- Hardcover: 384 pages
- Publisher: HarperCollins; 1st ed 1st printg edition (4 May 2004)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0007163940
- ISBN-13: 978-0007163946
- Product Dimensions: 23.8 x 16 x 3.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 284,472 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Review
Praise for The Straw Men:
‘Just when you think there’s nothing new under the sun in the world of the suspense novel, along comes one hell of a nasty spider call The Straw Men. It’s brilliantly written and scary as hell. Be the first on your block to stay up all night with this one; it’s a masterpiece, reminding us that even paranoids really do have enemies.’ STEPHEN KING
'A staggering, suspenseful journey through the darkness of American crime … succeeds in revitalising the serial killer novel with assured gusto… A new beginning for a major British writer, whose crime debut instantly moves him into the Thomas Harris division' Guardian
‘Brilliantly plotted, stunningly written … I read this in one go … if this isn't a hit, I am a monkey's uncle. And I don't think I am’. Independent on Sunday
Review
'Marshall is a cracker at writing tense, rich scenes' Observer 'The writing is assured and the plot carefully calibrated' Guardian 'Just when you think there's nothing new under the sun in the world of the suspense novel, along comes one hell of a nasty spider called The Straw Men. It's brilliantly written and scary as hell. Be the first on your block to stay up all night with this one; it's a masterpiece, reminding us that even paranoids really do have enemies.' STEPHEN KING 'A staggering, suspenseful journey through the darkness of American crime ! succeeds in revitalising the serial killer novel with assured gusto! A new beginning for a major British writer, whose crime debut instantly moves him into the Thomas Harris division' Guardian 'Brilliantly plotted, stunningly written ! I read this in one go ! if this isn't a hit, I am a monkey's uncle. And I don't think I am'. Independent on Sunday
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
With the same wit and jarring insight that colors all his work, Marshall sets out to tell a story about paranoids, psychopaths and quasi-law enforcement officials... and we start to discover they aren't all as neatly separated as we want to think. John Zandt, Nina Baynam and Ward Hopkins are the only ones who know about the Straw Men and unfortuneately the acquisition this knowledge and the loss of Bobby Nygard and anything approaching their personal safety is doing a nicer job dismantaling their sanity than their new enemies could hope for. Unfortuneately the same can't be said for Ward's homicidal brother Paul and as the trail heats up again it remains to be seen if the trio can still cut it against the Straw Men.
The story is pacey and punchy, with lots of gore thrown in but it has to be said there is no chase to the finish here. People get killed, nobody stops it because nobody knows what's happening except the reader who can guess what's happening from a relatively early stage in the story. The final showdown is good, but not as good as The Halls (in my opinion that is) and the 'revelation' of the story carries a lack of credibility that makes me wonder if there was a point in it at all.
All that said the characterization is excellent and that's where the book shines. Ward's escalating disassociation from society... and tandem gravitation towards Paul is wonderfully played. Simultaneously the spectre of Bobby Nygard is clearly one that will be with him to stay and he has to deal with that. (I must say, I missed Bobby very much in this book. Without him to spar with Ward's wit and cleverness had little opportunity to shine through.) The damage done to Nina career wise and mentally is carefully illustrated - particularly in her relationship with the newly expanded character of SAC Charles Munroe. Paul's past and personality are explored making him seem both more, and so much less than human adding a tangible ambiguity to his situation that makes your mind think - hard. Meanwhile, as always, Zandt's character is played largely through actions and not words. Sadly, there weren't too many of those.
The main reason this book gets 4 stars and not the 5 that Straw Men recieved is because as it proceeds it becomes a more and more lopsided affair due to the inclusion of Ward and Nina's POVs but a lack of Zandt's. While I appreciate that keeping his actions secret did enhance the suspense of the novel, it also damaged it's flow and some of the credibility of Zandt's actions and by default the plot. By keeping Zandt in the frame, Marshall could have made things more even-handed and the revelations of the third act would have had more weight, if perhaps less wow-power... that is... if you can believe those revelations or not.
Of course, real life isn't evenly segmented like that so perhaps I have little right to comment.
Like I say, good book but roll on the next because this one was meant have the words 'to be continued...' stapled to the back cover.
15 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Marshall appears to have had two ideas for his next book after writing the Straw Men. One had the synopsis: "A guilty man walks alone into the cold mountain forests of Washington State, aiming to never return", and the other was a straight sequel to the highly successful Straw Men.
Either he or his publisher decided it would be spiffy to merge the two into one, linking the stories by any means possible. As it turns out, the link is very tenous, and for most of the novel the two threads are wholly separate, only coming together for the denouement.
The Straw Men thread sees Ward Hopkins and buddies up against the Upright Man and is pacey and entertaining. It lacks the surprise elements of the previous book - a problem for all sequels - but still makes for a compelling and competent thriller.
The other thread is a bit of an oddity - I am deliberately saying very little about the storyline as it is easily spoiled. It is well written but doesnt quite grip the reader
Both stories are squeezed into 500 pages, and it is the Straw Men story that suffers most from this brevity - there was enough here for a full novel. Some short cuts are taken, and more than a few questions left unanswered.
For all this, the Lonely Dead is still a good read, and is certainly better than the average thriller. It disappoints for what is could have been, rather than what it is. Hopefully next time Marshall won't compromise.
Four stars.
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The Straw Men was excellent so I was a little sceptical as to whether he could match the thrill of the first in the series. But he did, it was excellent - a real page turner, could barely tear myself away. An the lovely big hardback looks so pretty on the shelf!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Excellent follow up.
An excellent sequel to The Straw Men, I can't wait to read the final instalment. Plenty of action and character development, hopefully I've now supplied enough words for this... Read more
Published 2 months ago by brooklyn
Christmas Present
I can't really give a review of this book because I haven't read it. What I can say, is that it was requested as a Christmas present by my son-in-law. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Waterdragoness
I haven't finished yet, but it is amazing
The depth and quality of thought and writing in this deep novel that delivers as a twisty crime thriller too, is simply outstanding. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Gm Cameron
The Lonely Dead
Very good sequel to an excellent first novel. Good development of the familiar characters and some very interesting new ones. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Russell J. Baird
As good as the first
As most other people have said, you need to read The Straw Men before this one; it's the first in the trilogy, and is an excellent book. Go do that now, then come back here. Read more
Published 18 months ago by simon211175
The Lonely Dead
As a sequel to the unique revelations of The Straw Men, this is mixed. It's great to see some of the old gang again (characterisation is one of Marshall's strongest skills) and to... Read more
Published on 12 May 2010 by PJM
Getting off the Rollercoaster - The Back Story Of the Straw Men
After the break-neck speed and action of 'The Straw Men' (one of my favorite novels), this is the slower-paced 2nd installment in The Straw Men Trilogy. Read more
Published on 28 April 2010 by T. Wright
confused?
Ok sorry but what just happened in this book!! I got to the end and literally had no idea what had happened, does the author think he appeals only to the uber intelligent that can... Read more
Published on 10 April 2010 by Ms. Lr Stephens
Is this supposed to be a sequel?
From the synopsis on the back of the book, this sounds like a stand alone read, but once you start you realise that unless you have read "Straw Men" then its very hard to work out... Read more
Published on 26 Aug 2009 by M. Reeve
What a disappointment
What a c**p book! The first sequel of the 'Straw Men' turned out to be a major disappointment. 'Straw Men', while overhyped, was a decent enough read. Read more
Published on 3 July 2009 by Book glutton
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