Review by Chadsby -- The Dark Web Murders by Brian O'Hare
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Chadsby
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Review by Chadsby -- The Dark Web Murders by Brian O'Hare
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Dark Web Murders" by Brian O'Hare.]
A conga line worth of murders, an exploration into the mystery that is the Dark Web, and a group of detectives who seem to always be one step behind the murderer – what’s not to love? Well, quite a few things actually.
At first glance, this novel, written by Dr. Brian O’Hare, sounds like it is going to be an intense and disturbing journey from cover to cover. The murder of a high-ranking Judge of the Northern Ireland Supreme Court uncovers secrets relating to a sordid sex ring in which some of the world’s richest people are members, participating in abhorrent, often illegal, sexual acts. While DCI Sheehan and his group of top detectives investigate, they learn that they are dealing with a serial killer who is posting blogs about the murders on the Dark Web. It is a race against time to catch this evasive killer before he finishes exacting his justice and disappears forever. Unfortunately, The Dark Web Murders does not deliver on the expectations it advertises.
The whole novel builds beautifully, stacking layers of intrigue upon strong foundations of character and imagery. But, unfortunately, that crumbles to dust in what is arguably the most important part of any murder-mystery story: the end. The murderer’s reveal is lack-luster, and the denouement in which the final victim’s identity is hidden in a coded message is so simple to decipher, it is confounding that it takes these brilliant detectives so long to figure out. The juxtaposition between the tension built throughout the novel and its release in the final 50 pages leaves the reader feeling robbed of the satisfaction they deserve.
That being said, most notable and particularly enjoyable are the characters. Though there are many of them, it is not difficult to keep track of who’s who; the author employs clever language and stylistic techniques to ensure you as the reader know exactly who is doing what and with whom. You also grow attached to these characters, who are well-written, with imperfections making them refreshingly human.
I give this novel 2 out of 4 stars. With spelling errors and some aspects of character that border on stereotypical at points, this novel feels like it should be in its penultimate draft phase, and not its final. It is so close to being a good story, with excellent prose and first-rate world building, but it just misses that mark, and lands squarely in the realm of “average”. This novel is definitely not for the faint of heart and would be best suited for someone who wants to get into the thriller genre but isn’t yet experienced in the nuance of catching a killer.
There are some great ideas in this novel and parts of it are wonderful but, unlike the killer’s victims, it was not well executed.
******
The Dark Web Murders
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
A conga line worth of murders, an exploration into the mystery that is the Dark Web, and a group of detectives who seem to always be one step behind the murderer – what’s not to love? Well, quite a few things actually.
At first glance, this novel, written by Dr. Brian O’Hare, sounds like it is going to be an intense and disturbing journey from cover to cover. The murder of a high-ranking Judge of the Northern Ireland Supreme Court uncovers secrets relating to a sordid sex ring in which some of the world’s richest people are members, participating in abhorrent, often illegal, sexual acts. While DCI Sheehan and his group of top detectives investigate, they learn that they are dealing with a serial killer who is posting blogs about the murders on the Dark Web. It is a race against time to catch this evasive killer before he finishes exacting his justice and disappears forever. Unfortunately, The Dark Web Murders does not deliver on the expectations it advertises.
The whole novel builds beautifully, stacking layers of intrigue upon strong foundations of character and imagery. But, unfortunately, that crumbles to dust in what is arguably the most important part of any murder-mystery story: the end. The murderer’s reveal is lack-luster, and the denouement in which the final victim’s identity is hidden in a coded message is so simple to decipher, it is confounding that it takes these brilliant detectives so long to figure out. The juxtaposition between the tension built throughout the novel and its release in the final 50 pages leaves the reader feeling robbed of the satisfaction they deserve.
That being said, most notable and particularly enjoyable are the characters. Though there are many of them, it is not difficult to keep track of who’s who; the author employs clever language and stylistic techniques to ensure you as the reader know exactly who is doing what and with whom. You also grow attached to these characters, who are well-written, with imperfections making them refreshingly human.
I give this novel 2 out of 4 stars. With spelling errors and some aspects of character that border on stereotypical at points, this novel feels like it should be in its penultimate draft phase, and not its final. It is so close to being a good story, with excellent prose and first-rate world building, but it just misses that mark, and lands squarely in the realm of “average”. This novel is definitely not for the faint of heart and would be best suited for someone who wants to get into the thriller genre but isn’t yet experienced in the nuance of catching a killer.
There are some great ideas in this novel and parts of it are wonderful but, unlike the killer’s victims, it was not well executed.
******
The Dark Web Murders
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The Survival of the Richest by Dr. Anthony M. Criniti IV
