What do you think?
Rate this book
Method 15/33 #1
Methode 15/33
Stel je voor: een hulpeloos, zwanger meisje van 16 dat net uit de veiligheid van haar eigen omgeving is gerukt en in een smerige bestelwagen is geduwd. Ontvoerd... Alleen...Doodsbang.
Vergeet haar nu...
Stel je in plaats daarvan een zwanger, manipulatief wonderkind voor. Ze wordt in een smerige bestelwagen geduwd en voelt vanaf het eerste moment van haar ontvoering een koelbloedig verlangen naar twee dingen: haar ongeboren kind redden en genadeloos wraak nemen.
Ze gaat methodisch, berekenend en wetenschappelijk te werk bij het maken van haar plan. Niets laat ze aan het toeval over, onverstoorbaar maakt ze haar berekeningen en oefent ze, terwijl ze wacht... op het perfecte moment om toe te slaan.
Vergeet haar nu...
Stel je in plaats daarvan een zwanger, manipulatief wonderkind voor. Ze wordt in een smerige bestelwagen geduwd en voelt vanaf het eerste moment van haar ontvoering een koelbloedig verlangen naar twee dingen: haar ongeboren kind redden en genadeloos wraak nemen.
Ze gaat methodisch, berekenend en wetenschappelijk te werk bij het maken van haar plan. Niets laat ze aan het toeval over, onverstoorbaar maakt ze haar berekeningen en oefent ze, terwijl ze wacht... op het perfecte moment om toe te slaan.
297 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 5, 2015
601 people are currently reading
6,511 people want to read
About the author
Shannon Kirk
17books432followersMy top 14 books of all time are as follows, in the following order--as in, if I was allowed only 14 books to bring to a deserted island where I was marooned for the rest of my life, these are what I would pack:
1. Love in the Time of Cholera (Gabo)
2. Orphan Master's Son (Adam Johnson)
3. The Mummy Market (Nancy Brelis), tragically out of print, which makes ZERO sense because it's a classic
4. The Incarnations (Susan Barker) AMAZING
5. Life of Pi (Yann Martel)
6. Night Circus (Erin Morgenstern)
7. Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden)
8. Swamplandia, and every single word ever written by: (Karen Russell)
9. Everything is Illuminated (Jonathan Safran Foer)
10. The Keep, Jennifer Egan
11. The Sea (John Banville)
12. Someone Else's Love Story, Joshilyn Jackson.
13. Kiss the Girls (Patterson)
14. The Great Alone, Kristin Hannah
Further to my literary likes, I consider Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Charles Dickens to be actual, literal geniuses; if we had brain scans of their brains, we wouldn't understand what we're seeing. I prefer more prose than dialogue; prefer poetry over intricate plot, but love if I can have both (hence, Love in the Time of Cholera being #1 and Orphan Master's Son #2).
But I'm never really consistent with this anyway. If I'm pulled to keep reading the book, I'll keep reading the book.
My reviews are all and will only ever be of books I love. I do not finish books I don't like, so it's not fair for me to review them.
1. Love in the Time of Cholera (Gabo)
2. Orphan Master's Son (Adam Johnson)
3. The Mummy Market (Nancy Brelis), tragically out of print, which makes ZERO sense because it's a classic
4. The Incarnations (Susan Barker) AMAZING
5. Life of Pi (Yann Martel)
6. Night Circus (Erin Morgenstern)
7. Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden)
8. Swamplandia, and every single word ever written by: (Karen Russell)
9. Everything is Illuminated (Jonathan Safran Foer)
10. The Keep, Jennifer Egan
11. The Sea (John Banville)
12. Someone Else's Love Story, Joshilyn Jackson.
13. Kiss the Girls (Patterson)
14. The Great Alone, Kristin Hannah
Further to my literary likes, I consider Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Charles Dickens to be actual, literal geniuses; if we had brain scans of their brains, we wouldn't understand what we're seeing. I prefer more prose than dialogue; prefer poetry over intricate plot, but love if I can have both (hence, Love in the Time of Cholera being #1 and Orphan Master's Son #2).
But I'm never really consistent with this anyway. If I'm pulled to keep reading the book, I'll keep reading the book.
My reviews are all and will only ever be of books I love. I do not finish books I don't like, so it's not fair for me to review them.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,253 reviews
June 8, 2020
Tricking someone into thinking he has power is the ultimate power play.
this book is a lot of fun, inasmuch as a book about the abduction of a pregnant 16-year-old girl can be classified as "fun."
however, considering it is about a 16-year-old girl who is anything but helpless and manages to turn the tables on her kidnapper in a very ooh-rah girl power way, i think "fun" is a suitable word.
when i first came across this book, after reading a ton of positive reviews for it here on goodreads, i was somehow under the impression that this bit of the synopsis: The Method is what happens when the victim is just as dangerous as the captors, was suggesting that the victim, lisa, was some kind of killer herself, with experience on the other side of the villain curtain that she would draw upon to fight back against her abductors.
but, no.
she's just a really bright kid with the ability to "switch off" her emotions and become an intellectual machine with mad mcgyver skills in turning ordinary objects, or "assets", into tools and weapons to facilitate her escape.
and you have to accept certain facts as given in order to enjoy this in the right spirit. lisa has had a singular upbringing, which has prepared her to know, and know how to do, many things beyond her years - she's skilled in various martial arts, she can do complicated equations in her head, she understands psychology and physics and how elastic and bleach can be a victim's best friend. she's got a phenomenal memory, and with all of her emotions switched off except for the one that is determined to keep her unborn son safe no matter the obstacle, she is unbelievably formidable.
and that's the word - unbelievable. because if you can't accept the things this character does as plausible, you're going to have a hard time getting into the rhythm. but if you can switch off your disbelief like lisa switches off her emotions, it's a very propulsive thriller as lisa plots and prepares her escape from imprisonment while on the other track of the storyline, a couple of fbi agents with their own peculiar skills are circling towards her rescue.
for me, this is a 3.5 - i am perfectly willing to embrace lisa's preternatural capabilities, so that wasn't what held this back for me, but there was some clunky writing throughout - particularly when lisa would cite esoteric facts by quoting experts in a way that broke up the narrative flow. also, the last chapter seemed tacked-on and didn't add much to my appreciation of the story. i understand the desire to include it, for reasons of closure or aftermath or long-term assessment, but it wasn't interesting to me at all, and it dragged out a story i felt had already come to its natural conclusion with information and new characters that did nothing for me.
i enjoyed the ride of the story very much, i just wish it had ended with a pop instead of slowly winding down through an epilogue that didn't contribute to the overall mood of the novel.
but still, fun.
many thanks to chelsea for getting this one into my hands!
this book is a lot of fun, inasmuch as a book about the abduction of a pregnant 16-year-old girl can be classified as "fun."
however, considering it is about a 16-year-old girl who is anything but helpless and manages to turn the tables on her kidnapper in a very ooh-rah girl power way, i think "fun" is a suitable word.
when i first came across this book, after reading a ton of positive reviews for it here on goodreads, i was somehow under the impression that this bit of the synopsis: The Method is what happens when the victim is just as dangerous as the captors, was suggesting that the victim, lisa, was some kind of killer herself, with experience on the other side of the villain curtain that she would draw upon to fight back against her abductors.
but, no.
she's just a really bright kid with the ability to "switch off" her emotions and become an intellectual machine with mad mcgyver skills in turning ordinary objects, or "assets", into tools and weapons to facilitate her escape.
and you have to accept certain facts as given in order to enjoy this in the right spirit. lisa has had a singular upbringing, which has prepared her to know, and know how to do, many things beyond her years - she's skilled in various martial arts, she can do complicated equations in her head, she understands psychology and physics and how elastic and bleach can be a victim's best friend. she's got a phenomenal memory, and with all of her emotions switched off except for the one that is determined to keep her unborn son safe no matter the obstacle, she is unbelievably formidable.
and that's the word - unbelievable. because if you can't accept the things this character does as plausible, you're going to have a hard time getting into the rhythm. but if you can switch off your disbelief like lisa switches off her emotions, it's a very propulsive thriller as lisa plots and prepares her escape from imprisonment while on the other track of the storyline, a couple of fbi agents with their own peculiar skills are circling towards her rescue.
for me, this is a 3.5 - i am perfectly willing to embrace lisa's preternatural capabilities, so that wasn't what held this back for me, but there was some clunky writing throughout - particularly when lisa would cite esoteric facts by quoting experts in a way that broke up the narrative flow. also, the last chapter seemed tacked-on and didn't add much to my appreciation of the story. i understand the desire to include it, for reasons of closure or aftermath or long-term assessment, but it wasn't interesting to me at all, and it dragged out a story i felt had already come to its natural conclusion with information and new characters that did nothing for me.
i enjoyed the ride of the story very much, i just wish it had ended with a pop instead of slowly winding down through an epilogue that didn't contribute to the overall mood of the novel.
but still, fun.
many thanks to chelsea for getting this one into my hands!
July 16, 2019
FOUR STARS Audio
is one of my favorite psychological suspense authors. Fairly new to the arena, she has published three novels so far. I was overly obsessed with her last two books: and . I absolutely had to go back and catch - her debut novel.
can tell a story like no one else. This novel is written in first person (the best way for creating tension!!) and is told from two perspectives. We hear, of course, from our protagonist, a pregnant teen ripped from a street corner and held prisoner by some evil captors. We also hear from the FBI agent who is trying to track down the kidnapped girl.
Don't be lulled into thinking that this is your same old "girl taken by bad guy" scenario. Nope. These bad guys had no idea what was in store for them. They messed with the wrong muchacha! She is whip smart, genetically blessed and a borderline sociopath. I loved this character!
It was fun to go back and read Kirk's first novel with her last two freshly in my mind. Kind of like cheating to get some perfect hindsight or something. You can just imagine those baby seeds of Gretchen and Lucy within the main character here. And, wow!-those intense visuals from are on full display in Kirk's first novel as well.
is a solid, compelling drama that reads super fast and features a kick-ass heroine to root for! Also, WHAT AN ENDING🙌
I used an Audible credit for this one. The female narrator was terrific, the male one playing the FBI agent--meh...I got used to him, though.
is one of my favorite psychological suspense authors. Fairly new to the arena, she has published three novels so far. I was overly obsessed with her last two books: and . I absolutely had to go back and catch - her debut novel.
can tell a story like no one else. This novel is written in first person (the best way for creating tension!!) and is told from two perspectives. We hear, of course, from our protagonist, a pregnant teen ripped from a street corner and held prisoner by some evil captors. We also hear from the FBI agent who is trying to track down the kidnapped girl.
Don't be lulled into thinking that this is your same old "girl taken by bad guy" scenario. Nope. These bad guys had no idea what was in store for them. They messed with the wrong muchacha! She is whip smart, genetically blessed and a borderline sociopath. I loved this character!
It was fun to go back and read Kirk's first novel with her last two freshly in my mind. Kind of like cheating to get some perfect hindsight or something. You can just imagine those baby seeds of Gretchen and Lucy within the main character here. And, wow!-those intense visuals from are on full display in Kirk's first novel as well.
is a solid, compelling drama that reads super fast and features a kick-ass heroine to root for! Also, WHAT AN ENDING🙌
I used an Audible credit for this one. The female narrator was terrific, the male one playing the FBI agent--meh...I got used to him, though.
May 13, 2020
This girl's likely one of the most recent reincarnations of Sun Tzu, prone to 'hormonal fits of science and desire'. (Whatever the hormonal fits of science might look like, sound intense!) She has some interesting calculations of romance and is overall a real hoot!
Q:
I had started to perform amazing monologues of wailing fits, adding a chorus of incoherent pleas for my weak-ego’d captor to free me—and my baby.
He needed to feel powerful.
I gave him what he needed so he’d stick safely to our practiced routine. ...
After the field trip to the quarry, which at the time I consciously blanked from my memory, and up to this day, Day 33, I had peppered my regular routine with screaming and crying fits, all for the sole benefit of my captor’s weak ego. (c)
Q:
Tricking someone into thinking he has power is the ultimate power play. (c)
Q:
... after a battery of tests, the child psychiatrist told my parents I was highly capable of emotion, but also exceptional at suppressing distraction and unproductive thoughts. “A brain scan shows her frontal lobe, which supports reasoning and planning, is larger than normal. 99th percentile. Well actually, frankly, 101 percent, if you ask me,� he said. “She is not a sociopath. She understands and can choose to feel emotion. But she might choose not to, too. Your daughter tells me she has an internal switch that she can turn off or on at any given moment to experience things such as joy, fear, love.� (c)
Q:
Admittedly, my self-expectations have always been unrealistically high. I do expect Me to be omniscient, although I know very well I am not. It is a wish, I guess, a wish that I could harness all of the knowledge in the universe and make good use of a collective intelligence. Solve all of the theories out there on space and time and matter vs. dark matter. The creation of life. The meaning of everything. (c)
Q:
When you often neglect to turn on emotions, you act on facts alone, on practicalities. (c)
Q:
Be it physics, chemistry, medicine, microbiology, I loved all pursuits requiring order and comparison, calculations, and provable theories. (c)
Q:
I have this quote I wrote to myself and taped above my desk: “Whatever you’re waiting for, be ready.� What I mean by this is, if you’re waiting for something, don’t really wait for it, take the steps to put it in place. One stone, one layer of mortar, another stone, one step at a time toward your goal’s pyramid. Emotion by emotion. Brick by brick. The quote is a constant reminder to myself to live as though whatever I am waiting for is absolutely coming true, regardless of doubt, laws of physics, or worst of all, time. (c)
Other fun stuff:
Q:
In my line of work, I’ve heard many crazy, insane fact patterns, combinations of reality that while real in individual parts seem incredulous when smashed together. (c)
Q:
Comfortable in the evil I came to accept... (c)
Q:
“Wicked,� “unrelenting,� “indefatigable,� “ruthless schemer,� these were the words they used and which she blew up and framed as art for her office walls. (c)
Q:
With this perfect storm of parental absence, my condition remained inconspicuous to their hurried lives. (c)
Q:
I had started to perform amazing monologues of wailing fits, adding a chorus of incoherent pleas for my weak-ego’d captor to free me—and my baby.
He needed to feel powerful.
I gave him what he needed so he’d stick safely to our practiced routine. ...
After the field trip to the quarry, which at the time I consciously blanked from my memory, and up to this day, Day 33, I had peppered my regular routine with screaming and crying fits, all for the sole benefit of my captor’s weak ego. (c)
Q:
Tricking someone into thinking he has power is the ultimate power play. (c)
Q:
... after a battery of tests, the child psychiatrist told my parents I was highly capable of emotion, but also exceptional at suppressing distraction and unproductive thoughts. “A brain scan shows her frontal lobe, which supports reasoning and planning, is larger than normal. 99th percentile. Well actually, frankly, 101 percent, if you ask me,� he said. “She is not a sociopath. She understands and can choose to feel emotion. But she might choose not to, too. Your daughter tells me she has an internal switch that she can turn off or on at any given moment to experience things such as joy, fear, love.� (c)
Q:
Admittedly, my self-expectations have always been unrealistically high. I do expect Me to be omniscient, although I know very well I am not. It is a wish, I guess, a wish that I could harness all of the knowledge in the universe and make good use of a collective intelligence. Solve all of the theories out there on space and time and matter vs. dark matter. The creation of life. The meaning of everything. (c)
Q:
When you often neglect to turn on emotions, you act on facts alone, on practicalities. (c)
Q:
Be it physics, chemistry, medicine, microbiology, I loved all pursuits requiring order and comparison, calculations, and provable theories. (c)
Q:
I have this quote I wrote to myself and taped above my desk: “Whatever you’re waiting for, be ready.� What I mean by this is, if you’re waiting for something, don’t really wait for it, take the steps to put it in place. One stone, one layer of mortar, another stone, one step at a time toward your goal’s pyramid. Emotion by emotion. Brick by brick. The quote is a constant reminder to myself to live as though whatever I am waiting for is absolutely coming true, regardless of doubt, laws of physics, or worst of all, time. (c)
Other fun stuff:
Q:
In my line of work, I’ve heard many crazy, insane fact patterns, combinations of reality that while real in individual parts seem incredulous when smashed together. (c)
Q:
Comfortable in the evil I came to accept... (c)
Q:
“Wicked,� “unrelenting,� “indefatigable,� “ruthless schemer,� these were the words they used and which she blew up and framed as art for her office walls. (c)
Q:
With this perfect storm of parental absence, my condition remained inconspicuous to their hurried lives. (c)
March 13, 2017
Δεν μου άρεσε καθόλου.Διαβάζεται εύκολα και γρήγορα αλλά ακόμα κι αν δεχτείς όλους αυτούς με τις σχεδόν υπερφυσικές δυναμεις,η ιστορία είναι γεμάτη χαζές λεπτομέρειες,είναι βαρετή σε πολλά σημεία και αρκετά εκνευριστική.Η συγγραφέας εχει βάλει μέσα ότι της κατέβαινε στο κεφάλι,και φτάνει σε ένα τέλος που μόνο γέλιο μπορεί να προκαλέσει.Ανήκει στην κατηγορία φτηνιάρικο βιπεράκι της πλάκας που το διαβάζεις και μετά απο λίγο ξεχνάς και την ύπαρξη του.
January 21, 2015
I really struggled to get through this book, I kept putting it down and then going back to it, reading a few pages and putting it down again. I can’t say it was a bad book, it had its faults but it had its redeeming features too. Just wasn’t for me I guess.
I found the main character very hard to connect with which I don’t think helped. She’s detached and emotionless, not through bad writing but because that’s how the character is, and in spite of her predicament I never really felt bad for her or wanted her to be rescued. I was curious as to how she was going to get out of the situation she found herself in, it was clear all along that that was her intent but how she was going to do it stumped me until she actually did it. I found the constant referral to the things she had available to her as asset number 1, 2, 3 etc a bit confusing and felt I needed a list to keep track of what items she was on about when they were referred to that way. Again, that’s just how the character is, it’s not that she was badly written. In fact I thought she was very well written! She just could have done with being a bit more likeable for me.
There seemed to be things in there that didn’t really relate to the story at all. Scenes from the FBI agents childhood for example. Yes, they gave his motivation for choosing to do the job he does and perhaps go some way towards explaining his behaviour at the end but in my opinion they just detracted from the story taking place here and now.
The ending was a disappointment to me to be honest. It went from what seemed a well thought out plot with a very interesting premise to what was basically a quite unbelievable revenge fantasy along with a happily ever after for all the good guys.
The actual writing itself I thought was good though. It flowed well, we weren’t bogged down in unnecessary description but there was enough there that you could actually picture the scene and a couple of the supporting characters I thought had great potential. Lola in particular was interesting and I’d have liked to learn more about her.
I found the main character very hard to connect with which I don’t think helped. She’s detached and emotionless, not through bad writing but because that’s how the character is, and in spite of her predicament I never really felt bad for her or wanted her to be rescued. I was curious as to how she was going to get out of the situation she found herself in, it was clear all along that that was her intent but how she was going to do it stumped me until she actually did it. I found the constant referral to the things she had available to her as asset number 1, 2, 3 etc a bit confusing and felt I needed a list to keep track of what items she was on about when they were referred to that way. Again, that’s just how the character is, it’s not that she was badly written. In fact I thought she was very well written! She just could have done with being a bit more likeable for me.
There seemed to be things in there that didn’t really relate to the story at all. Scenes from the FBI agents childhood for example. Yes, they gave his motivation for choosing to do the job he does and perhaps go some way towards explaining his behaviour at the end but in my opinion they just detracted from the story taking place here and now.
The ending was a disappointment to me to be honest. It went from what seemed a well thought out plot with a very interesting premise to what was basically a quite unbelievable revenge fantasy along with a happily ever after for all the good guys.
The actual writing itself I thought was good though. It flowed well, we weren’t bogged down in unnecessary description but there was enough there that you could actually picture the scene and a couple of the supporting characters I thought had great potential. Lola in particular was interesting and I’d have liked to learn more about her.
February 10, 2017
*3'5*
Una protagonista muuuuy peculiar, la más diferente con la que me he topado hasta el momento, hubo momentos que dio miedo pero otras que envidié su forma de ser.
Una protagonista muuuuy peculiar, la más diferente con la que me he topado hasta el momento, hubo momentos que dio miedo pero otras que envidié su forma de ser.
May 27, 2018
Η ιδέα ειναι έξυπνη και αρκετά πρωτότυπη, μιας κι ο χαρακτήρας της 16χρονης εγκύου-θύματος που τελικά αρχίζει να καταστρώνει ενα λεπτομερέστατο σχέδιο ανελέητης εκδίκησης, δεν ανταποκρίνεται στην πραγματικότητα.
Είναι ευκολοδιάβαστο και κυλάει, εκτός απο ορισμένα σημείο που ήταν περιττά θα έλεγα.
Όσο για το χαρακτηρισμό "αστυνομικό" μυθιστόρημα, ενα μονο θα πω: πέρασε και δεν ακούμπησε.
Είναι ευκολοδιάβαστο και κυλάει, εκτός απο ορισμένα σημείο που ήταν περιττά θα έλεγα.
Όσο για το χαρακτηρισμό "αστυνομικό" μυθιστόρημα, ενα μονο θα πω: πέρασε και δεν ακούμπησε.
March 17, 2017
Thoroughly enjoyed this! Fast and furious read with a truly engaging main protagonist and a healthy dose of ironic brilliance.
She has been kidnapped - pregnant and held against her will, 16 years old, two FBI agents on the case, you'd expect your normal type of "hang on in there possibly show some guts wait to be rescued" type psychological thriller. Nope. this is not your normal teenager, she has a sharp, focused scientific mind and an ability to turn her various emotions on and off at will. Plus an extraordinarily intense maternal instinct and a tendency towards being vengeful.
Poor kidnappers.
Still, the tension is palpable even though, as she is writing this many years later, a story for her now grown child, you know she's probably going to be ultimately fine. Or her rather different definition of fine anyway. This is no secret from very early on. The beauty of this one is in watching her plan unfold, see her brain working, whilst her hapless yet still somewhat scary captors continue with their plans to steal her child...
It rocks along this book, hearing from our captive and then from the agent who spends his life looking for the missing - both of them have highly intriguing personalities of differing sorts, there was not a single moment of this that I was not practically hugging the narrative. It gets the blood up, a real rollicking page turner, with a fair few surprises along the way, characters to die for, a whole load of fun despite the premise, although there are some sobering moments that give pause for thought too. Plenty of layers here, I loved all of them.
The final parts of this book make for really cool reading as you see exactly what all the little preparations have been for, making you want to fist pump the air (although my advice is don't do that you drop the book and then have to scrabble around to retrieve your spot) and I don't think I'm going to get the image of that heavily pregnant, sixteen year old, angel of vengeance out of my head anytime soon. Can we hope that we meet her again in her adult life? Certainly the author allows for this possibility, with a wonderfully poignant and intelligent ending.
Loved it. Sometimes you just boogie right along with the book tune, this one was rock and roll.
Recommended.
She has been kidnapped - pregnant and held against her will, 16 years old, two FBI agents on the case, you'd expect your normal type of "hang on in there possibly show some guts wait to be rescued" type psychological thriller. Nope. this is not your normal teenager, she has a sharp, focused scientific mind and an ability to turn her various emotions on and off at will. Plus an extraordinarily intense maternal instinct and a tendency towards being vengeful.
Poor kidnappers.
Still, the tension is palpable even though, as she is writing this many years later, a story for her now grown child, you know she's probably going to be ultimately fine. Or her rather different definition of fine anyway. This is no secret from very early on. The beauty of this one is in watching her plan unfold, see her brain working, whilst her hapless yet still somewhat scary captors continue with their plans to steal her child...
It rocks along this book, hearing from our captive and then from the agent who spends his life looking for the missing - both of them have highly intriguing personalities of differing sorts, there was not a single moment of this that I was not practically hugging the narrative. It gets the blood up, a real rollicking page turner, with a fair few surprises along the way, characters to die for, a whole load of fun despite the premise, although there are some sobering moments that give pause for thought too. Plenty of layers here, I loved all of them.
The final parts of this book make for really cool reading as you see exactly what all the little preparations have been for, making you want to fist pump the air (although my advice is don't do that you drop the book and then have to scrabble around to retrieve your spot) and I don't think I'm going to get the image of that heavily pregnant, sixteen year old, angel of vengeance out of my head anytime soon. Can we hope that we meet her again in her adult life? Certainly the author allows for this possibility, with a wonderfully poignant and intelligent ending.
Loved it. Sometimes you just boogie right along with the book tune, this one was rock and roll.
Recommended.
March 8, 2017
Μια 16χρονη έγκυος, η Λίζα, πέφτει θύμα απαγωγής. Για 33 ημέρες κρατείται κλεισμένη σε ένα δωμάτιο 3.5 Χ 7 μέτρα απομονωμένη.
Οι απαγωγείς της ακροβατούν στα όρια της παράνοιας, ψυχροί εκτελεστές των σχεδίων τους. Ψυχρή και ολοκληρωτικά αφοσιωμένη στον στόχο της, για απόδραση και εκδίκηση, είναι όμως και η 16χρονη, που από την πρώτη στιγμή επικεντρώνεται στη συλλογή στοιχείων για την επίτευξη όσων έχει στο νου της. Το αποτέλεσμα; Να αναρωτιέται ο αναγνώστης � όπως αναφέρεται και στο οπισθόφυλλο του βιβλίου � για το ποιος πραγματικά είναι ο θύτης και ποιο το θύμα.
Δεν θα προχωρήσω σε περισσότερες λεπτομέρειες σχετικά με την υπόθεση του βιβλίου για να μη σας στερήσω να ζήσετε σελίδα τη σελίδα τη γοητεία της ανάγνωσης.
Θα σταθώ όμως στο εξαιρετικό στυλ απόδοσης της ιστορίας από τη συγγραφέα. Ο κάθε ήρωας είναι σοφά μελετημένος και σοφά στημένος μέσα στο βιβλίο. Η κάθε σκέψη, η κάθε ενέργεια , η κάθε αντίδραση, αποδίδεται χωρίς να αφήνει στον αναγνώστη κενά ή ερωτηματικά ως προς την αληθοφάνειά τους.
Δεν υπάρχουν πραγματολογικά λάθη που να τον κάνουν να απορρίψει αυτό που διαβάζει. Τίποτα δεν αφήνεται στην τύχη. Τα πάντα αιτιολογούνται, χωρίς να χαλούν ούτε για ένα λεπτό την ατμόσφαιρα του βιβλίου που αποδίδεται πολύ παραστατικά. Και τίποτα δεν χαλάει την ένταση, τη σκληράδα, τη δίψα για αίμα και εκδίκηση.
Η 16χρονη ηρωίδα που πέφτει θύμα απαγωγής, εξαιρετικά προικισμένη, εξαιρετικά ευφυής, διαφορετική από τους άλλους ανθρώπους, σε σημείο που να έχει χαρακτηριστεί κοινωνιοπαθής, μεταβάλλεται σελίδα τη σελίδα από τη συγγραφέα σε έναν εκρηκτικό μηχανισμό έτοιμο να σκάσει στα χέρια των απαγωγέων της.
Μπορεί να σας ξενίσει με τη ψυχρότητά της, και τη στάση της στη ζωή της γενικά, μπορεί ίσως κάποιες στιγμές να αποστρέψετε το πρόσωπό σας , να τη νιώσετε απόμακρη και παράξενη αλλά δεν γίνεται να μην τη δεχτείτε στο τέλος ή να μην την αγαπήσετε και ας μην έχει κερδίσει σε όλα τα σημεία την παραδοχή σας. Αυτή ακριβώς είναι η γοητεία της απόδοσης του χαρακτήρα της από τη συγγραφέα.
Οι δύο πράκτορες του FBI που δρουν στην ιστορία, κουβαλούν τις δικές τους ''αμαρτίες '' και ξεδιπλώνουν βήμα, βήμα τον εσωτερικό τους κόσμο μαζί με τις αγωνίες τους, τις επιθυμίες τους και τις απογοητεύσεις τους. Η δικηγόρος, μητέρα της 16χρονης, άλλος ένας σφυρηλατημένος αριστοτεχνικά χαρακτήρας και ως προς την προσωπικότητά της, αλλά και ως προς την δικονομική ικανότητά της, οι παρανοϊκοί απαγωγείς, ο συμπαθέστατος αγρότης Μπόιντ που βρίσκεται από την αφάνεια και την αφέλεια που τον διακατέχει στο επίκεντρο της δράσης, όλοι έχουν το βήμα τους σταθερό μέσα στο βιβλίο.
Ιδιαίτερα αξίζει να σταθείτε στην ανάλυση των σχέσεων της μητέρας με την κόρη, όπως αναπτύσσεται σιγά - σιγά και ολοκληρώνεται με επιτυχία δικαιολογώντας συμπεριφορές και καταστάσεις.
Δύο ''φωνές '' κυριαρχούν σ΄όλο το βιβλίο. Αυτή του πράκτορα Λιου και η άλλη της 16χρονης Λίζας, μιας και όλη η ιστορία είναι γραμμένη σε πρωτοπρόσωπη, αφηγηματική γραφή, χωρισμένη αντίστοιχα με τους δύο ήρωες σε κεφάλαια, από ένα εντελώς προσωπικό και ξεχωριστό στίγμα γραφής αυτό της Kirk.
Εν κατακλείδι η Μέθοδος 15/33 είναι ένα εξαιρετικό μυθιστόρημα! Έχει όλα τα στοιχεία που θα κάνουν τους λάτρεις του ψυχολογικού θρίλερ να το λατρέψουν, έχει μια ηρωίδα να κινεί τα νήματα κυριολεκτικά από την αρχή μέχρι το τέλος, και έχει κι εμάς � να την ακολουθούμε με αγωνία.
Οι απαγωγείς της ακροβατούν στα όρια της παράνοιας, ψυχροί εκτελεστές των σχεδίων τους. Ψυχρή και ολοκληρωτικά αφοσιωμένη στον στόχο της, για απόδραση και εκδίκηση, είναι όμως και η 16χρονη, που από την πρώτη στιγμή επικεντρώνεται στη συλλογή στοιχείων για την επίτευξη όσων έχει στο νου της. Το αποτέλεσμα; Να αναρωτιέται ο αναγνώστης � όπως αναφέρεται και στο οπισθόφυλλο του βιβλίου � για το ποιος πραγματικά είναι ο θύτης και ποιο το θύμα.
Δεν θα προχωρήσω σε περισσότερες λεπτομέρειες σχετικά με την υπόθεση του βιβλίου για να μη σας στερήσω να ζήσετε σελίδα τη σελίδα τη γοητεία της ανάγνωσης.
Θα σταθώ όμως στο εξαιρετικό στυλ απόδοσης της ιστορίας από τη συγγραφέα. Ο κάθε ήρωας είναι σοφά μελετημένος και σοφά στημένος μέσα στο βιβλίο. Η κάθε σκέψη, η κάθε ενέργεια , η κάθε αντίδραση, αποδίδεται χωρίς να αφήνει στον αναγνώστη κενά ή ερωτηματικά ως προς την αληθοφάνειά τους.
Δεν υπάρχουν πραγματολογικά λάθη που να τον κάνουν να απορρίψει αυτό που διαβάζει. Τίποτα δεν αφήνεται στην τύχη. Τα πάντα αιτιολογούνται, χωρίς να χαλούν ούτε για ένα λεπτό την ατμόσφαιρα του βιβλίου που αποδίδεται πολύ παραστατικά. Και τίποτα δεν χαλάει την ένταση, τη σκληράδα, τη δίψα για αίμα και εκδίκηση.
Η 16χρονη ηρωίδα που πέφτει θύμα απαγωγής, εξαιρετικά προικισμένη, εξαιρετικά ευφυής, διαφορετική από τους άλλους ανθρώπους, σε σημείο που να έχει χαρακτηριστεί κοινωνιοπαθής, μεταβάλλεται σελίδα τη σελίδα από τη συγγραφέα σε έναν εκρηκτικό μηχανισμό έτοιμο να σκάσει στα χέρια των απαγωγέων της.
Μπορεί να σας ξενίσει με τη ψυχρότητά της, και τη στάση της στη ζωή της γενικά, μπορεί ίσως κάποιες στιγμές να αποστρέψετε το πρόσωπό σας , να τη νιώσετε απόμακρη και παράξενη αλλά δεν γίνεται να μην τη δεχτείτε στο τέλος ή να μην την αγαπήσετε και ας μην έχει κερδίσει σε όλα τα σημεία την παραδοχή σας. Αυτή ακριβώς είναι η γοητεία της απόδοσης του χαρακτήρα της από τη συγγραφέα.
Οι δύο πράκτορες του FBI που δρουν στην ιστορία, κουβαλούν τις δικές τους ''αμαρτίες '' και ξεδιπλώνουν βήμα, βήμα τον εσωτερικό τους κόσμο μαζί με τις αγωνίες τους, τις επιθυμίες τους και τις απογοητεύσεις τους. Η δικηγόρος, μητέρα της 16χρονης, άλλος ένας σφυρηλατημένος αριστοτεχνικά χαρακτήρας και ως προς την προσωπικότητά της, αλλά και ως προς την δικονομική ικανότητά της, οι παρανοϊκοί απαγωγείς, ο συμπαθέστατος αγρότης Μπόιντ που βρίσκεται από την αφάνεια και την αφέλεια που τον διακατέχει στο επίκεντρο της δράσης, όλοι έχουν το βήμα τους σταθερό μέσα στο βιβλίο.
Ιδιαίτερα αξίζει να σταθείτε στην ανάλυση των σχέσεων της μητέρας με την κόρη, όπως αναπτύσσεται σιγά - σιγά και ολοκληρώνεται με επιτυχία δικαιολογώντας συμπεριφορές και καταστάσεις.
Δύο ''φωνές '' κυριαρχούν σ΄όλο το βιβλίο. Αυτή του πράκτορα Λιου και η άλλη της 16χρονης Λίζας, μιας και όλη η ιστορία είναι γραμμένη σε πρωτοπρόσωπη, αφηγηματική γραφή, χωρισμένη αντίστοιχα με τους δύο ήρωες σε κεφάλαια, από ένα εντελώς προσωπικό και ξεχωριστό στίγμα γραφής αυτό της Kirk.
Εν κατακλείδι η Μέθοδος 15/33 είναι ένα εξαιρετικό μυθιστόρημα! Έχει όλα τα στοιχεία που θα κάνουν τους λάτρεις του ψυχολογικού θρίλερ να το λατρέψουν, έχει μια ηρωίδα να κινεί τα νήματα κυριολεκτικά από την αρχή μέχρι το τέλος, και έχει κι εμάς � να την ακολουθούμε με αγωνία.
January 8, 2016
As a pregnant teenage girl struggles to survive the clutches of an abductor with a deadly agenda......a teenage girl who has some secrets of her own.....an unbreakable will to survive, a mother's fierce instinct to protect her unborn child, and the brilliant, analytical mind....of a born sociopath.
Kirk deftly transforms the formula into a fast paced ticking time bomb of a tale, as two deadly predators are locked in a battle of wills, while a pair of FBI agents race against the clock.
As sleek and sharp as a razor, this is a must read for every thriller fan, particularly those who think they've seen it all.
Highest possible recommendation.
Kirk deftly transforms the formula into a fast paced ticking time bomb of a tale, as two deadly predators are locked in a battle of wills, while a pair of FBI agents race against the clock.
As sleek and sharp as a razor, this is a must read for every thriller fan, particularly those who think they've seen it all.
Highest possible recommendation.
April 27, 2017
Pregnant 16 year old Lisa is kidnapped and taken to a house where she’s kept hostage, with the intention of selling her baby to a paying couple, and then killing Lisa. Lisa knows she’s not the first girl to be taken to this house, and she won’t be the last if she can’t escape and stop her captor. Little does her captor know, Lisa is incredibly calculated an unemotional. She spends her time in captivity coming up with a plan to kill him, and playing the part of scared teenager in the meantime.
While Lisa is being held captive, Special Agent Roger Lui and his partner Lola are working on a case where another pregnant teen has been reported missing. This builds up to the point where Agent Lui and Lisa finally cross paths, and the outcome is explosive.
While I enjoyed the fact that the book was short, I found that some parts of the book felt repetitive to me. There were parts I ended up skimming because I wasn’t invested in the small details of day to day life for any of the characters. The other thing I struggled with was the fact that I couldn’t connect to any of the characters. I was rooting for Lisa, but at the same time felt weird about rooting for her because she is such a flawed individual, with a small capacity for emotion. She was cold and calculating, which was necessary for her to survive and save her unborn son, but she wasn’t anyone I’d want to cross paths with, and in another book could have been the killer herself. She showed no remorse, guilt, or moral hangups about the actions she took, and I’m not sure how I feel about that.
Overall, the book was a quick read, and was interesting for the most part. If you enjoy books with deeply flawed protagonists that you feel slightly perturbed rooting for, then this may be a great choice for you! This was a 3 star read for me. A huge thank you to Netgalley, Shannon Kirk, and Oceanview Publishing for a copy of the book. It was my pleasure to provide an honest review.
While Lisa is being held captive, Special Agent Roger Lui and his partner Lola are working on a case where another pregnant teen has been reported missing. This builds up to the point where Agent Lui and Lisa finally cross paths, and the outcome is explosive.
While I enjoyed the fact that the book was short, I found that some parts of the book felt repetitive to me. There were parts I ended up skimming because I wasn’t invested in the small details of day to day life for any of the characters. The other thing I struggled with was the fact that I couldn’t connect to any of the characters. I was rooting for Lisa, but at the same time felt weird about rooting for her because she is such a flawed individual, with a small capacity for emotion. She was cold and calculating, which was necessary for her to survive and save her unborn son, but she wasn’t anyone I’d want to cross paths with, and in another book could have been the killer herself. She showed no remorse, guilt, or moral hangups about the actions she took, and I’m not sure how I feel about that.
Overall, the book was a quick read, and was interesting for the most part. If you enjoy books with deeply flawed protagonists that you feel slightly perturbed rooting for, then this may be a great choice for you! This was a 3 star read for me. A huge thank you to Netgalley, Shannon Kirk, and Oceanview Publishing for a copy of the book. It was my pleasure to provide an honest review.
December 3, 2017
Opening straight into the plot, on day four of her kidnap ordeal, Lisa, a heavily pregnant sixteen year old is locked up in a small room. She isn’t your typical sixteen year old though, She’s very methodical in the manner in which she thinks, plus she can turn her emotions on and off like a light switch.
Using her know how, Lisa starts making an itinerary, thus mentally, of all the assets that she has in the room to help her escape her captor. From a loose floorboard, to a red blanket, each asset is also given a number, and over time the list of assets grows.
It’s only a matter of time until all the assets, and a foolproof plan is in place, then she will execute her plan to kill her captor and all those associated with him.
Will Lisa’s escape her captor, save her unborn child, and bring a kidnapping ring down in the process?
‘The Method� is told by Lisa, seventeen years after her ordeal, talking directly to you, the reader. Shannon Kirk’s writing style did take some getting used to at first, but it quickly became the norm.
The book is told from two perspectives, Lisa, and Special Agent Roger Liu, with his partner Lola, who are on the case of another missing pregnant teenager.
Lisa is a not your usual protagonist, as she is hard to get to know, and hard to fully like. You do feel sorry for her, but there was no connection to her, like most lead characters.
The book is gripping and certainly a page turner. It’s the originality of the story that had me hooked. There has been many kidnap stories written over the years, and although I have read a lot with characters who have escaped their captors, none has gone all out to outsmart and kill them with what can only be described as assassin like qualities.
Fast paced, suspenseful, thought provoking, and at times brutal, plus a twist you will definitely not see coming is what makes this book a must read for 2017.
Reviewed by Stacey on
Using her know how, Lisa starts making an itinerary, thus mentally, of all the assets that she has in the room to help her escape her captor. From a loose floorboard, to a red blanket, each asset is also given a number, and over time the list of assets grows.
It’s only a matter of time until all the assets, and a foolproof plan is in place, then she will execute her plan to kill her captor and all those associated with him.
Will Lisa’s escape her captor, save her unborn child, and bring a kidnapping ring down in the process?
‘The Method� is told by Lisa, seventeen years after her ordeal, talking directly to you, the reader. Shannon Kirk’s writing style did take some getting used to at first, but it quickly became the norm.
The book is told from two perspectives, Lisa, and Special Agent Roger Liu, with his partner Lola, who are on the case of another missing pregnant teenager.
Lisa is a not your usual protagonist, as she is hard to get to know, and hard to fully like. You do feel sorry for her, but there was no connection to her, like most lead characters.
The book is gripping and certainly a page turner. It’s the originality of the story that had me hooked. There has been many kidnap stories written over the years, and although I have read a lot with characters who have escaped their captors, none has gone all out to outsmart and kill them with what can only be described as assassin like qualities.
Fast paced, suspenseful, thought provoking, and at times brutal, plus a twist you will definitely not see coming is what makes this book a must read for 2017.
Reviewed by Stacey on
October 24, 2022
Относно психопатията психолозите водят спорове отдавна, но и до сега не знаят точно какво представлява. За едно са сигурни вече обаче - тя не е заболяване. Не може да се лекува, нито се повлиява по някакъв начин от медикаменти или терапия. Тя е състояние на развитието на мозъка - такъв израства човек и такъв си остава завинаги. От какво е предизвикана не се знае, но има силен генетичен компонент.
За психопатите е характерна силно намалената степен, в която изпитват чувства и емоции - което е доста по-голяма работа, отколкото изглежда на пръв поглед, защото, както показват изследвания през последните години, моралът е резултат от взаимодействието на няколко базови емоции. Съответно, психопатите са по-скоро комбинативни, безскрупулни, себични и пресметливи и неща като съчувствие, дълг и отговорност значат много малко за тях. Съответно, aко са умни, от тях стават отлични политици, бизнесмени и разбира се, ако не са: престъпници.
Настоящата книга е доста интересна история за отвличането на една бременна тийнейджърка и как тя сама се спасява от похитителите си. А интересна е тя главно с личността на похитеното момиче, която е психопат или поне идеализираната представа на авторката за такъв. Разбира се, книгата си има и доста слаби страни, а краят е направо наивно смехотворен, но самата идея е толкова оригинална и зарибяваща, че определено си заслужава прочитането.
За психопатите е характерна силно намалената степен, в която изпитват чувства и емоции - което е доста по-голяма работа, отколкото изглежда на пръв поглед, защото, както показват изследвания през последните години, моралът е резултат от взаимодействието на няколко базови емоции. Съответно, психопатите са по-скоро комбинативни, безскрупулни, себични и пресметливи и неща като съчувствие, дълг и отговорност значат много малко за тях. Съответно, aко са умни, от тях стават отлични политици, бизнесмени и разбира се, ако не са: престъпници.
Настоящата книга е доста интересна история за отвличането на една бременна тийнейджърка и как тя сама се спасява от похитителите си. А интересна е тя главно с личността на похитеното момиче, която е психопат или поне идеализираната представа на авторката за такъв. Разбира се, книгата си има и доста слаби страни, а краят е направо наивно смехотворен, но самата идея е толкова оригинална и зарибяваща, че определено си заслужава прочитането.
August 26, 2017
Me ha costado mucho terminarlo, lo he encontrado angustioso y agobiante, con unas descripciones macabras que creo que son innecesarias. Lo he encontrado lento, aburrido y poco creíble. Con una protagonista con la que no he empatizado en absoluto. He estado tentada de dejarlo a medias.Recomiendo sólo ha personas que les encanta los thrillers por encima de todo
October 26, 2015
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Shannon Kirk, and Oceanview Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book, which allows me to provide you with this review.
Kirk weaves an interesting story with strong psychological undertones, worthy of the praise and awards she has received to date. While walking to school one day, Lisa Yyland is grabbed and tossed into a van, kidnapped for no apparent reason. As she struggles in captivity, things become all the more apparent that it is the baby within her that is the greatest commodity to her captors. Struggling through a lengthy detention, Yyland creates a routine to keep herself from losing her mind, classifying items and exploring the uniformity of each day. Meanwhile, FBI Agent Roger Liu and his partner work through a collection of clues to determine the whereabouts of a kidnapped pregnant teen, exploring clues wherever it takes them across the American Midwest. With alternating chapters showing Yyland's struggles and Liu's progress, the reader gets much insight into both their mindsets and the gifts that time brings. Kirk offers a wonderful psychological thrill to this story, showing the depths of despair that Yyland enters as she presents her entire life as it flashes before her. This will surely help the reader better understand the captive's mindset, while also seeing how the search to locate her progresses at various speeds. Kirk does a wonderful job pulling the reader into the centre of this story, through to its resolution.
When I began the novel, I was not sure where things might go or how Kirk would guide the reader through this ordeal. At times highly reflective and chock-full of the struggles in young Lisa Yyland's life, the reader learns a great deal about the mental state of the prisoner and her captors, whose interest seems solely focussed on the baby within. Juxtaposed with this, the authorities and their struggle to make progress on the case, to the point that the reader has no context to use as a comparison, unsure of how and why Yyland was chosen, save for her being with child. Of interest, as Kirk develops her characters and their backstories, the attentive reader will notice that Yyland's narrative will at times project to the present day, aside from the 1993 kidnapping which fills the majority of the novel's time. This foreshadowing proved highly interesting, as though she is telling the reader 'I do survive' but offering few breadcrumbs to understanding the 'overall outcome' and thereby forcing the reader to continue reading in order to understand the end result. Wonderfully played and written, even as things do get dense and a little heavy at times.
Kudos, Madam Kirk for this well-crafted piece of writing. I am eager to see what else you have in store for readers over the next little while.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
Kirk weaves an interesting story with strong psychological undertones, worthy of the praise and awards she has received to date. While walking to school one day, Lisa Yyland is grabbed and tossed into a van, kidnapped for no apparent reason. As she struggles in captivity, things become all the more apparent that it is the baby within her that is the greatest commodity to her captors. Struggling through a lengthy detention, Yyland creates a routine to keep herself from losing her mind, classifying items and exploring the uniformity of each day. Meanwhile, FBI Agent Roger Liu and his partner work through a collection of clues to determine the whereabouts of a kidnapped pregnant teen, exploring clues wherever it takes them across the American Midwest. With alternating chapters showing Yyland's struggles and Liu's progress, the reader gets much insight into both their mindsets and the gifts that time brings. Kirk offers a wonderful psychological thrill to this story, showing the depths of despair that Yyland enters as she presents her entire life as it flashes before her. This will surely help the reader better understand the captive's mindset, while also seeing how the search to locate her progresses at various speeds. Kirk does a wonderful job pulling the reader into the centre of this story, through to its resolution.
When I began the novel, I was not sure where things might go or how Kirk would guide the reader through this ordeal. At times highly reflective and chock-full of the struggles in young Lisa Yyland's life, the reader learns a great deal about the mental state of the prisoner and her captors, whose interest seems solely focussed on the baby within. Juxtaposed with this, the authorities and their struggle to make progress on the case, to the point that the reader has no context to use as a comparison, unsure of how and why Yyland was chosen, save for her being with child. Of interest, as Kirk develops her characters and their backstories, the attentive reader will notice that Yyland's narrative will at times project to the present day, aside from the 1993 kidnapping which fills the majority of the novel's time. This foreshadowing proved highly interesting, as though she is telling the reader 'I do survive' but offering few breadcrumbs to understanding the 'overall outcome' and thereby forcing the reader to continue reading in order to understand the end result. Wonderfully played and written, even as things do get dense and a little heavy at times.
Kudos, Madam Kirk for this well-crafted piece of writing. I am eager to see what else you have in store for readers over the next little while.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
July 3, 2017
3-1/2 stars.
Different and unique take on the kidnapping scenario. Thought it was a very good book for the most part, but I have to admit that the "victim" was a little too cold and disconnected for me at times. I know that was part of the crux of the story, but this caused me to not care about the protagonist at times as much as I probably should have. There were also several times I found my attention wandering because the author rambled a little too much off track for me; not a good thing in a book that is only a little over 200 pages to begin with.
All in all, though, good story that did have my pulse pounding a few times. This is definitely less of an action book and more of a glimpse into the mind and thought process of some creepy people, victim included!
Different and unique take on the kidnapping scenario. Thought it was a very good book for the most part, but I have to admit that the "victim" was a little too cold and disconnected for me at times. I know that was part of the crux of the story, but this caused me to not care about the protagonist at times as much as I probably should have. There were also several times I found my attention wandering because the author rambled a little too much off track for me; not a good thing in a book that is only a little over 200 pages to begin with.
All in all, though, good story that did have my pulse pounding a few times. This is definitely less of an action book and more of a glimpse into the mind and thought process of some creepy people, victim included!
January 21, 2015
I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book is published by Oceanview Publishing.
Expected publication date: 5th May 2015.
Ok it’s two for the price of one review day.
Review 1:
Just buy this (when it comes out). No questions. No hesitations. You will thank me for it later.
Review 2:
Dorothy M. Salucci has been kidnapped. She is sixteen and heavily pregnant. She won’t prove to be the normal hostage victim. She won’t lie down begging for release. She will be very calm and calculating in planning her escape and ultimate revenge on her kidnappers. FBI agent Roger Lui and his partner “Lola� have been given the case. It won’t be easy but with some luck on their side they just might make progress. They had best be quick because it’s not clear who will die first. Dorothy or the kidnappers.
This book needs to be held in the “Thriller� and “Reference� sections at the same time. Thriller because that’s what it is. Reference because it should be kept as a perfect example of how you write a said thriller.
I honestly don’t know where to start with this one because there are so many details flying around inside my head from this story. We will start with Dorothy. This young girl is sixteen but has already inherited her mother’s cool, calm thinking. Her mother is a trial lawyer and is meticulous in everything she does. Dorothy has all of her qualities plus her own. She has a wonderful scientific and analytical mind. She remembers everything right down to the smallest detail and is planning her escape right from the very second she is grabbed. Plus the kidnapper threatened her unborn child. A big no-no. Everything she sees in her surroundings becomes an “asset� she can use in her plans. She numbers everything and keeps the list in her mind and practices and practices all her plans in a mesmerising way that only special people can do.
Roger Lui is also a special breed. He has hyperthymesia which is basically a fantastic memory. The relationship he has with his partner Lola is fantastic. They each bring their own qualities to form what seems to be the perfect partnership without being overbearing or unbelievable. They need a break in the case and will follow any lead they are given to the very end in the hope it will help.
The kidnappers are vile. Vile vile vile. They have taken Dorothy for one reason only. They want her baby. When they get it they will sell it and dump her in a quarry. It’s not the first time they have done it. Unless Dorothy can stop them, it won’t be their last.
This is a thriller. In some ways the story has been done before. This plot however is different in that you soon feel that the bad guys are in more danger than the victim. Right from the very first page Shannon Kirk grabs you by the squidgies. Her writing doesn’t let you go. If anything it squeezes tighter and tighter as the story progresses. It is told firstly from the point of view of Dorothy and then from Rogers point of view. The different sides of the story come together perfectly as the timelines come together. It’s so believable, convincing you that it is really happening and keeping your heart rate at such a high level throughout the story.
There is a kick ass twist in the story about 70% in that will make you scream. I actually read this bit while travelling on a bus and my audible gasp got me some very strange looks from my fellow travellers. When all is said and done a story normally finishes just there. Not this one. Ms Kirk continues the story for a long time after the ending, giving you some more insight into what happened after the event. Not telling you what this is though. Not going to spoil it for you.
To summarise: this is just superb. One of the best thrillers I have read in years. It’s fresh. The writing totally encapsulates you from the very beginning to the very end. It will sicken you. It will keep you on the edge of your seat. You will read with one eye closed and you will find some of it harrowing. You will be amazed at the strength of the characters and how they think of things you would never think of. This proves to me the imagination Shannon Kirk has and believe me, we will be hearing a lot more from this lady in the future.
The highest possible recommendation and 5 stars.
Do not miss this when it comes out.
Expected publication date: 5th May 2015.
Ok it’s two for the price of one review day.
Review 1:
Just buy this (when it comes out). No questions. No hesitations. You will thank me for it later.
Review 2:
Dorothy M. Salucci has been kidnapped. She is sixteen and heavily pregnant. She won’t prove to be the normal hostage victim. She won’t lie down begging for release. She will be very calm and calculating in planning her escape and ultimate revenge on her kidnappers. FBI agent Roger Lui and his partner “Lola� have been given the case. It won’t be easy but with some luck on their side they just might make progress. They had best be quick because it’s not clear who will die first. Dorothy or the kidnappers.
This book needs to be held in the “Thriller� and “Reference� sections at the same time. Thriller because that’s what it is. Reference because it should be kept as a perfect example of how you write a said thriller.
I honestly don’t know where to start with this one because there are so many details flying around inside my head from this story. We will start with Dorothy. This young girl is sixteen but has already inherited her mother’s cool, calm thinking. Her mother is a trial lawyer and is meticulous in everything she does. Dorothy has all of her qualities plus her own. She has a wonderful scientific and analytical mind. She remembers everything right down to the smallest detail and is planning her escape right from the very second she is grabbed. Plus the kidnapper threatened her unborn child. A big no-no. Everything she sees in her surroundings becomes an “asset� she can use in her plans. She numbers everything and keeps the list in her mind and practices and practices all her plans in a mesmerising way that only special people can do.
Roger Lui is also a special breed. He has hyperthymesia which is basically a fantastic memory. The relationship he has with his partner Lola is fantastic. They each bring their own qualities to form what seems to be the perfect partnership without being overbearing or unbelievable. They need a break in the case and will follow any lead they are given to the very end in the hope it will help.
The kidnappers are vile. Vile vile vile. They have taken Dorothy for one reason only. They want her baby. When they get it they will sell it and dump her in a quarry. It’s not the first time they have done it. Unless Dorothy can stop them, it won’t be their last.
This is a thriller. In some ways the story has been done before. This plot however is different in that you soon feel that the bad guys are in more danger than the victim. Right from the very first page Shannon Kirk grabs you by the squidgies. Her writing doesn’t let you go. If anything it squeezes tighter and tighter as the story progresses. It is told firstly from the point of view of Dorothy and then from Rogers point of view. The different sides of the story come together perfectly as the timelines come together. It’s so believable, convincing you that it is really happening and keeping your heart rate at such a high level throughout the story.
There is a kick ass twist in the story about 70% in that will make you scream. I actually read this bit while travelling on a bus and my audible gasp got me some very strange looks from my fellow travellers. When all is said and done a story normally finishes just there. Not this one. Ms Kirk continues the story for a long time after the ending, giving you some more insight into what happened after the event. Not telling you what this is though. Not going to spoil it for you.
To summarise: this is just superb. One of the best thrillers I have read in years. It’s fresh. The writing totally encapsulates you from the very beginning to the very end. It will sicken you. It will keep you on the edge of your seat. You will read with one eye closed and you will find some of it harrowing. You will be amazed at the strength of the characters and how they think of things you would never think of. This proves to me the imagination Shannon Kirk has and believe me, we will be hearing a lot more from this lady in the future.
The highest possible recommendation and 5 stars.
Do not miss this when it comes out.
July 23, 2016
.
No las llevaba todas conmigo en un inicio al encontrarme a una protagonista tan fría y calculadora, pero tras finalizar no puedo más que aplaudir por esos personajes y esa forma de intentar manejar la justicia a su antojo.
No las llevaba todas conmigo en un inicio al encontrarme a una protagonista tan fría y calculadora, pero tras finalizar no puedo más que aplaudir por esos personajes y esa forma de intentar manejar la justicia a su antojo.
July 21, 2018
Το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο είναι από αυτά που πιθανότατα δεν θα σου μείνουν ούτε την επόμενη μέρα απ' όταν τα διαβάζεις, όμως είναι τρελό page-turner για όσο διαρκεί η ανάγνωσή του!
Η υπόθεση της απαγωγής μιας δεκαεξάχρονης εγκύου ανατρέπει όλα τα στερεότυπα των απαγωγών, όταν μιλάμε για τη συγκεκριμένη δεκαεξάχρονη. Μια κοπέλα πανέξυπνη, περίεργη, στα όρια της κοινωνιοπάθειας, που βάζει όλα τα συναισθήματά της σε κουτάκια και... "ανοιγοκλείνει" τους διακόπτες του μυαλού της, προκειμένου να νιώσει ή να μη νιώσει αυτό ή εκείνο. Όταν λοιπόν το κορίτσι αυτό πέφτει θύμα απαγωγής, αποφασίζει να καταστρώσει όχι απλά ένα σχέδιο διαφυγής, αλλά και εκδίκησης απέναντι στους διώκτες του.
Η αφήγηση "τραμπαλίζεται" ανάμεσα στο κορίτσι και τον επιθεωρητή που έχει αναλάβει την υπόθεση εξαφάνισης. Όμως αναμφισβήτητη πρωταγωνίστρια είναι η κοπέλα, που πραγματικά τα δίνει όλα. Πραγματικά ευχαριστήθηκα το πώς χειρίστηκε το ζήτημα της απαγωγής της, ακριβώς επειδή το 99,9% των θυμάτων απαγωγής δεν θα έκανε το ίδιο. Ετούτη εδώ θα μπορούσαμε να πούμε πως πήρε εκδίκηση απ' όλους τους. Μπορεί ως προσωπικότητα να μοιάζει εν μέρει προβληματική, μπορεί στον "έξω κόσμο" να μην είναι η ιδανική για παρέα (όχι πως θα τη νοιάξει η παρέα μου/σου/σας, φυσικά!) αλλά στη δεδομένη περίσταση η ψυχραιμία, η εξυπνάδα και η μεθοδικότητά της αποδεικνύονται σωτήριες!
Η υπόθεση μπορεί να μοιάζει υπερβολική σε κάποιους, όμως ναι, υπάρχουν κι αυτά τα άτομα εκεί έξω. Και αντιδρούν έτσι. Συνεπώς, βρήκα έξυπνο το να επινοήσει η συγγραφέας ένα στόρυ με μια τέτοια ηρωίδα, που ξεφεύγει εντελώς από τα συνηθισμένα δραματικά μοτίβα της απαγωγής μιας έφηβης. Και μου άρεσε επίσης η κατάληξη της ιστορίας, που δικαίωσε απίστευτα την ηρωίδα πρωτίστως. Οπωσδήποτε δεν το κατατάσσω στα αγαπημένα μου, όμως πέρασα καλά διαβάζοντάς το και δεν ήθελα να το αφήσω από τα χέρια μου.
Η υπόθεση της απαγωγής μιας δεκαεξάχρονης εγκύου ανατρέπει όλα τα στερεότυπα των απαγωγών, όταν μιλάμε για τη συγκεκριμένη δεκαεξάχρονη. Μια κοπέλα πανέξυπνη, περίεργη, στα όρια της κοινωνιοπάθειας, που βάζει όλα τα συναισθήματά της σε κουτάκια και... "ανοιγοκλείνει" τους διακόπτες του μυαλού της, προκειμένου να νιώσει ή να μη νιώσει αυτό ή εκείνο. Όταν λοιπόν το κορίτσι αυτό πέφτει θύμα απαγωγής, αποφασίζει να καταστρώσει όχι απλά ένα σχέδιο διαφυγής, αλλά και εκδίκησης απέναντι στους διώκτες του.
Η αφήγηση "τραμπαλίζεται" ανάμεσα στο κορίτσι και τον επιθεωρητή που έχει αναλάβει την υπόθεση εξαφάνισης. Όμως αναμφισβήτητη πρωταγωνίστρια είναι η κοπέλα, που πραγματικά τα δίνει όλα. Πραγματικά ευχαριστήθηκα το πώς χειρίστηκε το ζήτημα της απαγωγής της, ακριβώς επειδή το 99,9% των θυμάτων απαγωγής δεν θα έκανε το ίδιο. Ετούτη εδώ θα μπορούσαμε να πούμε πως πήρε εκδίκηση απ' όλους τους. Μπορεί ως προσωπικότητα να μοιάζει εν μέρει προβληματική, μπορεί στον "έξω κόσμο" να μην είναι η ιδανική για παρέα (όχι πως θα τη νοιάξει η παρέα μου/σου/σας, φυσικά!) αλλά στη δεδομένη περίσταση η ψυχραιμία, η εξυπνάδα και η μεθοδικότητά της αποδεικνύονται σωτήριες!
Η υπόθεση μπορεί να μοιάζει υπερβολική σε κάποιους, όμως ναι, υπάρχουν κι αυτά τα άτομα εκεί έξω. Και αντιδρούν έτσι. Συνεπώς, βρήκα έξυπνο το να επινοήσει η συγγραφέας ένα στόρυ με μια τέτοια ηρωίδα, που ξεφεύγει εντελώς από τα συνηθισμένα δραματικά μοτίβα της απαγωγής μιας έφηβης. Και μου άρεσε επίσης η κατάληξη της ιστορίας, που δικαίωσε απίστευτα την ηρωίδα πρωτίστως. Οπωσδήποτε δεν το κατατάσσω στα αγαπημένα μου, όμως πέρασα καλά διαβάζοντάς το και δεν ήθελα να το αφήσω από τα χέρια μου.
February 22, 2022
Le pongo 4 estrellas a este libro porque es de fácil lectura, tiene una narrativa muy fluida, y por sobre todo, es una novela muy entretenida.
Pero hay 2 aspectos negativos que para mi gusto la alejan de las 5 estrellas:
1 - La Voz en Primera Persona. Aunque en este caso sí está justificado su uso, siento que poner a la protagonista a narrar su propia historia 17 años después de que sucedió, es uno de los peores spoilers y algo que a mí me da un tremendo bajón, porque ya sabemos de antemano que pase lo que pase, ella va a sobrevivir, y eso a mi gusto le quita mucha de la posible emoción que podría haber de haber sido narrado en segunda o tercera persona.
2 - La Protagonista. No sé qué piensen de ella quienes ya hayan leído esta obra, pero para mí fue imposible empatizar con ella ya que es demasiado perfecta. Y aunque la autora sí justifica el por qué ella es así, esto no hace que se deje de sentir como una Mary Sue perfecta, a la cual todo le sale bien, es la más inteligente de todas las personas en la novela y jamás se equivoca. Y esto, aunado a que sus captores son gente bastante tonta, hacen que realmente no se sienta nunca que la protagonista está en un peligro real.
Pero por lo entretenida que es, es una obra que yo sí recomendaría si la encuentran en buen precio (está en mix-up y en librerías gandhi), ya que los puntos en contra que mencioné arriba, son puntos muy subjetivos, y a otras personas podrían parecerles puntos a favor de la novela.
Pero hay 2 aspectos negativos que para mi gusto la alejan de las 5 estrellas:
1 - La Voz en Primera Persona. Aunque en este caso sí está justificado su uso, siento que poner a la protagonista a narrar su propia historia 17 años después de que sucedió, es uno de los peores spoilers y algo que a mí me da un tremendo bajón, porque ya sabemos de antemano que pase lo que pase, ella va a sobrevivir, y eso a mi gusto le quita mucha de la posible emoción que podría haber de haber sido narrado en segunda o tercera persona.
2 - La Protagonista. No sé qué piensen de ella quienes ya hayan leído esta obra, pero para mí fue imposible empatizar con ella ya que es demasiado perfecta. Y aunque la autora sí justifica el por qué ella es así, esto no hace que se deje de sentir como una Mary Sue perfecta, a la cual todo le sale bien, es la más inteligente de todas las personas en la novela y jamás se equivoca. Y esto, aunado a que sus captores son gente bastante tonta, hacen que realmente no se sienta nunca que la protagonista está en un peligro real.
Pero por lo entretenida que es, es una obra que yo sí recomendaría si la encuentran en buen precio (está en mix-up y en librerías gandhi), ya que los puntos en contra que mencioné arriba, son puntos muy subjetivos, y a otras personas podrían parecerles puntos a favor de la novela.
October 16, 2018
Μεγάλη απογοητευση το βιβλίο αυτό. Η γενική ιδέα είναι αρκετά καλή και πρωτότυπη. Αλλά ο τρόπος γραφής χάλασε το όλο στορυ. Η αστυνομικη πλοκή βαρετή και ανυπαρκτη. Παρόλο που το βιβλίο δεν το λες πολυσέλιδο, 305 σελίδες ειναι όλο κι όλο....είναι γεμάτο με βαρετές και ανούσιες πληροφορίες-ιστορίες. Ο χαρακτήρας της 16χρονης εγκύου? Μόνο ρεαλιστικός δεν είναι....παρουσιαζεται λες και είναι υπερηρωας με υπερφυσικές δυνάμεις και πολυμηχανη σαν τον Μαγκαιβερ...
Φανταστείτε μια ανήμπορη, έγκυο δεκαεξάχρονη που μόλις ξεριζώθηκε από τη γαλήνη του σπιτιού της και πετάχτηκε όπως όπως μέσα σε ένα βρόμικο φορτηγάκι. Θύμα απαγωγής. Μόνη. Τρομοκρατημένη.
Τώρα ξεχάστε αυτή την εικόνα.
Φανταστείτε, αντιθέτως, μια χειριστική, έγκυο δεκαεξάχρονη με εξαιρετικές ικανότητες, ένα κορίτσι-θαύμα. Την πετούν μέσα σε ένα βρόμικο φορτηγάκι και από την πρώτη στιγμή της απαγωγής της επιθυμεί –ήρεμ�, νηφάλια� δύο πράγματα μονάχα: να σώσει τον αγέννητο γιο της και να πάρει ανελέητη εκδίκηση.
Το τέλος αναμενόμενο, δεν μου προκάλεσε καμία έκπληξη. ..
2/5 ☆☆
Φανταστείτε μια ανήμπορη, έγκυο δεκαεξάχρονη που μόλις ξεριζώθηκε από τη γαλήνη του σπιτιού της και πετάχτηκε όπως όπως μέσα σε ένα βρόμικο φορτηγάκι. Θύμα απαγωγής. Μόνη. Τρομοκρατημένη.
Τώρα ξεχάστε αυτή την εικόνα.
Φανταστείτε, αντιθέτως, μια χειριστική, έγκυο δεκαεξάχρονη με εξαιρετικές ικανότητες, ένα κορίτσι-θαύμα. Την πετούν μέσα σε ένα βρόμικο φορτηγάκι και από την πρώτη στιγμή της απαγωγής της επιθυμεί –ήρεμ�, νηφάλια� δύο πράγματα μονάχα: να σώσει τον αγέννητο γιο της και να πάρει ανελέητη εκδίκηση.
Το τέλος αναμενόμενο, δεν μου προκάλεσε καμία έκπληξη. ..
2/5 ☆☆
September 24, 2017
It's not often that I actively dislike a book. If I'm not raving about how good it is I'm usually ambivalent. I'm more of a meh person for books I don't enjoy. Not so in this case. From the first chapter I was annoyed. This book was annoying, unrealistic and just generally poorly written and/or edited. The only reason I finished it is because I've never not finished a book before and I'd be damned if this was to be the first. That is all the brain power I'm going to waste reviewing it. Would not recommend.
August 14, 2022
Estoy en un estado después de leer esta novela que no sé explicar con palabras... es como si me hubiesen metido en una lavadora y el modo de centrifugado me haya escurrido hasta dejarme completamente mareada y hecha una bolita enredada en mí misma. Es como... increíble, flipante, brillante, majestuoso...
El poder de la mente de la protagonista es tan brutal, tan meticuloso, tan locamente escalofriante que una vez habría la novela desconectaba por completo del mundo, qué decir si me la he leído en prácticamente un día, ni me sorprende que en mis descansos de la lectura seguía con la idea de la protagonista encerrada, de su idea de salir y venganse, de esa sensación de angustia que no le invadía siquiera a la protagonista pero me hacía enloquecer a mí misma, meramente leyendo un par de páginas.
La investigación que la autora ha hecho acerca de la mente humana, acerca del poder de las emociones, es sobrecogedor.
Nada más que decir salvo que quiero más novelas de suspense así, que me mantengan en vilo, que me arranquen el aliento ya no detengan, que las palabras hayan aprovechado mis momentos de delirio máximo para acudir a mi corazón y comprimirlo con sus letras... a pesar de saber desde el inicio, desde la misma primera página el final, no puedo negar que he sufrido en incontables ocasiones, pensando que era solo un espectro de idea, que no era real ese final.
Quizás se ganaría un 4'75 por ciertas cosas del final, que comprendo, pero al mismo tiempo no me convencen del todo... por el resto, una reverencia a la magia de las palabras.
Reseña larga del blog
Desde el momento en que la subestimaron, su mente ya planeaba una venganza lo suficientemente cruel para todo aquel que había dejado un grano de arena en su secuestro; en cada paso en falso que ellos realizaban, ella era la que vigilaba agazapada en una esquina, calculando, maquinando, consiguiendo nuevos recursos, ampliando su forma de sobrevivir ella y el hijo en su vientre. No solo ansiaba salir viva de aquel lugar. También anhelaba regalarles la venganza más dolorosa a sus captores y cómplices, de tal grado que ellos no podrían siquiera haber imaginado�
Estoy en un estado después de leer esta novela que no sé explicar con palabras... es como si me hubiesen metido en una lavadora y el modo de centrifugado me haya escurrido hasta dejarme completamente mareada y hecha una bolita enredada en mí misma. Es como... increíble, flipante, brillante, majestuoso...
No tengo palabras para describir lo sublime de esta novela, el entramado en la mente de la protagonista es tan sumamente complejo que en ocasiones debía releer párrafos enteros para poder empaparme de su esencia al completo, poder siquiera captar una ligerísima idea de aquello que su cerebro maquinado para no sentir, para poder apagar las emociones y no distraerse de aquello que de verdad importaba, pero para nada es algo que atrase la lectura, ni de lejos, es más, hace falta recalcar que estas páginas volaron en mis manos, apenas veinticuatro horas de lectura bastaron para leer y volver a releer escenas de una novela de casi cuatrocientas páginas.
El poder de la mente de la protagonista es tan brutal, tan meticuloso, tan locamente escalofriante que una vez habría la novela desconectaba por completo del mundo, qué decir si me la he leído en prácticamente un día,
La protagonista es brutal, no refleja sentimientos, no, pero esto no provoca que no crezca una empatía por su situación, esto no produce que al lector no se le encoja el corazón de sufrimiento ante una escena de desesperanza, esto no deja de crear y recrear un dolor lacerante cuando, sin mostrarse completamente pero sabiéndose, que el interruptor del miedo ahoga las emociones de la protagonista y llene de pavor al que mantiene en sus manos el libro. El poder de su mente es increíble, tan meticuloso, tan locamente escalofriante que puedo decir con total claridad que he vivido esta novela, la he sentido como una extensión de mí, ni me sorprende que en mis momentos de descanso me viniensen oleadas de comprensión acerca de lo sentido por la joven embarazada encarcelada entre cuatro paredes, de su idea de salir y venganse, de esa sensación de angustia que no le invadía siquiera a ella pero me hacía enloquecer a mí misma, meramente leyendo un par de páginas. Su dese de buscar el momento indicado para su obra maestra y dar comienzo al espectáculo; el dolor y el pánico venían en ráfagas cuando el libro se aparcaba en su lugar cerca de mi mesilla, a pesar de que supiera que era ficción, a pesar de que mi cerebro analizase que aquello no era real�
Un thriller psicológico que mantendrá en vilo al lector, puedes conocer el desenlace desde el propio inicio, desde la misma primera página donde la protagonista refleja con palabras que aquello es su historia, que aquello pasó y fue superado, pero el lector es el que no lo supera, es al lector a quien se le detiene el aliento ante momentos de locura, cuando sabe que todo puede acabar con un soplo de aire, que nada de ello puede llegar a ser así, pensando en espejismos e historias sin final, con un final arrancado, sin verdades, solo páginas camufladas�
«Tu adversario a menudo no verá siquiera venir tus proyectos, siendo consumido por los suyos propios. No busques elogios de manera inconsciente hacia tu ingenio y con ello llegar a llamar la atención: sáciate con tu propia aprobación. Estate seguro de que vas a ganar.»
No hay una sola protagonista, los capítulos se alternan con la mano del detective del FBI que lleva el caso de una joven embarazada bajo el nombre de Dorothy, él posee su propia odisea particular, sus porqués, sus argumentos, sus pistas falsas y las verdaderas tomadas por mentiras, las sospechas, el miedo a no llegar a tiempo, el corazón encogido y la mente embotada, huir de la escena o saltar hacia ella con valentía� o mejor con temeridad, actuar con cabeza o dejar el raciocinio en el umbral de la puerta antes de pasar a la escena del crimen.
Cada final de capítulo deja la miel en los labios, para adentrarse en otro que simula no ser tan bueno como el dejado atrás� para demostrar que puede incluso superarlo. Mi corazón latía con la fuerza de un caballo galopando sin frenos, para al segundo siguiente pegar un vuelco de tres metros, salir de mi garganta, admirar las alturas y las escenas leídas y volver de golpe a su sitio dejándome noqueada. Pensar� y dejar de pensar en absoluto, querer imaginarse las descripciones, pero con el miedo de pasar página y comprobar que lo que llega es aún peor� Angustia, dolor, miedo, verdadero pánico, casi creo que he llegado a sentir mucho más que la propia protagonista, atrapada por su captor.
No puedo dejar de destacar el sobrecogedor trabajo de investigación realizado por la autora acerca de la mente humana, acerca de cómo esta puede actuar, cómo algunos “no tan denominados como sociópatas� pueden no tener miedo, no amar, no sentir nada, no por temor a sentirlo, sino porque simplemente no les apetece encender el interruptor y dejarse llevar por las emociones, y, cuando lo hacen de verdad, puede llegar a ser algo fatal, cargado de sensaciones de tal magnitud que uno no vuelve a sentirse nunca igual... y sus consecuencias.
El desenlace llega a la altura, incluso supera esas alturas que uno desee poner al inicio del relato: una verdadera locura cargada de veracidad, con toques de cordura bien mezclados y un último toque de sensibilidad, quizás sobrepasado con un dolor muy necesario pero siendo el verdadero pesar al fin y al cabo; para finalmente dar el toque de gracia con un presente protagonizado por la fiera que había sido enjaulada pero, con su propia ayuda producida desde la mente, salida victoriosamente, quizás algo demasiado endulzado, comprendo las pinceladas de ternura, pero quizás a lo largo de tantas páginas me habré vuelto una insensible y habré apagado el interruptor del amor al concluir las últimas páginas.
Nada más que decir salvo que quiero más novelas de suspense así, que me mantengan en vilo, que me arranquen el aliento ya no detengan, que las palabras hayan aprovechado mis momentos de delirio máximo para acudir a mi corazón y comprimirlo con sus letras... a pesar de saber desde el inicio, desde la misma primera página el final, no puedo negar que he sufrido en incontables ocasiones, pensando que era solo un espectro de idea, que no era real ese final: una reverencia a la magia de las palabras.
En resumen, El método 15/33 contiene la historia de una chica con una mente increíblemente organizada, disponiendo de una historia que te arrancará el aliento de los pulmones para devolvértelo de golpe de nuevo y sentir la sobrecarga de oxígeno con agonía: dolor, angustia, pánico e incluso amor es lo que representa esta novela, quizás no por orden, ni tampoco por importancia, pero, al fin y al cabo, cometerá todos esos crímenes camuflados de sentimientos insensibilizados contra el lector.
El poder de la mente de la protagonista es tan brutal, tan meticuloso, tan locamente escalofriante que una vez habría la novela desconectaba por completo del mundo, qué decir si me la he leído en prácticamente un día, ni me sorprende que en mis descansos de la lectura seguía con la idea de la protagonista encerrada, de su idea de salir y venganse, de esa sensación de angustia que no le invadía siquiera a la protagonista pero me hacía enloquecer a mí misma, meramente leyendo un par de páginas.
La investigación que la autora ha hecho acerca de la mente humana, acerca del poder de las emociones, es sobrecogedor.
Nada más que decir salvo que quiero más novelas de suspense así, que me mantengan en vilo, que me arranquen el aliento ya no detengan, que las palabras hayan aprovechado mis momentos de delirio máximo para acudir a mi corazón y comprimirlo con sus letras... a pesar de saber desde el inicio, desde la misma primera página el final, no puedo negar que he sufrido en incontables ocasiones, pensando que era solo un espectro de idea, que no era real ese final.
Quizás se ganaría un 4'75 por ciertas cosas del final, que comprendo, pero al mismo tiempo no me convencen del todo... por el resto, una reverencia a la magia de las palabras.
Reseña larga del blog
Desde el momento en que la subestimaron, su mente ya planeaba una venganza lo suficientemente cruel para todo aquel que había dejado un grano de arena en su secuestro; en cada paso en falso que ellos realizaban, ella era la que vigilaba agazapada en una esquina, calculando, maquinando, consiguiendo nuevos recursos, ampliando su forma de sobrevivir ella y el hijo en su vientre. No solo ansiaba salir viva de aquel lugar. También anhelaba regalarles la venganza más dolorosa a sus captores y cómplices, de tal grado que ellos no podrían siquiera haber imaginado�
Estoy en un estado después de leer esta novela que no sé explicar con palabras... es como si me hubiesen metido en una lavadora y el modo de centrifugado me haya escurrido hasta dejarme completamente mareada y hecha una bolita enredada en mí misma. Es como... increíble, flipante, brillante, majestuoso...
No tengo palabras para describir lo sublime de esta novela, el entramado en la mente de la protagonista es tan sumamente complejo que en ocasiones debía releer párrafos enteros para poder empaparme de su esencia al completo, poder siquiera captar una ligerísima idea de aquello que su cerebro maquinado para no sentir, para poder apagar las emociones y no distraerse de aquello que de verdad importaba, pero para nada es algo que atrase la lectura, ni de lejos, es más, hace falta recalcar que estas páginas volaron en mis manos, apenas veinticuatro horas de lectura bastaron para leer y volver a releer escenas de una novela de casi cuatrocientas páginas.
El poder de la mente de la protagonista es tan brutal, tan meticuloso, tan locamente escalofriante que una vez habría la novela desconectaba por completo del mundo, qué decir si me la he leído en prácticamente un día,
La protagonista es brutal, no refleja sentimientos, no, pero esto no provoca que no crezca una empatía por su situación, esto no produce que al lector no se le encoja el corazón de sufrimiento ante una escena de desesperanza, esto no deja de crear y recrear un dolor lacerante cuando, sin mostrarse completamente pero sabiéndose, que el interruptor del miedo ahoga las emociones de la protagonista y llene de pavor al que mantiene en sus manos el libro. El poder de su mente es increíble, tan meticuloso, tan locamente escalofriante que puedo decir con total claridad que he vivido esta novela, la he sentido como una extensión de mí, ni me sorprende que en mis momentos de descanso me viniensen oleadas de comprensión acerca de lo sentido por la joven embarazada encarcelada entre cuatro paredes, de su idea de salir y venganse, de esa sensación de angustia que no le invadía siquiera a ella pero me hacía enloquecer a mí misma, meramente leyendo un par de páginas. Su dese de buscar el momento indicado para su obra maestra y dar comienzo al espectáculo; el dolor y el pánico venían en ráfagas cuando el libro se aparcaba en su lugar cerca de mi mesilla, a pesar de que supiera que era ficción, a pesar de que mi cerebro analizase que aquello no era real�
Un thriller psicológico que mantendrá en vilo al lector, puedes conocer el desenlace desde el propio inicio, desde la misma primera página donde la protagonista refleja con palabras que aquello es su historia, que aquello pasó y fue superado, pero el lector es el que no lo supera, es al lector a quien se le detiene el aliento ante momentos de locura, cuando sabe que todo puede acabar con un soplo de aire, que nada de ello puede llegar a ser así, pensando en espejismos e historias sin final, con un final arrancado, sin verdades, solo páginas camufladas�
«Tu adversario a menudo no verá siquiera venir tus proyectos, siendo consumido por los suyos propios. No busques elogios de manera inconsciente hacia tu ingenio y con ello llegar a llamar la atención: sáciate con tu propia aprobación. Estate seguro de que vas a ganar.»
No hay una sola protagonista, los capítulos se alternan con la mano del detective del FBI que lleva el caso de una joven embarazada bajo el nombre de Dorothy, él posee su propia odisea particular, sus porqués, sus argumentos, sus pistas falsas y las verdaderas tomadas por mentiras, las sospechas, el miedo a no llegar a tiempo, el corazón encogido y la mente embotada, huir de la escena o saltar hacia ella con valentía� o mejor con temeridad, actuar con cabeza o dejar el raciocinio en el umbral de la puerta antes de pasar a la escena del crimen.
Cada final de capítulo deja la miel en los labios, para adentrarse en otro que simula no ser tan bueno como el dejado atrás� para demostrar que puede incluso superarlo. Mi corazón latía con la fuerza de un caballo galopando sin frenos, para al segundo siguiente pegar un vuelco de tres metros, salir de mi garganta, admirar las alturas y las escenas leídas y volver de golpe a su sitio dejándome noqueada. Pensar� y dejar de pensar en absoluto, querer imaginarse las descripciones, pero con el miedo de pasar página y comprobar que lo que llega es aún peor� Angustia, dolor, miedo, verdadero pánico, casi creo que he llegado a sentir mucho más que la propia protagonista, atrapada por su captor.
No puedo dejar de destacar el sobrecogedor trabajo de investigación realizado por la autora acerca de la mente humana, acerca de cómo esta puede actuar, cómo algunos “no tan denominados como sociópatas� pueden no tener miedo, no amar, no sentir nada, no por temor a sentirlo, sino porque simplemente no les apetece encender el interruptor y dejarse llevar por las emociones, y, cuando lo hacen de verdad, puede llegar a ser algo fatal, cargado de sensaciones de tal magnitud que uno no vuelve a sentirse nunca igual... y sus consecuencias.
El desenlace llega a la altura, incluso supera esas alturas que uno desee poner al inicio del relato: una verdadera locura cargada de veracidad, con toques de cordura bien mezclados y un último toque de sensibilidad, quizás sobrepasado con un dolor muy necesario pero siendo el verdadero pesar al fin y al cabo; para finalmente dar el toque de gracia con un presente protagonizado por la fiera que había sido enjaulada pero, con su propia ayuda producida desde la mente, salida victoriosamente, quizás algo demasiado endulzado, comprendo las pinceladas de ternura, pero quizás a lo largo de tantas páginas me habré vuelto una insensible y habré apagado el interruptor del amor al concluir las últimas páginas.
Nada más que decir salvo que quiero más novelas de suspense así, que me mantengan en vilo, que me arranquen el aliento ya no detengan, que las palabras hayan aprovechado mis momentos de delirio máximo para acudir a mi corazón y comprimirlo con sus letras... a pesar de saber desde el inicio, desde la misma primera página el final, no puedo negar que he sufrido en incontables ocasiones, pensando que era solo un espectro de idea, que no era real ese final: una reverencia a la magia de las palabras.
En resumen, El método 15/33 contiene la historia de una chica con una mente increíblemente organizada, disponiendo de una historia que te arrancará el aliento de los pulmones para devolvértelo de golpe de nuevo y sentir la sobrecarga de oxígeno con agonía: dolor, angustia, pánico e incluso amor es lo que representa esta novela, quizás no por orden, ni tampoco por importancia, pero, al fin y al cabo, cometerá todos esos crímenes camuflados de sentimientos insensibilizados contra el lector.
May 19, 2021
Me ha entretenido mucho. No esperaba este resultado. Supongo que el cambio de víctima a verdugo le da alas a este libro. No se para en la victimizacion y lloriqueos, no, esta mocina tiene muy mala baba y oye, que no se quede quieta a esperar resultados a mi, me ha funcionado. Es atípica, retorcida y listilla. Yo estoy con ella. A ver qué tal el siguiente.
November 25, 2015
3 STARS
Hummmm ... this is a very interesting and entertaining adventure pitting a pair of psychotic 40-something twin brothers against a sixteen year old sociopathic pregnant prodigy of science.
Psychopaths vs. Sociopath.
During this entire read all I could think about was Godzilla ... oh you know, the prehistoric sea monster awakened and empowered by nuclear radiation that originally destroys Tokyo but in subsequent releases is sometimes portrayed as something of a hero, a defender of the human race while at the same time still a grave danger to humanity. You find yourself rooting for the bad buy! In this story, not many folks are likable so I was drawn to the most likable unlikable character. Make sense? OK some background color ...
Our narrator is thirty three years old, now the owner and principle of forensic consulting firm 15/33 Inc., located in the former Appletree Boarding School building where she was held captive seventeen years ago. She tells the story of her abduction when she was sixteen years old and eight months pregnant. Her dispassionate response to the gunman who shoots up her first grade classroom prompts her child psychiatrist to put her through a battery of tests and determines she is highly capable of emotion but is exceptional at suppressing distracting and unproductive thoughts. She can choose to feel and display emotion but she can choose not to, too. She can flip the switch of emotion on and off at will! A genius from a wealthy family, she leverages her superior intellect, ice cold emotional control and white hot hatred for her keepers to plot her escape and plan her revenge against her captors while rescuing another girl imprisoned in the same abandoned building.
The psychotic twins abduct late term pregnant girls to harvest their infants at birth for sale. This never works out well for the girls, sometimes not so well for their babies either. Ronald executes the abductions and cares for the imprisoned girls, allows Mr. Doctor to examine them and monitor the progress of the pregnancy and lets Mr. and Mrs. Obvious view the human incubators to be fully satisfied they will receive offspring they ordered - blue eyes, blond hair and white skin. Brad is the brains behind the operation, if you can call a raging lunatic the brains of anything. Some Las Vegas inspired indebtedness got Brad into trouble and selling babies appeared to be a lucrative solution! The Brad and Ronald baby mill was a success until they abducted a sociopath! Huge Mistake. They have no idea who or what they’ve taken on board!
So I circle back to the silly idea that danced in my head during this entire read.
Our narrator ...
![]()
... is not very likable, cold and manipulative and quite lethal if provoked (abducted)! From the very moment she’s tossed into the back of the van, she uses her “exceptional� memory, attention to detail and obsessive use of scientific method to mentally assemble her assets and plan her revenge. Her hatred simmers for 33 days!
The twins ...
![]()
... are physically identical but psychologically very different ... equally damaged. Ronald is subservient to Brad and so broken by his ruthless father his eyes blink uncontrollably whenever confronted and displays OCD psycho punctuality after his year in the family brig. Brad is an effeminate lunatic whose only contact with our narrator is when he dines with her, just like all the other girls, shortly before their babies are harvested and the mother's bodies are discarded in the quarry behind the building.
On Day 33, assets assembled and all elements of her exit strategy in place, our narrator effectively and efficiently executes her escape. Revenge exacted by a young genius who can direct and misdirect emotions at the drop of a hat can be brutal ... ask Ron and Brad. Law enforcement and courtroom juries are so easily manipulated by the machinations of a sociopath ... mens rea!
So in the end I was rooting for Godzilla! This was a fun little read, nothing too gruesome or disturbing but just enough to keep me on the edge of my seat ... a little!
Can't get BOC out of my head
Hummmm ... this is a very interesting and entertaining adventure pitting a pair of psychotic 40-something twin brothers against a sixteen year old sociopathic pregnant prodigy of science.
Psychopaths vs. Sociopath.
During this entire read all I could think about was Godzilla ... oh you know, the prehistoric sea monster awakened and empowered by nuclear radiation that originally destroys Tokyo but in subsequent releases is sometimes portrayed as something of a hero, a defender of the human race while at the same time still a grave danger to humanity. You find yourself rooting for the bad buy! In this story, not many folks are likable so I was drawn to the most likable unlikable character. Make sense? OK some background color ...
Our narrator is thirty three years old, now the owner and principle of forensic consulting firm 15/33 Inc., located in the former Appletree Boarding School building where she was held captive seventeen years ago. She tells the story of her abduction when she was sixteen years old and eight months pregnant. Her dispassionate response to the gunman who shoots up her first grade classroom prompts her child psychiatrist to put her through a battery of tests and determines she is highly capable of emotion but is exceptional at suppressing distracting and unproductive thoughts. She can choose to feel and display emotion but she can choose not to, too. She can flip the switch of emotion on and off at will! A genius from a wealthy family, she leverages her superior intellect, ice cold emotional control and white hot hatred for her keepers to plot her escape and plan her revenge against her captors while rescuing another girl imprisoned in the same abandoned building.
The psychotic twins abduct late term pregnant girls to harvest their infants at birth for sale. This never works out well for the girls, sometimes not so well for their babies either. Ronald executes the abductions and cares for the imprisoned girls, allows Mr. Doctor to examine them and monitor the progress of the pregnancy and lets Mr. and Mrs. Obvious view the human incubators to be fully satisfied they will receive offspring they ordered - blue eyes, blond hair and white skin. Brad is the brains behind the operation, if you can call a raging lunatic the brains of anything. Some Las Vegas inspired indebtedness got Brad into trouble and selling babies appeared to be a lucrative solution! The Brad and Ronald baby mill was a success until they abducted a sociopath! Huge Mistake. They have no idea who or what they’ve taken on board!
So I circle back to the silly idea that danced in my head during this entire read.
Our narrator ...
... is not very likable, cold and manipulative and quite lethal if provoked (abducted)! From the very moment she’s tossed into the back of the van, she uses her “exceptional� memory, attention to detail and obsessive use of scientific method to mentally assemble her assets and plan her revenge. Her hatred simmers for 33 days!
The twins ...
... are physically identical but psychologically very different ... equally damaged. Ronald is subservient to Brad and so broken by his ruthless father his eyes blink uncontrollably whenever confronted and displays OCD psycho punctuality after his year in the family brig. Brad is an effeminate lunatic whose only contact with our narrator is when he dines with her, just like all the other girls, shortly before their babies are harvested and the mother's bodies are discarded in the quarry behind the building.
On Day 33, assets assembled and all elements of her exit strategy in place, our narrator effectively and efficiently executes her escape. Revenge exacted by a young genius who can direct and misdirect emotions at the drop of a hat can be brutal ... ask Ron and Brad. Law enforcement and courtroom juries are so easily manipulated by the machinations of a sociopath ... mens rea!
So in the end I was rooting for Godzilla! This was a fun little read, nothing too gruesome or disturbing but just enough to keep me on the edge of my seat ... a little!
Can't get BOC out of my head
November 18, 2018
Το μεγάλο πρόβλημα με αυτό το βιβλίο είναι ότι δεν ήταν αρκετά κακό για να με διασκεδάσει...
Μου άρεσε πολύ η περίληψη, χαρισματικό κορίτσι απάγεται και χειραγωγεί τους απαγωγείς της. Όμως αυτό που διάβασα ήταν μία κοινωνιοπαθή 17-χρονη, κάτι μεταξύ Ντέξτερ Μόργκαν και Τζακ Ρίτσερ, χωρίς όμως τη συμπάθεια που βγάζουν αυτοί οι δύο χαρακτήρες, να κάθεται επί μέρες και να οργανώνει ένα home alone σχέδιο απόδρασης στο κεφάλι της. Ενδιάμεσα σκάνε και τα κεφάλαια του πράκτορα του FBI που ερευνά την απαγωγή της.
Οι συνεχείς αναφορές στο μέλλον, όπου όλα έχουν τελειώσει, οι αποκρύψεις πληροφοριών από τους αφηγητές και η τάση να σου πετάνε κάτι τεράστια φλασμπάκ ακόμα και σε ακατάλληλες στιγμές κάνουν το υποτίθεται αγωνιώδες θρίλερ ένα ναυάγιο.
Προσπεράστε άφοβα.
Μου άρεσε πολύ η περίληψη, χαρισματικό κορίτσι απάγεται και χειραγωγεί τους απαγωγείς της. Όμως αυτό που διάβασα ήταν μία κοινωνιοπαθή 17-χρονη, κάτι μεταξύ Ντέξτερ Μόργκαν και Τζακ Ρίτσερ, χωρίς όμως τη συμπάθεια που βγάζουν αυτοί οι δύο χαρακτήρες, να κάθεται επί μέρες και να οργανώνει ένα home alone σχέδιο απόδρασης στο κεφάλι της. Ενδιάμεσα σκάνε και τα κεφάλαια του πράκτορα του FBI που ερευνά την απαγωγή της.
Οι συνεχείς αναφορές στο μέλλον, όπου όλα έχουν τελειώσει, οι αποκρύψεις πληροφοριών από τους αφηγητές και η τάση να σου πετάνε κάτι τεράστια φλασμπάκ ακόμα και σε ακατάλληλες στιγμές κάνουν το υποτίθεται αγωνιώδες θρίλερ ένα ναυάγιο.
Προσπεράστε άφοβα.
December 14, 2017
Definite 5 Stars for me!!
I was absolutely fascinated by the mind of this young girl and how it worked. I was mesmerized from page one!
Her mind was like a computer and she was able to turn off all emotions with a switch on her brain. She was a genius.
I loved this book! Huge thank you to Kooloo for reminding me of this one which had been on my TBR for so long! Girls, this is one of them...... that hidden gem which has been buried for so long in your lists of books that you forget.
Also, loved the whole back story of Agent Roger Liu..... his childhood memory of Mozi......gah!!! It broke my heart!
READ THIS BOOK ASAP!!!!!!!!
I was absolutely fascinated by the mind of this young girl and how it worked. I was mesmerized from page one!
Her mind was like a computer and she was able to turn off all emotions with a switch on her brain. She was a genius.
I loved this book! Huge thank you to Kooloo for reminding me of this one which had been on my TBR for so long! Girls, this is one of them...... that hidden gem which has been buried for so long in your lists of books that you forget.
Also, loved the whole back story of Agent Roger Liu..... his childhood memory of Mozi......gah!!! It broke my heart!
READ THIS BOOK ASAP!!!!!!!!
June 16, 2020
Con leer la sinopsis ya entran ganas de leerlo y no es para menos. Este libro empieza fuerte y a lo largo de sus páginas nos vamos a ir sorprendiendo con la capacidad analítica de la chica, quien no pierde tiempo en ningún momento. Todo lo que ve y oye se convierte en un recurso y cuantos más recursos tiene, mejor es el plan que va a ir tramando, aunque poco sabemos de él hasta la mitad del libro. Es un libro que se lee bastante bien porque desde el principio te deja con la boca abierta y te intriga saber lo que va a suceder. Sin embargo no es tan rápido como puede parecer puesto que la autora se dedica a deleitarse explicándonos absolutamente todo lo que piensa, siente y almacena la protagonista.
Ha habido momentos en los que sentía que la trama no avanzaba demasiado en cuanto a acción pero la verdad es que me gustó bastante ir descubriendo lo que tramaba la protagonista y no se me hizo pesado. Y cuando pensé que ya estaba todo dicho, un giro me lo desmonto todo y empecé a sufrir por ella...
Ha habido momentos en los que sentía que la trama no avanzaba demasiado en cuanto a acción pero la verdad es que me gustó bastante ir descubriendo lo que tramaba la protagonista y no se me hizo pesado. Y cuando pensé que ya estaba todo dicho, un giro me lo desmonto todo y empecé a sufrir por ella...
August 4, 2015
A 16 year-old girl, pregnant, is taken against her will to a remote location where she is to be kept until her baby is born. Blond, blue-eyed babies come at a premium price.
The premise is good, it's different. This girl is also different. She can turn her emotions off and on at will with a mental switch ... so far, so good.
But then this is where I get lost. This supposedly scared pregnant teenager turns out to be a sort of McGiver. She starts collecting 'assets' that can be turned into something else, something that will help her escape.
The story is told from two views .. hers, seventeen years after she was taken, and Detective Liu, who spent years looking for missing teenage girls ... blond blue-eyed girls.
I would have liked to give it 3 1/2 stars. I applaud the author for all the research she must have done to get all the technical work to seem so easy. I really enjoyed the back story of the teenager ... that was fascinating.
Thank you to Oceanview Publishing for furnishing this book to me to read and review.
The premise is good, it's different. This girl is also different. She can turn her emotions off and on at will with a mental switch ... so far, so good.
But then this is where I get lost. This supposedly scared pregnant teenager turns out to be a sort of McGiver. She starts collecting 'assets' that can be turned into something else, something that will help her escape.
The story is told from two views .. hers, seventeen years after she was taken, and Detective Liu, who spent years looking for missing teenage girls ... blond blue-eyed girls.
I would have liked to give it 3 1/2 stars. I applaud the author for all the research she must have done to get all the technical work to seem so easy. I really enjoyed the back story of the teenager ... that was fascinating.
Thank you to Oceanview Publishing for furnishing this book to me to read and review.
January 17, 2019
El método 15/33 ha sido la historia más intrépida y emocionante de este año!!, estoy muy feliz de haber elegido esta lectura.
Es fascinante meterse en la cabeza de Lisa, cierta frialdad me dejó un poco anonadada , pero me he encantado su personaje , tan peculiar.
Creo que todo el libro, esta desarrollado de la manera correcta, y estoy muy ansiosa por leer la segunda parte.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,253 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.