Paul Johnston (1) (1957–)

‘‘The death list’ is an enthralling, but disturbing, mystery novel that features some shocking descriptions of murders. The plot centres on Matt Wells, a he comes to realise that a series of murders use the same methods that he has written in his crime novels. The police also discover this and suspect him of being the murderer. Wells attempts to keep the police at a distance as, with the help of friends, he struggles to identify the true criminal, but at the same time to protect his family, friends and work associates from meeting a violent and painful death. Paul Johnston has written a highly inventive crim novel, one that holds you tight as the story unfolds to its bloody climax.… (meer)

¿Alguna vez te han dado ganas de matar a alguien?
A Matt Wells, escritor londinense de novela negra, sí. Abandonado por su agente, su editor y su esposa, tiene más fantasías de venganza que la mayoría de la gente.
Cuando un asesino en serie apodado el "Diablo Blanco" se pone en contacto con él, Matt descubre horrorizado que este ser diabólico lo sabe todo sobre él, su familia, sus amigos... y sus enemigos.
Entonces comienza la matanza y las ociosas fantasías de Matt empiezan a hacerse realidad. Si no detiene a tiempo al Diablo Blanco, todas las personas a las que odia pronto conocerán un escalofriante destino.… (meer)

Convertido en el objetivo del Diablo Blanco, un brutal asesino en serie, el escritor de novela negra Matt Wells sabe lo que es encontrarse cara a cara con el mal y sobrevivir. Ha rehecho su vida, pero una discípula de su torturador todavía está en libertad, así que no puede dejar de vigilar la seguridad de todo su entorno.
Cuando comienzan a morir algunos escritores de suspense, y encuentran asesinado a su mejor amigo, la paranoia de Matt parece bien fundada. Ahora debe poner en práctica todos sus recursos para orquestar el fin de la psicópata. Sin embargo, a medida que el asesino consigue burlarlo con pistas crípticas sobre la identidad de las siguientes víctimas, va quedando horriblemente claro que el baile con el diablo acaba de empezar.… (meer)

This is book six in the Quint Dalrymple series and the first one that I have read

Edinburgh 2033. A human heart has been found on a football pitch and Maverick investigator Quint Dalrymple is called in to investigate, but he doesn't get far in the investigation when a headless body is found. Has the heart and the headless body something to do with the planned referendum over Edinburgh joining a reconstituted Scotland?

It was really interesting to read a book set in a not so distant future where countries have been broken up into states. Since this was the first book I read did it take some time to get into “the world”. There have been some murders and Quint Dalrymple gets authority from the Council to find out who the heart belongs to and who is behind placing it on the football field? But nothing is simple with this case, a headless body turns up, there seems to be illegal gambling going on and gangs are smuggling drugs and soon it pretty clear that something is rotten in Edinburgh.

I must admit that it wasn't the most intriguing story and even though I'm used to reading books in English the author seemed a bit too happy using words that I'm not that familiar with and that doesn't feel that common. Well, at least I have learned some new words. But the book had something special, I liked the idea of a future Edinburgh where before this book the citizens seemed to be more tightly held and now and now have some more freedom, like actually having the haircut they want. Quint Dalrymple and his sidekick Davie brought some charm to the book as well. I love their banter. But I had some problems with the “names” of all the people working for the council, some example; Adam 392, Raebum 124, Hume 253, Watt 529, and Adam 159. I felt that it was a bit hard to keep track of everyone and that made the reading a bit heavy. Also, at the end; I just didn't find the revealing that shocking, more like "alright" when the culprits were revealed.

But it wouldn't mind reading the earlier books in this series and the future ones.

I received this copy from the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review! Thank you!… (meer)