- Paperback: 480 pages
- Publisher: HarperCollins; First edition edition (3 July 2000)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0006512054
- ISBN-13: 978-0006512059
- Product Dimensions: 17.8 x 10.6 x 3.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 481,659 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Boris Starling's accomplished and harrowing second novel begins with a North Sea storm that causes a catastrophic ferry accident. Amongst the handful of survivors is Kate Beauchamp an off duty DCI who was planning a trip to Bergen with her Amateur dramatics society. A variety of figurative storms brew in the aftermath--the anger and alienation between Kate and her father, the torment of a tortured mind expressed through hideous violence, a corporate conspiracy--each leading to an eventual vortex that is both merciless and startling. It is Starling's expert rendering of these storms that provides an enticing core, as the action builds to a thrilling crescendo, which is marked by paranoia and desperation.
As DCI Kate Beauchamp conducts her investigation into vicious serial killings in the shadow of her recent trauma, an unexpected reunion with her estranged father (investigating the sinking) adds a welcome emotional frisson in to what could have been a standard murder mystery. This is reinforced as Starling probes the mind of Beauchamp's tortured quarry. This is no faceless madman, "Blackadder" is a tragic product of his own storm: he projects his pain through Greek Tragedies, with his victims as tempting Furies. In Beauchamp, Starling has fashioned a detective whose effectiveness lies in her unceasing drive and her incisive understanding of the criminal psyche:
If there were no consequences to be afraid of, then everybody would not only be evil, they would act evil. The only difference between us and [the killer] is that he is not sufficiently afraid of the consequences to stop himself.Fast-paced and delivering gripping tension with excellent orchestration, Starling offers a magnificent tale that is conducted with grace and depth. --Danny Graydon
Review
Praise for Messiah:
‘Fast-paced, gritty… deserves nothing but praise’
Esquire
‘Grips from the first page and doesn’t let go. It’s a grimly, frighteningly good read’
Val McDermid
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
STORM is a bit hard to follow the first few pages, but for some reason you cannot put the book down. It grasps you, and you wonder and wonder what will happen next, Starling is a master of suspense,it's hard to believe this is only his second novel. As you read on every little detail comes to place, and when you're done you wonder what kind of world we live in. This book makes you wonder about your life and the people in it. It makes you think twice about who you trust in your own little world. Boris Starling had me wrapped around his finger when i read both MESSIAH and STORM. I can hardley what to get my hands on his next novel.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I don't normally write reviews but felt compelled to do so by one below - were we reading different books! I really felt the characterization was excellent in Storm (better than Messiah, actually), and found Kate a fascinating character. Starling describes the aftermath of the ferry disaster on her emotions and her coping mechanisms with startling sensitivity, paints a well-rounded, thoroughly empathetic person and shows a remarkable understanding of the female psyche (I say remarkable as the author comes across as a bit of a lad in interviews...!)
As for the plot itself, this is a breathtakingly intricate study of masquerading evil- the horror lurking behind the seemingly innocent facades of everything from friends to entire corporations. This seems to be Starling's fascination, first in Messiah and now here - the darkness all around, often where you least expect it, and even (and especially)within oneself. Of course Kate doesn't recognise it...
In all, an extraordinary second novel that is as compelling, a bit more sophisticated, less gory, but more chilling than the first. A definite holiday read (unless you're going anywhere by ferry.) Just a note though, to keep track of the whereabouts of your copy - it will get passed around your friends, and your friends's friends, and their friends' friends...
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The follow-up to the excellent (and disturbing 'Messiah') is again a marvelous read. Using characters from the previous book, including Red, it starts with a ferry disaster. this is explained in vivid detail and makes for disturbing reading. ...the police woman in charge of the investigation was a survivor on the ferry. Written at a fast pace and with vivid characters it is another quality thriller from Boris Starling. I found it not as good as the debut 'Messiah', but much better than the swarm of second rate thrillers on the market (including 'Hannibal').
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Storm by Boris Starling
Having first read Vodka and then Messia by this author, I was eagerly looking forward to reading the sequel to Messia. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Fontaine Bleue
Greek tragedy
So rarely does a novel grab my interest from the first page and keeps it to the last. At the one or two moments when I just started to wonder where it was going, a different... Read more
Published on 29 May 2009 by C. White
An unmissable read
I first read this book about 4 years ago, and although I have read many disaster fiction novels, I have never read a book that had me so engrossed in it, and at 4am I had to skip... Read more
Published on 2 Jan 2006 by wendy hart
Not as fast or fun as Messiah
Storm is well written but this is at the expense of polt and pace. It moves along too leisurely, which is not what's needed for a thriller. Read more
Published on 5 April 2002
Slightly underpowered but worth a look
"Messiah" was a pretty good read, oozing flair. "Storm" is a less good, but fairly enjoyable rehash of the same basic plot structure, this time a little light... Read more
Published on 4 Feb 2002 by Stephen Delo
Excellent Crime Thriller!!!
This is not as good as Messiah (which this book references) but that was absolutely outstanding! Storm is still an excellent crime thriller in its own right but I would recommend... Read more
Published on 13 Nov 2001 by Marc Woodward
just as good as messiah
At first i was sceptical of this book living up to 'Messiah', but i needn't have worried. The main character of the book, DCI Kate Beauchamp is very believeable and works well... Read more
Published on 27 Oct 2001 by louise_moger@hotmail.com
Connoisseurs will find it better than Messiah.
The plot consists of two equally gripping police mysteries: a ferry disaster on the North Sea and two hideous murders committed by an apparently psychopath murderer. Read more
Published on 28 Jun 2001
Edmund Emil Kemper in Storm from Boris Starling!!
Well, I must say Mr Starling has done his homework about research in serialkillers. No doubt a necessity if you are writing books about them. Read more
Published on 25 April 2001 by Peter H. Kistemaker
Slow to pick up, but clever, and turns into a gripping read.
Having read "Messiah", which was one of my favourite books of the year, I was very keen to read "Storm". Read more
Published on 28 Dec 2000
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