rather than what it is. Hopefully next time Marshall won't compromise.
