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Ritual

Author: Mo Hayder
Publisher: Bantam Press
Category: Book

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Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

21 reviews
Sales Rank: 8192

Media: Hardcover
Pages: 416
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 9.4 x 6.3 x 1.5

ISBN: 0593056418
EAN: 9780593056417
ASIN: 0593056418

Publication Date: March 10, 2008
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days

Customer Reviews:

Showing reviews 6-10 of 21

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No Mo, no! May 19, 2008
3 out of 4 found this review helpful

As an avid Hayder fan I was left sorely disappointed by this book. It almost feels like a first novel and lacks the characteristic Hayder looking-over-the-characters'-shoulder-and-under-their-skin style of writing. I would describe this as 'Mo-lite'. If you are new to her then go read The Treatment. You will be impressed. Ritual is okay for fans (like me) but not recommended. Quite simply, there are too many other writers doing this stuff so much better.

Cliche-police alert! This novel contains the phrase "not someone but something'"

Come on. Mo - we know you can do better!

4 out of 5 stars

Multi-faceted and gripping! May 15, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful

This is the first book by Mo Hayder that I have read, but after ploughing through this, I shall definitely be investing in more of her work.

I found the book to be a little slow at the start, but my perseverance was soon awarded with a gripping, intriguing and exciting storyline. The many sub-plots woven through the main story kept the book very much on the boil and gave 'flesh' to the characters.

Some of the details were a little harrowing and, at one point, I did feel my stomach turning, but the gruesomeness added to the book rather than it just being gratuitous.

The book was so expertly crafted that it kept me guessing right until the end.

I would recommend this book, most definitely.

3 out of 5 stars

Good read....not gripping enough though for Hayder style. May 2, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful

I have read all of Mo Hayders books, and nothing she has produced has topped 'Birdman' and 'The Treatment' ....

I waited so long to see Jack Caffery again, and I was a little dissapointed in how his demons of the past are STILL waiting to be settled. We are still no further in finding his brother, and I really was hoping for some insight, at least into what was going on in that part of his life.

Ritual was..."different" that's the only word I can think of to explain this book. There wasn't many gripping parts, and alot of it was easily guessed early on in the book.

I did though, love the new character 'Flea' and I hope Mo keeps her around in the future.

3 stars though, is all I think this book deserves.

3 out of 5 stars

not so magical muti April 19, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful

Not one of Mo's best but still very readable. Compared to the bravado gothic of some of her other titles (my favourites are the genuinely creepy The Treatment and the all the more scary for being based on historical fact Tokyo) this is rather restrained and I think this reflects as other reviewers have observed the fact that this is a transitional novel, introducing new characters & themes. But the main problem I think is that she doesn't seem to be completely comfortable with the subject matter. Muti is a hot potato capitalized on by the extreme right and my guess is she doesn't want to fan any flames (compare the delicate and equally humane treatment of muti in Alexander McCall Smith's the No.1 Ladies Detective Agency). Such hesistancy is in some senses a shame because this is potentially very harrowing nasty stuff the sort of thing Mo Hayder usually tackles with shameless gusto. At bottom I don't think she can quite get past the pathos of what is evidently the inspiration for the novel namely the very sad murder of a little boy found floating in the thames a few years back - something that makes this an awkward subject for an entertainment but a worthy subject of meditation for any writer prepared to grapple with such a thorny issue. Nonetheless this is still in many senses a good and entertaining novel and has a lot to recommend it. I very much looking forward to the next in the series.

4 out of 5 stars

Good read, not ground breaking April 16, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful

It was a good detective story with solid, interesting and likeable characters, such as Jack Caffrey and Flea Marley. Very dark and gloomy, it's not a very good advert for Bristol, so I don't think I'll be visiting there any time soon!

The book had an appealing storyline, well balanced and was ultimatley a page turner, though not all that memorable!