Cat Hogan

Cat Hogan takes us on a thriller ride with ‘There Was a Crooked Man’. We get to see through the eyes of a self-obsessed criminal and observe the revival of a victimized mother.
Although the beginning was a bit confusing as we are smacked right into the middle of it, as the story unfolds with more facts being revealed it becomes hard to put down the book without finishing. I enjoyed how the pieces of the puzzle got together to unveil to us the intriguing story. Though at times it felt like some things were explained too plainly through the narrations to give the readers the full picture. But overall it was a great read. I liked how Scott’s chapters were written in first person giving his narcissism a significant depth.
I would recommend this book to those who like to feel the serene calmness after a thrilling rush.… (mais)

In There Was a Crooked Man, second in the Scott Carluccio Randall series, an interesting mix of drug lords operating in Marrakech, narrow escapes from enemies, wicked local mafia, and close family ties in Berlin and Ireland, entertains the reader. I hadn't read the first instance and simply plunged into the adventures of Scott, Fran, and Jen, where paranoia, money laundering, and the pressure to keep secrets lead to various murders, and the question who will survive the mess that the main characters create for themselves and others.

The narrative has two protagonists, and is partly in the first person, partly in the third person. Evil and crookedness are all around, no brave men and women, no victory for justice.… (mais)

My first thought was to describe this book as 'unpleasant', but that's too pejorative.

The book's too well written for that, and the characters too well drawn, as is the picture of Marrakesh. But it's definitely a no holds barred picture of sociopathic behaviour (I know, I trained as a psychologist) and the impact sociopaths can have on those around them.

The book's also a fairly tense thriller as you wait to see how things will play out, and like all good thrillers not quite as expected.

Not a comfortable read, but engrossing ...… (mais)

I enjoyed this book. However, when I requested it from Library Thing’s Early Reviewer Program, I did not realize it was a sequel. Thus, some of my enjoyment was muted due to the fact that I did not fully understand the main characters’ backstory. I kept waiting for pertinent facts to be revealed and, when they never were, I was sorely disappointed. Thus, I would recommend that readers start with Ms. Hogan’s first work, They All Fall Down.

There Was A Crooked Man is a dark and intense novel. The chapters the author has written from Scott’s POV are compelling and the reader soon realizes that he is a dangerous psychopath. The other characters are revealed slowly, from the third person POV, and we see how their lives have been impacted by their relationships with Scott and his criminal enterprises.

The novel begins with a murder in Marrakech where Scott and Fran are up to their eyeballs in illegal drug trafficking, and ends at the harbour in Ireland, back where things all began.

Ms. Hogan has created fascinating characters in Scott and Jen and the result is a gripping read. Highly recommended for those who enjoy psychological thrillers and complex, though not always likeable, characters.

I received a free copy of this novel as part of Library Thing’s Early Reviewer Program.… (mais)