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52 of 53 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is a very, very good book, 3 Mar 2006
By A Customer
I read a lot of crime novels and this is the best I have read in a long while. Its potential weakness is that it is operating in such well ploughed territory. A hero/forensic expert who tries to escape personal tragedy by escaping to a remote Norfolk village only to find that he has a serial killer on his doorstep. It could all feel a bit like Silence of the Lambs meets The Wicker Man but Beckett pulls it off with some style.He keeps it all fresh and avoids the clichés by terrific writing and plotting. This is not an author who gives us some gruesome crimes, lobs in a dozen suspects and then comes up with a solution as an afterthought. Beckett doesn't waste a single sentence. Whether he is building a creepy atmosphere in his village setting, or unfolding his intelligent story or writing a scary denouement, he always keeps things under wonderful control. Amazingly for a novel which by definition should be a bit improbable, Beckett makes it all feel very believeable. More please !!
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28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Chemistry of Death, 7 April 2006
First book by this author that I have read, and it won't be the last, superb, writing, and an excellent plot, the story grabs you from page one, and doesn't let go until the last page, I lierally could not put it down, the technical detail, and the way it was presented was so well done that although it was gruesome to say the least, it just adds to the tension that you so seldom find in crime scene descriptions in the average crime novel, the prime character (David) is totally convincing, and has emotions that most people will be able to identify with, as is the senior police officer. Great plot well written, and a sting in the tail, which is not suspected, or even hinted at until it hits you between the eyes.I have not read any of Simon Beckett's books before and this one was purchased, after seeing him interviewed on BBC Look North, evening news. Such a modest man too. I sincerely hope it is a great success and that other purchasers, enjoy it as much as I did,I have now ordered some of his earlier work and hope that they are as good.Tech' Details are as good as Patricia Cornwell writes, without, the American over the top, characters. ENJOY>
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17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb, 14 Aug 2007
Rachel Walkers review basically sums up my own opinion so I won't waste your time repeating it.
I'm a big crime fiction fan, but have been disapointed by how little really good new authors seem to be coming along. In the early 90's there was a huge wave of fresh British crime writing talent (people such as John Harvey, Ian Rankin, Val McDiarmid etc) heavily promoted by the publishing houses. These guys are still writing great books, but with familiarity comes predictability.
Simon Becket writes a totally different type of thriller. Very well researched, scientifically accurate and best of all very, very exciting. I was literally kept awake wanting to know how it ends and even before finishing the 'chemistry of death' I'd bought his second book..... and its been a long while since I did that!
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