Post by Dreadlocksmile on Aug 21, 2009 9:28:39 GMT
Dreadlocksmile review:
With a plot synopsis that sounds like Hutson is trying to cash in on the whole 'Da Vinci Code' and 'The Holy Blood And The Holy Grail' success, I must admit that I was very apprehensive when I first picked up his latest novel. As I soon found out, 'Dying Words' is actually far from this genre of novel.
The tale follows the main character Detective Inspector David Birch who comes across as a reincarnation of the ever-popular Sean Doyle. As the murders begin to mount up within the novel, the reader is kept guessing as to who the murderer is and how the victims are being killed in such horrific ways without the killer being caught.
With the tale approaching the end, all becomes clear as a corny grand finale is played out to provide the novel with its dramatic ending.
The novel as a whole lacks the passion for action-packed violence and the usual splatterpunk blood and guts gore that we expect from a Hutson novel. Instead 'Dying Words' seems to be a watered down supernatural thriller that has been rushed out from a very weak story idea. Not since reading Hutson's 1992 novel 'Heathen' have I been so disappointed with one of his novels.
The novel's twist ending is predictable from very early on and the final conclusion is weak and disappointing. The storyline is fast-paced and reasonably gripping for the first 200 pages, but from there on it seems to lose its momentum. All in all I would say that this is one of Hutson's poorest novels to date.
The book lasts for 357 pages and was published through Orbit.