Rating: 
Summary: Nightmarish
Review: After three-fourths of the way through, enjoying the diferent chapters written from the points of view of the various characters, I looked at the cover to realize that there are two authors. That is how seamless the storyline is. I have for the most part stopped reading other genres other than crime novels and am not squeamish. Silence of the Lambs did not frighten me, but this book worked on my subconsious to cause me to dream that a murderer was in my house and I was paralyzed in my bed barely able to scream!
Rating: 
Summary: the ulimate psychological profile of a serial killer
Review: From the very first page, Prettiest Feathers is an eminently readable book. The smooth prose is comfortable to read. John Philpin speaks directly to the reader using the unusual device of first person narrative from the deviously brilliant mind of a serial killer, John Wolf. Building a complex scenario of seduction and murder, the reader is guided through the maze of deception by a master of murder and impersonation. I found the author's use of cultural and counterculture references a secondary pleasure to identify and interpret. Probably revealing my age, I will say I felt a twinge of pride having recognized most of what Philpin is alluding to. The music of Julian Cope escaped my knowledge, prompting me to delve into some pretty weird stuff to discover what John Wolf was really listening to. Prettiest Feathers contains enough mental challenges for even the most discerning intellectual. It is also possible to read the story just for the marvelous plot twists and turns. The ending reads like the climax of a motion picture. The pace quickens and excitement mounts. I was left breathless at the conclusion to what seems the final act of a killer seeking acknowledgment of his successful career from his able nemesis. But, is it really over?
Rating:
Summary: good read until the end
Review: I enjoyed reading this story until the end where it got to be a little too over-the-top for me. This book was very well written and told in an intriguing way of having the story unfold through different characters' points of view. Whenever I read a chapter by Sarah, I felt the weakest connection but it made sense that she was a willing victim. The authors really brought each character to life (which was a welcomed relief given my recent reading material) and the killer was a masterfully crafted character instead of the usual psychotic whose actions are made to be as shocking as possible just to sell books. Again, a welcomed relief from the numerous pedestrian thrillers out there. All of this made the climax all the more disappointing. The father/daughter team easily dupes the FBI to face the killer mano a mano. The father throws the daughter off the scent to protect her and faces the killer on his own in the one "safe" place of the killer. Of course the father is so smart that he's figured everything out and is two steps ahead of the killer when he confronts him. This reader was not surprised when the daughter shows up unexpectedly at a critical stage and throws a wrench into things. I knew the killer was going to injure the father despite his meticulous planning. But of course the father and daughter would prevail although the slight of hand trick used to achieve this was unbelieveable. This part of the story was too pat and the same old same old not to mention a major disappointment for this reader. It ruined the brillance of the earlier chapters and left a sour taste. Overall, a good read but.......
Rating:
Summary: I keep coming back to this book.
Review: I love crime thrillers and I read lots of them by a lot of different authors, but I keep coming back to The Prettiest Feathers. Each time I find something new. Most writers tell a story, skip quickly through a snappy plot, hold my attention, and then it's over. I get entertained and I go pick up another book. I feel like I know the characters in Feathers like they're almost too real. No book has ever creeped me out like this one, and I keep coming back for more.
Rating:
Summary: The best since "Silence of the Lambs"???
Review: I'm not sure why and when I got interested in true crime and fiction about serial killers -- I'm guessing Patricia Cornwell had a lot to do with it. I found myself browsing through Amazon, looking for books by the writer of a current paperback, "The Murder Channel" that I enjoyed and reviewed for Amazon. When I pulled up Philpin's listing, I found this book. I was immediately intrigued by the quality of the reviews and the fact that the book was completely unavailable at the time on any online site I visited. Determined to make a "find", I finally located one at a local bookswap that was in terrific condition, and settled down to read. Long story short, the other reviewers are absolutely on target with their praise of this collaboration between forensic psychologist John Philpin and private investigator Patricia Sierra. Philpin must have a lot of experience getting inside the heads of brutal killers; he started with two true crime novels, added this, his first fiction book and its sequel ("Tunnel of Night") with Patricia Sierra, and has gone on to write several more. Although the hero of the book is a woman cop, Detective Lane Frank, it feels as though the role of the profiler who is her father in the novel (Lucas Frank) must be very close to Philpin himself. Having developed the art of telling his true crime novels in part from the point of view of the accused, Philpin embarks on a masterful telling of this tale, from five different points of view; victim, killer, pursuers. This pattern, together with the cruelty of John Wolf and the masterful characterization and plot, resulted in a novel of true worth. Not since my discovery, pre-publicity, of "The Silence of the Lambs" and the additional unearthing of "Red Dragon", have I been so impressed with a work of the macabre. Parts of The Prettiest Feathers will shock you, much of it will scare you, and all of it will propel you to the end of the tale. And then on to the sequel, "The Tunnel of Night" -- much as I'm going to do now! .... Keep the lights on!
Rating:
Summary: The Prettiest Feathers
Review: Talk about scary! This book freaked me out! I loved it! Feathers is one of the most original books i have ever read. Each chapter is told in the point of view by a different character. It works nicely and i compare it to the style of the movie Momento. The story goes forward then back a little then forward then back a little. The killer is nasty and evil, reading his chapters from his point of view makes the reading in the position of doing the killing. It twisted my mind and rattled my brain. The only reason why i wouldnt give this a perfect rating is because i found the main characters rather dumb. "except for the killer" It was also cool how each character in the book perceives the killer with a different identity. It was disturbing, but a good one!
Rating:
Summary: Truly original
Review: The more I read of Phipin, the more I enjoy. I was sceptical at first with "The Prettiest Feathers" for the simple fact that it was written by two different authors, but I am so pleased that I did read it. This book jumps from different naratives in each chapter which are aptly named for each character. It is well written and is has a wonderful story line. I highly recommend this read to anyone reading this right now. Pick this up, you wont be disappointed, or at least I wasnt.
Rating:
Summary: Truly original
Review: The more I read of Phipin, the more I enjoy. I was sceptical at first with "The Prettiest Feathers" for the simple fact that it was written by two different authors, but I am so pleased that I did read it. This book jumps from different naratives in each chapter which are aptly named for each character. It is well written and is has a wonderful story line. I highly recommend this read to anyone reading this right now. Pick this up, you wont be disappointed, or at least I wasnt.
Rating:
Summary: Character drives this story....
Review: This is a book I would not normally read, but it was a selection for a book club that I participate in, so therefore I read. It was a very good book, but very scary. It is written by two people, Dr Philpin that is a forensic psychologist and Patricia Sierra who held a brief career as a private investigator. This book is written in first person, so you know what the killer is feeling and doing. Also, all the characters are written in first person, so you know how they feel as well or their perception of what is going on. This involves a small cast of characters broken down into three books. It is a story about a serial killer and the chase that ensues so that he cannot kill again. Each chapter is about one person's thoughts and perceptions. It is a very interesting way to write a book and it worked for these two authors. I would probably read more by this author just not one right after the other.
Rating:
Summary: Full of Suspense and Good.
Review: This is a book I would not normally read, but it was a selection for a book club that I participate in, so therefore I read. It was a very good book, but very scary. It is written by two people, Dr Philpin that is a forensic psychologist and Patricia Sierra who held a brief career as a private investigator. This book is written in first person, so you know what the killer is feeling and doing. Also, all the characters are written in first person, so you know how they feel as well or their perception of what is going on. This involves a small cast of characters broken down into three books. It is a story about a serial killer and the chase that ensues so that he cannot kill again. Each chapter is about one person's thoughts and perceptions. It is a very interesting way to write a book and it worked for these two authors. I would probably read more by this author just not one right after the other.
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