Taken for Dead (Katie Maguire, 4)

As biased as I am as a fan of Masterton, I think he has outdone himself with this brilliant story.The only books that come in close to this literary skill are Masterton's GENIUS and CHAOS THEORY ( Both storys outside of the "Horror Genre"); don't get me wrong, I think Horror is literary , or can be, in the full sense. I just started reading the "Critical" edition of THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY, which has extensive notes from the Penguin classics edition,2000, 2003, 2008, which shows the genesis of DORIAN GRAY, and puts it in context with a timeline. The only Masterton story I know that has anything similar is the TELOS edition 2002, of THE MANITOU, with variants and some great additional biographical information.The point being that there is more than enough material in this book to satisfy the most slavishly pedantic literary critics, and Masterton's work is, in my view, definitely worthy of study. Fans of the Katie Maguire series should be more than delighted with this story.The story is brilliantly crafted. The characters are well developed, and the whole story is a cracker of a good read.Masterton pulls no punches in the force of what happens, and I don't blame him for doing that (some have criticised the use of violence, but just look at the news, its much more severe, and the book is in your mind).Nothing in the story is out of context, or "gratuitous"( whatever that may mean to you); you can find a resolution in the moral sense where the bad guy gets his reward.The first book in the series had a selected guide to Cork slang, and I would have liked to have seen that trend continued in subsequent books, but at least in the US editions, but unfortunately it has not. Even so, it is still a great read, and the Cork/Limerick english dialects certainly give you a reason for looking the words up ( no guarantee you will find the meanings). Whether Katie is going up against the new "acting" Chief Superintendent Molloy, or any one of the many criminals, she is a force to be reckoned with, but she also has a human side, in other words, Katie is a very fully fleshed out character that has a world of wonder, amazement, love, horror, and duplicity to reckon with in her personal life. This is a great novel, a great story, and one even first time readers will enjoy and I suspect make them go back to the first in the series, although, i think that there might be a further book to chronicle the rich saga that is Katie Maguire's life. I fully recommend this as a billiant read.

Strong, typical Kati,e. Good plot development, easy narrative, great scene depictions (I can feel the "dewy" .Irish weather!). The explicit sex doesn't add much, I could do with less and enjoy the book more.

Graham Masterton is a remarkably gifted and versatile author. He weaves tales that mix the grotesque with wit, passion and drama. He is a kind of Shakespeare of the grotesque with an incredible capacity for invention. In the Kate Maguire series he writes with a woman as the main character - smart but flawed like a real person - especially in her taste in men. She is surrounded by other three dimensional characters. Masterton has a very good grip on how women are discriminated against in organisations and in the underworld. The last book and this book develop her character and her life experience against a bizarre and intriguing background of criminality and Celtic myth. Is Masterton going to write about her until she is old? I would love to read about her future life. I read this book in a couple of sittings as I did the one before and now I am waiting for the sequel. Masterton's creative gift fascinates me; he is quite out of the ordinary in his capacity to evoque and invent. Obviously a kind of genius.

I really like the main character and the stories are fun, if a little gruesome. The dialog is very entertaining. Only odd thing is the author's slight fixation with shaved genitalia. I'm not sure how a woman who is so busy she doesn't always have time to eat or sleep seems to always have freshly waxed privates even when she has an unexpected sexual encounter:)

He is a great writer, and in katie mcguire has developed a wonderful character

Despite being gruesome beyond gruesome in parts, this was a masterful, clever, roller-coaster ride of a story. I'd go so far as to say that I think it's a ripper of a read. I was sorry it had to end. I wonder how on earth the author even dreamed up some parts of this story? Original and imaginative, it was a very successfully layered, highly creative crime story which frequently surprised me. Katie is a plausible, well-rounded character with whom I could well identify. Without giving too much away, I ask ... what about the ending!?? I will definitely read more of Mr Masterton's books.

The High Kings of Erin calls itself a political movement, but they are really just a band of deluded extortionists. In this thriller by Graham Masterton we get a little humor, pathos and a whole lot of very fine writing! It was years ago when I first read Mr. Masterton, and I didn't realize just what I was missing. I am so glad I cottoned on to the Katie McGuire series. They lead Katie and her team on a merry chase with just the right amount of tension in this fast paced novel. More, more please!

Anothet great thriller by Mr Masterson. Read it within two days. A real page turner.

good

Yet another utterly compelling story in the life of Katie Maguire. Absolutely fabulously written, thoroughly enjoyed it and could put it down. Highly recommend.

well again as I have said before truly a wonderful read and fully can recommend I have read more of this Author and he is brilliant loved them all

The so far best one of the serial. Interesting plot. Gripping until the end. I appreciate that there is not as much (Irish) mystery-talk as in the others. But unfortunately, it's open ended with regards to what happens to her awful superiors. => Looking forward to the next one!

E' un libro dal soggetto sicuramente molto originale anche se un pò macabro. Scritto in un inglese molto scorrevole, facile da leggere.