by Josh Bazell
This thriller was highly recommended by my favourite literature show. Additionally, when I visited Munich this month it was heavily promoted by the book-store chain Hugendubel. It was advertised as “on each page two new ideas”. This built up to high exceptions. As always, too high expectations are not easily met. I guess I took the “two ideas per page” analogy too literal. In summary: it is just an entertaining thriller – but not more.
The story is set in a hospital over the course of a day. It is told by a doctor of this hospital. In back-flashes he explains how he ended up there as a doctor but starting his carrer as a professional killer for the mafia. This day an old mafia buddy urns up as patient with cancer in the final stages. This guys blackmails teh doctor to reveal his hiding place if he doesn’t survive. The race for his life with many surprising turns starts then.
Again, it is a very entertaining, blood-thirsty thriller, a true turn-pager. I think I read it within a day. But it is not the revelation as advertised.
The story is set in a hospital over the course of a day. It is told by a doctor of this hospital. In back-flashes he explains how he ended up there as a doctor but starting his carrer as a professional killer for the mafia. This day an old mafia buddy urns up as patient with cancer in the final stages. This guys blackmails teh doctor to reveal his hiding place if he doesn’t survive. The race for his life with many surprising turns starts then.
Again, it is a very entertaining, blood-thirsty thriller, a true turn-pager. I think I read it within a day. But it is not the revelation as advertised.
Facts:
English title: Beat the Reaper
Original title: Beat the Reaper
Published: 2009
