Customer Reviews

The Last Victim

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I don't think I have read a Kevin O'Brien book that I did not like. One always better than the next, and this is no exception. Good plot

This is my first Kevin O'Brien novel and while it was an exciting read, it had a rather predictable ending. Alpha male, Brad Corrigan, is running for state Senate in Oregon with the help of his twin sister Bridget who works as his campaign manager. However, the twins have a deep dark secret from high school that they share with a few other students that will doom his campaign if it is ever made public. However, a few of their friends involved in this secret are suddenly getting killed. Characters in this one are somewhat shallow and a typical reader cannot identify with any of them. I'll give one of his other novels a try before I judge Mr. O'Brien too harshly.

I have mixed feelings about this new Kevin O'Brien novel. I read all his work, so I think I'm a good and fair judge. As always, his writing is technically very well done and it flows nicely, but the story this time was lacking in many departments. Much of the dialogue felt melodramatic and at times -- gulp! -- it seemed like a tv-movie-of-the-week. The dialogue for Janice's character seemed way over the top, as did the Senatorial candidate Jim Foley.

I've read way too many stories about the cliched plot where a childhood secret comes back to haunt the protagonist. I didn't feel the killer in this was very credible, intelligent, or scary at all. He was just a crazy painter with a strange obsession that's never explained. In conclusion, I just didn't feel that Kevin was very inspired in writing this book. It felt like a paycheck. I want the dark, edgy author that gave us "Make Them Cry" back. That book dripped with evil and was a much better read.

SPOILER: When Siegel steps in a puddle of paint thinner, I highly doubt that his entire body would be engulfed in wild flames because his sock was wet.

I truly enjoyed this book, as I have with every one of his novels. I spent the first half of the book reading like mad to find out what happened at Gorman Creek. Then I spent the last half trying to put all the pieces together to come up with the wrong bad guy yet again. I thought the best part of the book was characters. Some might say that a character that is rich would be hard to get to know and sympathize with. I thought that Kevin showed the right amount of tenderness with the main character to achieve this. Especially in scenes with her children, her mothering nature made her more touchable. I always enjoy Kevin's page turning writing ability. Many sleepless hours have been lost on Kevin's books. And I must say I wouldn't want any of them back! Buy This Book (and all the others you will be wishing you had)!

The first book of Kevin O'Brien's I read was Disturbed. I've now learned to only start one of his books on the weekend because I cannot put them down! This book was no different. Lots of twists and turns, much tension, and a lot of surprises. You will not be disappointed if you buy this book. Buy his entire library. He's that good.

Kudos to Kevin O'Brien for writing such an interesting, captivating, fulfilling novel. Fast paced, intriguing, and I hated for it to end.

I've just discovered this author and have read about 5 or so of his books. In fact just bought his other 2 that I hadn't bought yet. I liked a few of his others better but this one was still good.
Your past can come back to haunt you and for Brad and Bridget it did. As members of their high school class are being killed and its made to look like accidents. Are they next? Has someone found out their secret that they have been hidding for years and come back for revenge? Who will be next,Brad or Bridget?
I just knew I had it figured out who had hired the killer's, but once again I was shocked by the ending.

I am a big fan of Kevin O'Brien's books. He has a way of writing that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

However, the Last Victim just did not hit the mark at all. The storyline itself (twins - one running for office - the other going around trying to make things all better) is boring. Yep, O'Brien has committed the ultimate sin. He wrote a BORING thriller.

Last Victim just does not feel as though it gets off the ground at all. There are just pages and pages of pointless dialogue and I just could not get into liking any of the main characters. The sister was supposed to be "strong female" lead and really her role ended up being more that of "house cleaner and making sure all is perfect" for her almost famous brother.

O'Brien's previous book left me cold also. I am worried that this is becoming his new writing style. Bring back the old style please.

...I have ever read. (And if only I could give it a minus Five Stars I would.)

The entire book, from start to finish, was absolutely ridiculous, the two main characters made the Three Stooges look like mental giants...and the writing was atrocious.

Poor dialogue, poor pacing, poorly fleshed out characters...and one of the most inane plots you'll ever have the misfortune of encountering.

By the time I got to the end (thank God)...and believe me, the only reason I did read the entire thing was the same reason I sometime watch movies that are so bad they become almost funny...I was rooting for the two main characters to get shoved into a wood chipper.

I don't know who recommended this piece of tripe to me, but take my word for it; DO NOT WASTE ONE MINUTE OF YOUR LIFE READING ANY OF IT.

You like a well written mystery, with good characters and an intelligent plot?

Try Connelly, Crais, Leonard, Silva, Bruen, etc.

wonderful book. kevin is a great author much like james patterson. you must read all his books.