Sam 'Mad' Carew is bored. So when a beautiful woman asks for his help, he's only too happy to help. Her father, Kevin Kilpatrick, has been locked up for violent murders she believes he didn't commit.
A recent spate of similar killings convinces Sam she may have a point. However, he doesn't bargain on getting mixed up with one of the most ruthless and sadistic crime families in the country. Sam soon realises he'll have to come face to face with the killer - the elusive and aptly named 'Hammerhead' - in order to knock this one on the head.
.... From the outer back cover.
FIRST SENTENCE: Kevin Kilpatrick didn't know what the job was to be, other than it was some bookie they were turning over.
MEMORABLE MOMENT: "I can't speak - I'm in a dust bin."
"A dustbin? Of course you're in a dust bin - you're Sam Carew. Why wouldn't you be in a dustbin?"
The third outing for Sam Carew (I haven't read any of the others) with a plot that was about as subtle as a, well, hammer blow to the head.
For what is billed as a 'Euro crime favourite' there are an awful lot of references that I'm sure those outside of the UK would be hard pressed to understand/make any sense of.
A readable enough crime thriller that is not so much a whodunit as a 'how they were caught' novel, Hammerhead has some impressive characters with Ken McCoy paying particular attention to the violent side of the female psyche.
I thought McCoy wrote really strong female characters who, in the main, had some real depth to them. A pity that most of them were overly violent and not above using their 'feminine charms' to get what they wanted.
Much more poorly written were the men who largely came across as not very intelligent beings. Sam Carew himself I did not like, hardly believable as a supposedly resourceful crime detective, he seemed to think with his, well, with things other than his brain for a lot of the time which led him into all kinds of trouble.
More well known for his family sagas, I think McCoy was largely out of his depth and it showed. Will I be reading any more Sam Carew novels? No.
Signed by the author, Hammerhead was won at a Book Club quiz.
21 comments:
This style of book has never really appealed to me. I just don't do murder mystery books and I cannot get into them.
I love hearing the first sentence and memorable sentence!
That title and it's implications just makes me shiver.
How do you choose the books you read?
I love the memorable moment! LOL!
The title of the book is quite funny to me.."Hammer Head"
xx
Hammer head reminded me of a serial killer's story which I read few years ago
I admit I'm intrigued enough to pick up a Sam Carew book the next time I'm in the UK, just to see for myself how awful it is. :) But I probably wouldn't finish it, 'cause it's not really my genre. Thanks for the review!
Looks like am ok read.. The first kind and the plot seem to be good enough!
Have a nice day:)
Okay first off...that cover is CREEPY! A bloody hammer....*shudders* Odd that the seemingly main character wasn't nearly as well written as the supporting cast....makes you wonder if the character author relationship didn't quite develop but then again by the third book in a series, you'd hope that it had already. Better luck on the next book....happy reading...
Interesting. Will make a nice Indian "masala" movie.
I haven't heard of this title, but I was initially intrigued by the back cover. However, I get the sense that the characters are not fully developed from your review. That will definitely leave a lot to be desired...
Have a great day!
A good question Dr Antony. I like to think of myself as a person who will give anything (reading wise) a go at least once and as I hadn't read anything by this author before I thought why not give it a go.
Yeah...the cover alone looked pretty creepy. Loved your interpretations though! :)
I keep trying crime novels and I just never find any that interest me.
I can either see the clues a mile or way or there are so many diversions it's like a maze and I get annoyed and a great many of them seem to get hung up on sexual torture as the primary form of violence.
I keep trying though!
Well, I do like crime novels...both cozy mysteries and police procedurals, but I'm not sure this appeals to me. I always enjoy your honest reviews, though.
What a pity the characters were such a let-down. I loved that dustbin moment, though.
Hmmm...I think I'll pass on this one. I dont think I'd enjoy the characters too much.
http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/
So you're saying this is a subtle and gorgeously written character study that warmed your heart? ; )
HAHA.
Sounds like one to skip.
Thanks for the review! I used to be addicted to crime novels once. I got sick of them eventually.
lol the memorable moment is great!!!
as for the cover of "Ruined" my only thoughts are that the cover portrays one of the ghosts in the book or someone from the past b/c history plays a big role. But either way, it's pretty :)
I love the memorable sentence.
After reading your review I think I'll pass on this one.
B xx
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