An aptly named book - the pace of this novel would not allow me to put this one down. One of my famous "I'm close enough to finishing this, I may as well do so" late late nights.

Although I've read most of the Charlie Parker novels, I think this book is my favorite by John Connolly so far. Perhaps because the story is bounded by the island. Perhaps because it's bounded by time. I mean it's a story with a beginning, middle and end. If you've read the Charlie Parker novels you know they all kind of start somewhere else and never quite resolve. If you'd like to sample a stand-alone John Connolly that's less brutal than some others, I recommend this one.

Kebetulan mood sedang ingin mengahbiskan buku John Connolly. Sama seperti seri Charlie Parker, buku ini merupakan gabungan antara contemporary, police procedural & fantasy, walau unsur police proceduralnya sedikit. Disini ada tokoh Sharon Macy yg kehadirannya diceritakan sekilas di The Wolf in Winter.
Para pemukim pertama pulau Suaka dikhianati & dibantai. Kini sekelompok pembunuh mendatangi pilau tsb untuk membalas dendam pada seorang wanita & putranya. Pulau tsb bertugas seorang polisi wanita baru, Sharon Macy & Joe Dupree, yg keluarganya sdh beberapa generasi menjadi polisi di pulau itu. Dupree juga pelindung segala rahasia pulau tsb. Dupree tahu pulau mulai berubah & hantu2 penghuni pulau tdk akan membiarkan para pembunuh itu keluar pulau hidup2.
Alurnya seru sekali, walau di awal2 aku sempat kebingungan dgn banyaknya perkenalan karakter di dalamnya. Dan yang paling menarik di buku ini menururtku adlh ketika para pemburu menjadi yg diburu…

I love John Connolly, but I think I might have to stop reading his books. It shouldn't come as a shock to me every time I crack open the pages of a Connolly book and read something so horrifying that my brain can't process it. 80% of the time I am reading one of his books, my heart is racing and, 100% of the time, all of the lights in my apartment are on.

This book is similar to Connolly's Charlie Parker books (Parker even makes a cameo appearance), and it had the same dark feel and supernatural elements. My opinion of this book is that Connolly wanted to kill off some characters the readers care about, which he seems reluctant to do in the Parker novels. I was stunned by how ruthless Connolly was in this novel, but I suppose it would be best to keep in mind that readers should expect the unexpected from him.

3.5 bintang untuk karya John Connolly ini. Saya selalu suka kisah di mana aksi2 berlangsung cepat. Apalagi ada cerita hantunya. Jadi kebayang kalau dibuat filmnya. Membuat saya bernyanyi2 sendiri...


Engkau jagoanku (Betmeeen...)
Engkau idolaku (Betmeeen...)
Aku suka kamu (Betmeeen...)
Kau penumpas kejahatan
dan pembela keadilan
gagah perkasa
(Betmeeen...)

Sayang aku masih kecil
Tapi kau membuat aku
Ingin cepat dewasa
... (lupa)
Dan setelah aku tamat sekolah
Kuingin jadi betmeeen... betmeeen...
betmeeen... betmeeen... betmeeen...!!!

*kayaknya salah sontrek nih. Tapi biar deh, karena saya teringat masa ingin jadi jagoan seperti "betmen" penumpas kejahatan yang dilakukan oleh "bad men" *

Makasih ya Mbak Uci... (pesan sponsor)

142 pages in. so far i'm having a tough time with this one in the seires. there are A LOT of new characters and not much of the old, yet. i do love that one of the story lines takes place on an island off Portland ... so, we'll see how it goes.

Although this is a stand-alone novel, those familiar with the Charlie Parker (who makes a guest appearance here) series will find a similar atmosphere that is so specific to said series.

The novel is centered on an island off the coast of Portland, Sanctuary, whose history is steeped in blood and violence; where the past and the supernatural disturbingly mix with the present and reality. The main characters are depicted in vivid details but also with care that they remain in one's mind long after one has finished reading the book.

It's a story of betrayal and vengeance that spans centuries until its explosive conclusion. It is for a mature audience and definitely not suitable for the faint-hearted.