the usual male take on a strong woman character

Katie Maguire could be such a brilliant character but unfortunately she is written by a middle-aged man whose idea of a strong woman is someone who is stunningly beautiful, with a slender figure, big tits, a suppressed inner slut and lesbian desires.... really? is this the best you can do? is this how you really see women.

the basis of the story is good, it's gritty, sometimes downright nasty but it is entirely let down by the gratuitous, cringe-worthy sex scenes (think appallingly bad porn movie) and the degrading portrayal of a successful woman Garde.

I remember now why I stopped listening to the other books... Shame...,ditch the crap sex scenes and rethink the way you write your main character, she could be amazing...

10 people found this helpful

Dog fighting

I’m not usually one for writing reviews but I thought I had to with this book. There are parts that depict dog theft and mistreatment and particularly dog fighting and baiting. I know this awful awful stuff goes on but when I read and listen to books for pleasure I really can’t stand to think about this.
I’m sorry for this and I’m sure the perpetrators get their just deserts towards the end of the book but I simply couldn’t continue. I’ve really enjoyed this series and it characters but this is way beyond what is acceptable to me. Maybe a warning should be put on it alongside the blurb?
Anyway, I shall continue with the next book in line.

9 people found this helpful

Not happy!!

Katie has turned into a bitch on heat! She's man mad. Anything in trousers is good enough and women in trousers works too. I don't like the way Masterton has treated John either. Katie's has gone from being madly in love and lust with John to reminiscing about the John that was possessive, controlling and an aggressive lover. I've listened to all of this series and not once has this been addressed, so it's unbelievable.

Katie is beginning to get one my nerves she's gone from a strong women in control to a pathetic "I can't live without someone to hold me" workaholic. I might have to have a break after this one can't bare another book at the moment.

I'm beginning to think Masterton is a women hater he has given Katie power only to turn her into a women that degrades herself by sleeping unprotected with every man that walks into the station. Im no prude but it's starting to get boring.

I will definitely listen to the new book eventually if only to see Katie finally hurt and humiliated by one of her conquests! A bit of "what goes around, comes around is in order!

The narration was as always great!

5 people found this helpful

Crime Thriller That's Not for the Faint-Hearted

The Katie Maguire series is entering the realm of sadism and medical horror and just to make it more brutal animal torture all rolled into what would be a good story without the hipper depravities, her character for the most part is very interesting and logical, but in the romance department Masterton has decided to give this poor women a lobotomy that goes against her normal nature, she can not enjoy the company of men without becoming a discombobulated teenager, and that ruins the story.

I did enjoy the plot and the characters but the gore and violence are making it less likely that I will read the next book; some of the passages were stomach churning, even exaggerated to a ridiculous degree, why he feels this is needed I do not get it because he has a very good style, and his plots would not suffer if he toned the violence down.

5 people found this helpful

First Class

Katie Maguires...a wonderful creation by Graham Masterton with a richly embroidered world where there are twists and turns a million. Highly recommended.

4 people found this helpful

Very blunt dissatisfying ending

I liked the Irish setting and was drawn into the lives of the characters and the storyline. However, overall the storyline lacked flesh to hold it together and the ending was very poor. So poor in fact that it ruined the whole book for me.

3 people found this helpful

Gruesome

Loved most of it - a little far fetched (I hope) and very graphic. Tempted to buy another if his, but maybe give myself a lighter one in the meantime .

2 people found this helpful

Hell and Back

Would you consider the audio edition of Living Death to be better than the print version?

Yes. This is a story that neds the excellent Narrator

What did you like best about this story?

The involvement of other characters

What does Aoife McMahon bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Listening to it brings it alive

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

The last words.

Any additional comments?

The horror parts werea little too gaphic

2 people found this helpful

Living Death - alive with thrilling content!

The latest in the Katie McGuire series, and in my open moon the best so far...

It's got everything you could hope for from the master of Horror, Graham Masterton: Gore, Horror, suspense, erotica and more...

Living Death contains some of the most graphic content to date so it's NOT for the squeamish, and if you love animals then be prepared for some horrific storyline....

Having said that - it's exactly why the book is so good.

My only criticism is the same I have with all of these KM books: it finishes too abruptly!

When John does what he does - I won't spoil it - you think: oh boy this is only going to go one way....

But it doesn't, and before you know it the story ends, albeit with a juicy cliffhanger....

Brilliantly narrated I found myself immediately immersed into the Cork of Mastertons imagination.

Living Death - it will keep you hooked and begging for MORE!!!

2 people found this helpful

Do not ever have a relationship with Katie Maguire

The books are definitely getting more gory, I’m not sure the body count in the Met in a month would reach the level that Cork attains in a few days.
But for heaven’s sake, if Katie ever comes on to you - run for the hills, leave town, change your name. So far she’s “lost” a husband, a son, two lovers, an ex lover, and possibly Kyna? Not to mention at least one boss..
I think this was the last of these books that I’m going to download. Just not believable any more.

1 person found this helpful