Highly enjoyable
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I actually read the second book in this series before this one, when I bought Written in Bone I assumed it was just a stand alone novel and didn't know that this came first. Both are very good thrillers. The Chemistry of Death gripped me quite quickly, I read the first 100 pages in a very short time and as I was coming to the climax of the book (during my lunch break), I was late back to work as I found it so difficult to put down. I love the way this author puts in the extra twist at the end that makes it a cut above the average thriller.
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Overrated, I'm afraid ...
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The opening of this book was rather weak as it was too drawn out. The book picked up in the middle however with good pacing and some interesting plot developments. The end of the book was a major let down though. It was too clichéd and did not really make sense. Also, there was way too much description.
This book felt like a mediocre B movie - especially the ending. If you want a powerful thriller writer try P J Tracy or Lee Child.
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A AUTHOR EVERYONE SHOULD READ
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Chemistry of Death is the 1st in a series about Dr Hunter. People may think Patricia Cornwell and Kathy Reichs have already covered this sort of territory, think again.
Simon Beckett breathes new life into this crime thriller, really well written and based in the UK. I was taking in from page 1 and couldn't put it down. He brings a fresh approach and he has some superb surprises in his books.
If you read this you will soon be reading Written in Bone.
I can also tell you that I have been priviliged enough to have read his next book and it is also fantastic, I did not guess the twist in it! An author to watch closely.
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it's impossible to hide
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I read this book because I've just been given 'Written in Bone', the sequel to this one and wanted to know more about Dr.Hunter et al.
It's difficult to plough a furrow in an already well-ploughed field but Simon Beckett suceeds well in creating another anthropologist certainly able to stand up against the rather more famous American female counterparts.
I liked the rather old-fashioned style of writing. It reminded me more of the crime writers around in the fifties or sixties. Hunter is no superhero, thank goodness. The author allows his man to have all the hang-ups we've come to expect from modern-day novels and yet fascinates the reader with the forensic detail.
The story is a traditional one. The whodunnit part is well disguised, provided you haven't read too many books where people are not quite what they seem from the beginning. So, armed with that snippet, I'm off to read the follow-on, fully hoping for another excellent page-turner.
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Fabulous
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I read the first paragraph of this book whilst standing in the supermarket queue. Although unlike anything I have chosen to read before, I was instantly gripped. Regrettably, it is a long time since I have found a book I have been unable to put down, however, this book broke the rut. I loved it!!
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