Tedious violence

This piece is generally entertaining--especially the police profiler--and very well read, but the repeated and prolonged descriptions of physical assaults became tedious.

7 people found this helpful

Excellently written book

If you could sum up Birthdays for the Dead in three words, what would they be?

There's something (brilliant) about the style of this story telling.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Birthdays for the Dead?

I liked those parts where he made me laugh loudly. And those were many. I promise you will like the psychologist Alice McDonnald helping to solve the case. She was soooooo weird but in such a cute way you could not resist liking her. After many situations where she was portrayed like a total nut they visited retired Henry Anderson another psychologist another individual in his cabin. She again did not miss a chance to prove she is a total case which made Henry raise his eyebrow and say "Ain't she delightfully quirky?". Then later several chapters when chasing the suspect and facing a dangerous situation Ash (the main character) stressed her no to do something reckless and she said "I'm delightfully quirky not stupid!".

What does Ian Hanmore bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I wont be able to read it with Scottish accent. It was great to listen that one for a change. He gave the characters life and spark which I would not be able based on my experience. It requires certain theatrical skills and craft to sustain the personality of a character by speaking their parts. He was incredibly coherent through out the book.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes there was. But I cant write about it without revealing the story.

Any additional comments?

If you are afraid that you will be faced by long and cruel descriptions of harming innocent girls than this will not happen. You have to be however a bit stronger to accept certain parts but for most part of the book you will be following investigation. There will be a certain amount of disturbing moments so be prepared. I was a little bit worried after reading some previous reviews that my stomach may not digest this book but it was not that bad. Probably it depends on what've you read before what films you've watched and what violence you've seen before so for a moderate crime reader this should be all right. To be honest I was much more disturbed by watching film Seven with Brad Pitt. I am not giving 5 stars to this book because I will give 5 only to few books which made a really long lasting and influential impression on me. One of those books which are 5 for me are Stieg Larsson's - Girl with a Dragoon Tattoo and Godfather by Mario Puzzo.

6 people found this helpful

For those who can stomach strong violence

Would you try another book from Stuart MacBride and/or Ian Hanmore?

I would definitely listen to another book by this narrator but as for the author I'd be more picky. This book was very violent, gratuitously so in my opinion, and I didn't think much of the plotting or the main character. I'm prepared to give the author another go because there are hints of writing that I do like (particularly the humour) but I'm wary of more of the same.

What about Ian Hanmore???s performance did you like?

The changes in voices for the different characters were subtle but noticeable enough to make the book easy to follow. I do like a Scottish accent too.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Revulsion mostly. I've had my fill of serial killer books featuring tortured souls on disgusting quests that require the mutilation of innocent people - being a crime fiction fan I've come across a lot of these but am well and truly done with this particular sub genre. I've also had it with excessively violent blokes using their fists to solve every problem they come across.

Any additional comments?

This book was not for me but I don't think it's badly written. It just takes readers down a path I have trodden too often before.

7 people found this helpful

Good Story. Asks too much of the reader.

I read almost everything. I really enjoy MacBride's Logan McRae books. I love the gritty local color of the Scottish police department in Aberdeen. I thought this was another Logan book and I enjoyed the character Ash- Although I can't condone his ask-questions-later style and it's not really working for him in this his first book. With all the positives of this novel, I remain unhappy but I respect the writer's skill.

2 people found this helpful

Fantastic!

Exciting! Impossible to put down! Stuart MacBride (whom I've never read before) is at the top with other European crime authors. The narration is also fine. You'll not be disappointed!

5 people found this helpful

That ending though..

Honestly, the book was kind of hard to follow. There were way too many characters to try and keep up with and the accent was really think on the narrator. Even with the think accent though, the narrator was great.
Despite all the characters that were hard to keep track of, the ones I did keep track of, kept me interested.
The ending though... the big cliff hanger.. that's what really got me. How can you end a book like that!! Now.. I must know what happens!!
I'm hoping this songs for the dying is actually book 2 if the Ash Henderson series bc I'm going to put my other book I had queued up on hold for that one.
Good job to the author!

1 person found this helpful

Violent and Tedious

I don't normally write reviews, but this book was such a frustrating slog I had to warn people. The story is horrifically violent but what I really couldn't stand was that there was no actual detective work. Just a main character out of control hurling from one stupid decision to another with no one actually following clues, or gathering evidence or doing anything that even resembles police work. The "profiler" is a throw away character and adds nothing to the story or the solving of the crime. The ending is unbearably sad and the whole book is just scene after scene of pointless violence, most of which doesn't even move the story forward. Ian Hanmore is, as always, great. I haven't read any other books by this author and I don't know if I will bother with any others.

3 people found this helpful

Birthdays for the Dead

I want a t-shirt that says "I survived listening to Birthdays for the Dead." It was very good, but, yikes, it was difficult listening on occasion.

3 people found this helpful

Happy to hear that Ash will be back

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, but to those who have a strong stomach. Jo Nesbo fans maybe. Terrific suspense, great storytelling with a dose of dark humor.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yeah, it was just about impossible to put down.

Any additional comments?

Terrific reader. The lead character is the kind of flawed anti-hero I like to read about. Really wanted to hear what happened to him next, and to his profiler. Was very pleased when I checked the author's website to see that another Ash Henderson novel will be out in January. Yeah, the book was pretty violent, but no worse than Val MacDermid or Jo Nesbo or others I could name. And this was more entertaining than most.

1 person found this helpful

Dark and twisted

Holy COW! This one had some twists and turns! Hard to see how Ash will survive that one. As hard as it was to listen to, it was harder to turn away. I must admit, I felt some satisfaction when some of the bad guys got theirs. Very dark, tho.