Rating: 
Summary: One of the best books I have ever read
Review: I have to say that for the amount of books I read, and those are mostly psychological thrillers, this is the one and only book so far that has given me nightmares! It has one of the best and most realistic endings I have read in a long time. I highly recommend it!
Rating: 
Summary: Resurrection of the Messiah.
Review: They gave me this book for my birthday last year because they knew I like stories and movies about serialkillers. I have many books about serialkillers (fiction and non fiction) but this was one I couldn't put down. Good story and written in short chapters that keep you reading. You could say we have a little masterpiece here. I like open endings and this doesn't have one but that bothers me more in movies than in books. If you have red the book Messiah by Boris Starling you will see it has parallel story lines with the movie Resurrection, but it differs enough to buy the book and read it even if you have seen the movie. The 30 quarters in the movie are silver spoons in the book and the serialkiller is found in the same direction as in Resurrection. But I can only say: Watch the movie and buy the book. Both will give you pleasure and chills.
Rating: 
Summary: Great concept, but the delivery was off-putting...
Review: I read somewhere that the killer in this book rivaled Hannibal Lecter. Now, with a recommendation like that, who could refuse? The plot, the general concept of this book was wonderful and the play of the story was riveting - if that's what you're looking for, it's an incredible read. My problems, however, were three-fold. First of all, and this is a relatively minor point, the constant British pop cult references were a bit difficult to fathom at times. I consider myself an intelligent person, but I suppose I'm just not up on the latest lingo from the British isles. Also, and this part drove me nuts, I just hate it when an author writes a book as if he's surveying the scene right at that moment. You know, "Person X is walking to his car. He gets in. He sees the killer." That sort of thing. Somehow it seems to impede the flow of the story. Finally, as good a character as he is, this killer in no way, shape or form compares to Dr. Lecter. That all said, it's a worthwhile read, relatively believable, with many satisfying twists and turns. I like also the sort of antihero portrayed here in the lead detective - the tortured soul out hunting an even sicker tortured soul. THAT part is very much like the Thomas Harris novels.
Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put it down...
Review: This was a page turner. It was detailed and I was certain I knew who the killer was three quarters of the way through. Was I wrong! This book takes you through twists and turns. It was well researched and very well done. I recommend "Messiah" highly. Can't wait to read "Storm".
Rating:
Summary: The ending was great!
Review: Boris Starling's first suspense attempt was better than anticipated. As I usually steer clear of British mysteries, I'm so glad I gave this one a try. Imagine tracking a killer, when your own deeds are circumspect! I even thought I knew the perpetrator, as I neared the 3/4 point of the story. Boy was I wrong, up to the very end! Needless to say, his next book, Storm, is on my TBR shelf!
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful mystery...
Review: I first bought Boris Starling's "Storm", and liked it a lot. I then began looking for other books by Boris Starling and came across "Messiah". I don't know how people could go around bashing this book. I found it very educational and suspenseful. This book was about Detective Red Metcalfe following the blood trail of a serial killer. Although Red didn't have any likeable attributes, it didn't hamper the plot any. I felt that this book was a clever thriller that made the reader think and try to piece it all together. I didn't suspect the killer until the last minute. I had to read it again to pick up the little clues that the author left throughout the book. Overall I thought this was a very well written book, and that Boris Starling is a very talented writer.
Rating: 
Summary: Impressive, but...
Review: ...but wait a second. Haven't I met this before? The troubled officer (Red) reminds me of the "Red Dragon" (Thomas Harris). And then the objects left in the victims' mouths... Maybe the "Silence of the Lambs"? And what about the mistakes and the "holes" in the plot? Yes, Starling is a promising author. But in Thomas Harris' books we find the results of tremendous study, experience and investigation. Starling has to work harder. Otherwise he will not attract the demanding readers. However, as a foreign reader, I found the language easy (short sentences, common words etc.). From this point of view, I recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: This book is weak
Review: I read about 200 pages of this book and couldn't take any more. The main character, Red, is not likeable at all; he has no endearing qualities and spends too much time lamenting his lot in life. I wish he were less maudlin and tackled his job with more enthusiasm and strength. Also, I find the author's style of writing very unengaging---he uses very short descriptive sentences in the present tense as if he were writing for the stage or the screen.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointed
Review: I must be in the minority, too. I really did not find this book "brilliant" or "stunning". I have definately read worse books, but this one in no way compares to any of the books written by Thomas Harris. It has none of their depth or originality. I'm afraid I found it rather predictable, too. All in all, I was very disappointed by the book, but I hope that Starling will improve and mature with his later efforts.
Rating:
Summary: The most "in-your-face" murder book I've read!
Review: There's nothing restrained about Messiah, a book awash with blood, mutilation, family conflicts and over the top religious symbolism. Despite often patchy writing and some one-dimensional stereotyped secondary characters, Messiah manages to stay a class above the many other wannabe serial murder thrillers. Many other books also offer a twist at the end that supposedly, "you'll never guess". In Messiah, a couple of times you think you spot it, but you really WON'T guess this one. Many books contrive human failings for their detective heroes to make them more realistic, but you'd never predict the true nature of Red Metcalfe, the complex and tortured main character of Messiah. Read it, murder fans! DON'T flip to the last pages first! And if you enjoy this book, then don't miss Val McDermid's "The Mermaids Singing", it's like this but even better, I promise...
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