That is a totally subjective and unfair question. One person’s page turner could be another’s turn off. There are loads of books I’ve read that don’t appeal, but that may say more about my taste than the author’s ability.
Absolutely agree. When I haven’t raved about popular ones, I’m usually slapped down with ‘It’s a good book.’ Says who? Just because someone likes it doesn’t make it good (50 Shades qv) and just because someone dislikes it it is not necessarily a bad book.
the classification tells you that? Google classifies it as demonology.
“When an unidentified, brutalised body is discovered, the case is assigned to Thomas Fool, one of Hell’s detectives, known as ‘Information Menâe(tm). But how do you investigate a murder where death is commonplace and everyone is guilty of something?”
@Martin It’s been listed in those categories, presumably for a reason. I haven’t read it, so can’t comment, but if it’s listed as Horror rather than Crime, there must be a reason for that?
@Martin Doesn’t sound my cup of tea at all, but I wouldn’t choose anything listed in 3 Horror categories, as it’s not my thing. I was just speculating why the publisher had gone for 3 horror listings and not one under supernatural crime, for instance. I have an insatiable curiosity 😉
Interestingly one of the reviews says “Dark and luminous, compelling and insidious, DEVIL’S DETECTIVE is a novel that transcends genre” (Michael Marshall Smith). So I’d guess they thought it might appeal to horror readers more than just crime, id agree horror & crime is much more apt. Whatever genre it was dire. Didn’t satisfy either category. Currently, I’m working my way through the Lee Childs back catalogue of Reacher books.
For me, @Claire, the diary extracts kept taking me out of the book. I can’t explain it any better than that. It put me off so much I didn’t finish the book. In addition, the style of writing just didn’t grab me enough to make up fo the diary issue.
I find that the ones co-written with other authors irritate me by describing, in great detail, what every person is wearing, and also what their gun is. As I am not interested in Designer wear or guns, I have given up on him.
I got a freebie of Amazon, so I cant really complain but it was shockingly far fetched. It was called solway bay. I’m silly though as I have to finish a book I start
Gone Girl. Really can’t see what the fuss is about. It actually made me angry when reading how stupid the characters ate and that was before the ridiculous ending
Gone Girl took me ages to get into- I couldn’t abide the name “Go”-something so small irritated me beyond belief. Behind Closed Doors was annoying too- to me Grace enjoyed her situation too much so the ending was unbelievable. The thing that really brings a book down for me is if it annoys or irritates me- it’s possible to hate a character and yet still have a good read but if they annoy you the book’s done for
The Jake Woodhouse series set in Amsterdam. The writing was just really weak. Also hated the widow by Fiona Barton. The characters were very cliched and 2d.
I dislike the ones in which the protagonist is attracted to and / or falls in love with the suspect and / or the detective. SJ Bolton’s Lacy Flint series comes to mind. I only liked the first in the series and then the romance got silly!
Oooh, can of worms time 😉
One of mine was a French one, Ressac by David-James Kennedy. Very implausible.
That is a totally subjective and unfair question. One person’s page turner could be another’s turn off. There are loads of books I’ve read that don’t appeal, but that may say more about my taste than the author’s ability.
Absolutely agree. When I haven’t raved about popular ones, I’m usually slapped down with ‘It’s a good book.’ Says who? Just because someone likes it doesn’t make it good (50 Shades qv) and just because someone dislikes it it is not necessarily a bad book.
I’ve disliked every book by Dan Brown.
Yet you’ve still read every book?
Inferno was terrible.
@Tony I needed funny books to read. His books had me in stitches
If i was a writer then I would make the effort to write my own books. At least Dan Brown writes his own books unlike a certain Mr Patterson
Any book with supernatural elements. But that is just my personal opinion
The Devil’s Detective by Simon Unsworth. Not much I liked about it to be honest.
the classification tells you that? Google classifies it as demonology.
“When an unidentified, brutalised body is discovered, the case is assigned to Thomas Fool, one of Hell’s detectives, known as ‘Information Menâe(tm). But how do you investigate a murder where death is commonplace and everyone is guilty of something?”
@Martin It’s been listed in those categories, presumably for a reason. I haven’t read it, so can’t comment, but if it’s listed as Horror rather than Crime, there must be a reason for that?
its a crime set in hell. I read both horror and crime, I thought this would be perfect. It wasn’t either. I was disappointed.
The fact you said you haven’t read it and can’t comment, but you did confuses me?
The ? at the end of what I write usually suggests I am questioning, rather than commenting 😉
In which case, yes crime but set in hell. Needless to say disappointed. Even more than either gone girl or girl on a train ?
@Martin Doesn’t sound my cup of tea at all, but I wouldn’t choose anything listed in 3 Horror categories, as it’s not my thing. I was just speculating why the publisher had gone for 3 horror listings and not one under supernatural crime, for instance. I have an insatiable curiosity 😉
Interestingly one of the reviews says “Dark and luminous, compelling and insidious, DEVIL’S DETECTIVE is a novel that transcends genre” (Michael Marshall Smith). So I’d guess they thought it might appeal to horror readers more than just crime, id agree horror & crime is much more apt. Whatever genre it was dire. Didn’t satisfy either category. Currently, I’m working my way through the Lee Childs back catalogue of Reacher books.
@Martin Another Marmite book 🙂
I think I was one of the few who didn’t like Gone Girl. Just a matter of taste, and it wasn’t to mine.
I’m the same with The Girl on the Train 😉
Can I ask why?
For me, @Claire, the diary extracts kept taking me out of the book. I can’t explain it any better than that. It put me off so much I didn’t finish the book. In addition, the style of writing just didn’t grab me enough to make up fo the diary issue.
I didn’t either.
@Tony I don’t want to “like” this but thanks for coming back to me
I didn’t like “Gone Girl” either – that doesn’t make it a bad book; it just means it isn’t to my taste!
Books are such a personal thing. Like perfume. One person loves a book that another hates. I like that! X
Or Marmite 😉
Yum!
Lol. Marmite Easter Egg I got last year lol x
Stop!! Please!!!!! 🙂
Lol. Sorry x
Everything by James Patterson. Poorly written and unsophisticated.
He wrote a few decent books in the late 70s & early 80s. His debut novel(which came out in 1976) won him an Edgar award
Ok I haven’t read any that old. Actually the Alex Cross series was ok. But most of it is schlock
I would show the guy more respect if he bothered to write his own books
@Jason what do you mean??
James Patterson doesn’t write his own books. He comes up with a plot outline. Then pays somebody to write the story for him.
I totally agree!! I gave up with the Alex cross books ? I read a review and it totally changed my opinion of the books ?
I find that the ones co-written with other authors irritate me by describing, in great detail, what every person is wearing, and also what their gun is. As I am not interested in Designer wear or guns, I have given up on him.
i think they are well written
Sleepy head by mark billingham I just couldn’t get into it!!! Gave up reading it in the end and it’s still sat on my kindle ?
I really liked that one. 🙂
I am really struggling with D S Lasser book 1. At the moment, I don’t like anybody in the book.
Some books can take a bit of time to get going
I will keep trying. But if I am still struggling past page 75, I shall give up.
I usually give books until 50% but i read via kindle
Some of the top-selling authors in the world are, in my view, unreadably bad. The majority of self-published authors are the same. But I’m picky.
I don’t like it when an author turns a series into a money producing assembly line and reuses the same ideas as in earlier books.
I got a freebie of Amazon, so I cant really complain but it was shockingly far fetched. It was called solway bay. I’m silly though as I have to finish a book I start
Gone Girl. Really can’t see what the fuss is about. It actually made me angry when reading how stupid the characters ate and that was before the ridiculous ending
Gone Girl. Behind Closed Doors. Inauthentic, unbelievable, didn’t like the writing style.
I don’t care for Jo Nesbo,sorry,and I like Scandinavian crime books,but just don’t like them!
I struggle to like Harry Hole, that’s for sure. Admitting to it seems to make me a criminal 😉
If I don’t like a book, I usually stick with it about 100 pages. If it still doesn’t appeal to me, I toss it. Girl in the train went that way.
Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train
me too.Thought I was the only one
I actually liked TGOTT but I can see why other’s wouldn’t. It reminded me of Before I Go To Sleep. A bit samey.
Not to mention classic films like Rear Window and Gaslight.
I disliked every character in Girl on the Train- couldn’t get to like them enough to miss them or care about them.
That was how I felt about all of the characters. I didn’t care one way or the other what happened to them
Gone Girl took me ages to get into- I couldn’t abide the name “Go”-something so small irritated me beyond belief. Behind Closed Doors was annoying too- to me Grace enjoyed her situation too much so the ending was unbelievable. The thing that really brings a book down for me is if it annoys or irritates me- it’s possible to hate a character and yet still have a good read but if they annoy you the book’s done for
Some of my favourite reads I have hated the character. I agree with you if a character irritates it can spoil a book.
I didn’t enjoy Gone Girl or TGOTT! Didn’t like any of the characters!
Gone Girl and The Girl On The Train both over hyped in my opinion
The Jake Woodhouse series set in Amsterdam. The writing was just really weak. Also hated the widow by Fiona Barton. The characters were very cliched and 2d.
Really showing my age here. I immediately read 2d as tuppence 🙂
Don’t like any Ellie Griffen books
Anything written in the present tense. It yanks me out of the story.
Yes, I would agree with that. I’m also not keen on first person either.
I dislike the ones in which the protagonist is attracted to and / or falls in love with the suspect and / or the detective. SJ Bolton’s Lacy Flint series comes to mind. I only liked the first in the series and then the romance got silly!