Mania - thriller/crime novel.

Direct Ebooks · 11-13-2009, 03:15 PM

Rarely if ever have I read a book that is disturbing and enthralling in equal measures.
From the opening, disorientating chapters in which the reader is introduced breathlessly into the present, hurled to the past and dragged kicking back into the here and now, there is a masterfully crafted sense of paranoia and delusion, the purpose of which only becomes apparant towards the end.

The main protaganist is Nick Wilder, a down on his luck freelance photographer, whos job is to be first on the murder scene to scoop the pics. However, when his brother is vicously murdered on a night out with him, the blood-soaked, confused photographer immediately becomes a suspect. The subsequently unfortunate ability to appear at murder scenes before the police do does not endear him to Seattle's boys in blue. A series of horrific murders (I genuinely had to turn away from my Sony reader once or twice and wince)provides the framework for a tight, taut thriller that really delivers value for money

Despite his predicament, Nick is not a particularly likeable character from the very beginning. He is selfish,lazy and unpredictable, but is all the more human for it. Larsen's characters are all complex, real people who's traits and motivations are revealed slowly and deliberately. With each gruesome murder, and trust me they are gruesome, we are drawn into the intricate web of suspicion, betrayal and intrigue.

This is a compelling thriller, with great characters, storylines and the inevitable twists. Craig Larsen really is a name to watch out for, and I look forward to his next title.

Mania is perfect for a cold winters night with the lights down and the fire blazing!

I bought the eBook at Directebooks.

Billjr13 · 11-14-2009, 04:14 AM

Pretty good read. Caught my eye because I was a newspaper photographer for 17 years, before I started teaching. I will look for Larson's next book.

Mrgauth · 11-17-2009, 06:36 PM

Have been reading but I gotta say I am having a terrible time keeping up with it. All the jumping around, back and forth, is perplexing and not sure I care for it. Like the style of writing though and that right now is all that is keeping me going. I really have no clue what is going on after 150 pages.

Billjr13 · 11-17-2009, 08:09 PM

Yeah I would compare it to the first time I watched Plup Fiction. The jumping around in the story was a bit of a mess; but i liked it.

Direct Ebooks · 11-18-2009, 04:16 AM

Stick with it Mr Gauth!
I was exactly the same at that point in the book - even considered stopping which is unusual for me! It clears up from teh mid section on and it all makes sense in the end.

If theres anything in particular you want to know about the book or his writing style, let me know as I am interviewing Craig Larsen later on this week.

Dr. Drib · 11-18-2009, 06:32 AM

I might add that it's also available from Amazon for $4.47 (US), at this location:

http://www.amazon.com/Mania-ebook/dp...8543529&sr=1-1

It's also available from Sony, for $5.31

Don

Direct Ebooks · 11-18-2009, 06:58 AM

Dont forget poor old little Directebooks where the book is available at $3.91!
http://www.directebooks.com/ebook_de...6023120&prov=1

11-13-2009, 03:15 PM	#1
Direct Ebooks Hibernian eBook Warrior Posts: 184 Karma: 1264 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Cork, Ireland Device: Sony Reader	Mania - thriller/crime novel. Rarely if ever have I read a book that is disturbing and enthralling in equal measures. From the opening, disorientating chapters in which the reader is introduced breathlessly into the present, hurled to the past and dragged kicking back into the here and now, there is a masterfully crafted sense of paranoia and delusion, the purpose of which only becomes apparant towards the end. The main protaganist is Nick Wilder, a down on his luck freelance photographer, whos job is to be first on the murder scene to scoop the pics. However, when his brother is vicously murdered on a night out with him, the blood-soaked, confused photographer immediately becomes a suspect. The subsequently unfortunate ability to appear at murder scenes before the police do does not endear him to Seattle's boys in blue. A series of horrific murders (I genuinely had to turn away from my Sony reader once or twice and wince)provides the framework for a tight, taut thriller that really delivers value for money Despite his predicament, Nick is not a particularly likeable character from the very beginning. He is selfish,lazy and unpredictable, but is all the more human for it. Larsen's characters are all complex, real people who's traits and motivations are revealed slowly and deliberately. With each gruesome murder, and trust me they are gruesome, we are drawn into the intricate web of suspicion, betrayal and intrigue. This is a compelling thriller, with great characters, storylines and the inevitable twists. Craig Larsen really is a name to watch out for, and I look forward to his next title. Mania is perfect for a cold winters night with the lights down and the fire blazing! I bought the eBook at Directebooks.

11-18-2009, 06:32 AM	#6
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,337 Karma: 59447733 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	I might add that it's also available from Amazon for $4.47 (US), at this location: http://www.amazon.com/Mania-ebook/dp...8543529&sr=1-1 It's also available from Sony, for $5.31 Don Last edited by Dr. Drib; 11-18-2009 at 06:36 AM.

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11-14-2009, 04:14 AM	#2
Billjr13 Addict Posts: 357 Karma: 550002 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Colorado Device: Sony PRS 700 & 650	Pretty good read. Caught my eye because I was a newspaper photographer for 17 years, before I started teaching. I will look for Larson's next book.

11-17-2009, 06:36 PM	#3
Mrgauth Addict Posts: 206 Karma: 310 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Tulsa OK Device: K3	Have been reading but I gotta say I am having a terrible time keeping up with it. All the jumping around, back and forth, is perplexing and not sure I care for it. Like the style of writing though and that right now is all that is keeping me going. I really have no clue what is going on after 150 pages.

11-17-2009, 08:09 PM	#4
Billjr13 Addict Posts: 357 Karma: 550002 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Colorado Device: Sony PRS 700 & 650	Yeah I would compare it to the first time I watched Plup Fiction. The jumping around in the story was a bit of a mess; but i liked it.

11-18-2009, 04:16 AM	#5
Direct Ebooks Hibernian eBook Warrior Posts: 184 Karma: 1264 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Cork, Ireland Device: Sony Reader	Stick with it Mr Gauth! I was exactly the same at that point in the book - even considered stopping which is unusual for me! It clears up from teh mid section on and it all makes sense in the end. If theres anything in particular you want to know about the book or his writing style, let me know as I am interviewing Craig Larsen later on this week.

11-18-2009, 06:58 AM	#7
Direct Ebooks Hibernian eBook Warrior Posts: 184 Karma: 1264 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Cork, Ireland Device: Sony Reader	Dont forget poor old little Directebooks where the book is available at $3.91! http://www.directebooks.com/ebook_de...6023120&prov=1

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