Messiah

Rating:
Summary: Not bad, but not as good as it's hyped to be
Review: I pick up Messiah having just finished Red Dragon and Lambs (that was probably unfortunate for Starling... Boris not Clarise). I was so pumped for serial killer thrillers after RD & SOTL that I did allot of research and found Messiah had high reader ratings.
I would probably give the story itself an above average 4 stars. Though it was somewhat predictable (or maybe I just guessed lucky), I enjoyed the plot. I liked how it took some time to figure out exactly what the "bad guy" was up to and the many plot twists were interesting and well planned.
I wasn't as impressed with the writing. I found it to be average; not terrible, not great. I remember struggling through several chapters of boring character development that seemed to be pointless filler. There was plenty of background info but the characters still seemed flat. Same with the settings. I guess it was like reading in black and white where some other writers (Preston/Child, Harris, Crichton) seem able to write in full color. I'm also not big on novels written entirely in the present tense (but hey this is all about opinions, right?). I would recommend this book but it wasn't anything special.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best serial killler books EVER!
Review: I bought this book after I saw some of the good reviews it got here. I never thought it would be this good. The title "Messiah" is interesting, but you won't know why the book is called that until you read on for a while. Then you'll get it, and it will be like getting hit on the head by a hammer. I do not want to get into the details of the book, but it is amazing and the author did his homework. When you've finish the book you will be very happy that you read it. If you liked the movie "Seven" then you will LOVE this book!

Rating:
Summary: Shocking
Review: This book was truly brilliant. Even though I'd watched the TV dramatisation first and knew "whodunnit", I was still shocked at the ending second time round. Since the film was so good, I didn't know if I'd like the book just as much. I was not disappointed though, Messiah the novel had me gripped on every page and I engulfed the whole book in 3 days. Messiah really is an ingenius and chilling book. It had me almost as scared as the film, if not more. Great reading, everyone should read it (unless you are squemish!)

Rating:
Summary: For These Things Were Done...
Review: Boris Starling's "Messiah" starts out deceptively slow paced as Detective Superintendent Red Metcalfe confronts the first crime scene of this novel. A hanging - made unusual by the removal of the victim's tongue and its replacement with a silver spoon. But he hardly has time to interview the deceased's girlfriend when he receives a second call. This time a bishop has been beaten to death, and once again the victim's tongue has been removed and replaced with a silver spoon. Red intuitively knows that this will be a bad case, and that he is hunting down a fiendishly clever serial killer.

Metcalfe, with his team of Duncan Warren, Kate Beauchamp, and Jez Clinton, find themselves faces with a killer who knows how to leave no trace at the murder scene. The murders seem to occur at random, and the victims seem to have nothing in common. Red, who is noted for his ability to get into the minds of criminals and killers is completely stymied. The team seems helpless as killing follows killing, and every lead points to a dead end.

Starling keeps up interest by first alternating the narrative with flashback of Metcalfe's life. In college he turned his brother in as a killer who is still serving a life sentence. Later Metcalfe was the driver in a hit and run accident. A secret he still hides. The second narrative feature is the gradual inclusion of tidbits from the killer. These are extremely well done, providing insight but never giving anything away.

Without ever appearing so, this is an extremely tightly plotted thriller. There is very little that does not happen for a reason. Clues are carefully presented and disguised without ever revealing too much. The story twists and turns as the murders point in different directions without ever becoming banal or repetitive. The murders themselves are ghoulishly spectacular, making this both a fascinating mystery story and a great serial killer read. A very fine piece of writing from a promising author.

Rating:
Summary: Don¿t read this one at night
Review: Oh my, this is one of the scariest serial murder books I have ever read. DO NOT read if you are the least bit squeamish.

This is a who-dun-it that will keep you guessing until the end. This is a must read for physiological thrill fans.

I also read Strom by Boris Starling an okay book, but Messiah by far is a much better read. I would recommend reading Strom first that way you won't be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: That's what suspense is all about
Review: If you want to get a good sleep you are recommanded to choose the "Silence of the lambs", if you want to read all night long, you have to choose "Messiah", since this is such a very good read that will keep you up all night. I made the mistake to read "Storm" first, so I knew about Red's destiny - unfortunately nobody told me before to start with "Messiah". I loved Red's character, his story which will be told during the book and which is so unbelievable that I could not stop at all, believe me! The plot is excellent, the twists are really exciting and Starling will give you an answer to all your questions which will come up during that book. When it came to the end, I was left quite desperate because I knew that Starling hasn't written a new one yet so I stay here with the hope, that maybe the best is yet to come , which - I confess - is really very unlikely.

Rating:
Summary: Nightmares are made of this
Review: One of the best examples of the workings of a diseased mind I've ever read. Definitely not for the squeamish. The author manages to combine evil, horror, and raw sadism, with the activities of a police team, and the result is a captivating reading experience.

Rating:
Summary: My Favorite Book EVer
Review: This is the greatest book ever written. The author is amazing; he shows the mind of the killer, he shows important and interesting flashbacks, he makes incredibly intriguing side stories, he shows you every possible angle of solving the mystery. Red: a detective stick in a rut, Starling shows you his reaction, revelations, and home life. Duncan: a useless man caught in a bad situation, thats all i can say. Jez: an upcoming detective looking for a break. Kate: a woman who is in love with Jez but too afraid to show it. Each character is different yet share a common goal: Catch Silver Tounge. I wish I could go back in time and start the book all over again. Please make this into a movie.

Rating:
Summary: A marvelous piece of literature.
Review: Typically in the world of literature an author publishes several books before finally releasing a truly marvelous work. Boris Starling is an author who accomplished this task with his very first release.

"Messiah" is a heart-stopping thriller which takes you on a ride through London and the minds of several detectives on the case of a serial killer.

The author did a great deal of research before writing this novel, and it certainly shows through the detail that is demonstrated throughout the book. In every chapter the reader is filled with enough information to create stunning visuals in one's own mind, giving the book an almost realistic feel; one which could only be matched by actually being in this world in person.

If you're looking for a great novel to capture your imagination and your emotions, Boris Starling's "Messiah" is certainly the one for you!

Rating:
Summary: Very, Very Good
Review: This is a very good thriller. It would make a terrific movie, like Seven or Silence of the Lambs. I strongly recommend this book for those who like to read with no time to stop.