Ritual

[krystfr]

I have just finished reading RITUAL and loved it.
However was it just me or did everyone else spend a good deal of reading time thinking "what happend to Ewen and is he still tied up in the camper van" ??

[christine]

It is a long time since i enjoyed a book so much !!!. this is the first book by Mo i have read ...but am going on my hols on saturday armed with 3 of her other books ...lol

christine

[Kevin]

Despite what we may have been led to believe, in my view Ritual is almost as uncompromising as Birdman and The Treatment in its depiction of violence. However, this novel is so much more than another police procedural in that it is far richer in terms of quality of writing, detail and emotional involvement. The levels of research are all clearly in evidence and undeniably hugely impressive. Ritual begins with the discovery of pair hands minus the other attendant body parts. There are two narratives here; one prior to the severing of the hands and the reasons for the mutilation and the other involves the efforts to apprehend the perpetrators.  Despite having his own personal demons to attend to, hands on Inspector Caffrey is assigned to the case and uncovers a network of black magic and superstition.

As always with Mo Hayder the tension is from the opening chapter as taut and pulsating as a voodoo drum and as the plot unravels we encounter drug abuse, teenage prostitution and a secret buried beneath a vast underwater African cavern. It’s so skilful the way in which there is a deliberate ambiguity regarding the way in which the novel concludes. Caffrey and indeed the reader are left with the suggestion that the Tokaloshe and the dark magic may have been a lot more sinister and real  than the work of Tig in his attempts to prey upon the superstitions and vulnerability of his victims.

The primary strengths of this darkly mesmerising novel are Mo’s gifts as a storyteller and her ability to peer over the dank chasm of unpleasantness without fully plunging into outright offensiveness. With each novel Caffrey becomes a more compelling, vivid and well-developed character, though whether the reader actually likes him or is invited to approve of his methods is debatable.  Crucially it is made clear that Jack’s driven attempts to expunge the guilt he feels over the death of his brother Ewan-by his single minded pursuit of child abusers and other low lives-is like grasping at smoke. His predilection for prostitutes is further evidence of his spiritual malaise. Both Marilyn and The Walking Man recognise the emotional void in him and conclude that the only redemption Jack will ever find will be arrived at through the creation of another life, despite his antipathy to fatherhood. Very subtle psychological insight on display here as Jack may, perhaps, in the subsequent novels be offered the opportunity to exorcise his previously referred to demons by replacing death with life. Will Jack fully connect with the likewise damaged Marley, or will he Flea from further involvement?

I’d like to shake Mo’s hand here-a gesture forever denied to the unfortunate Mossy-for producing another classic and worthy successor to Birdman and The Treatment. Utterly brilliant.

It's a while now since I read Ritual, but that is a brilliant review, Dave. Well done!

[theo]

I finished Ritual some two weeks ago. Remember how I posted some time ago I was weary of her new novel after having read Pig Island (probably not:)? Well, Pig Island was not a bad book mind you, it tells one more of my taste than of the quality of the novel, but, I just couldn't relate to the persons in Pig Island. That was because I had read Tokyo before that. I read Birdman quite a few years ago, but it didn't make a lasting impression on me. So in fact I hesitated buying Tokyo. In the end I bought it.

And was captivated.

So, I definitely enjoyed Ritual - but Tokyo... There, her writing is so beautiful, so poetic at times, and she creates a grim and strange universe where I feel more at home - for some reason it connects to some of William Gibson's books very well (All Tomorrow's Parties, Spook Country and especially Pattern Recognition spring to mind, try them, they're excellent) - Tokyo to me is a big, big favourite in her oeuvre. A writer who can write like that, with such a tale to tell, has definitely earned his or her favour with me so that I will keep on trying his or her next books.

I like Ritual and probably will be buying Skin pretty soon. But Tokyo... How I wish she would have developed that alternative universe in more sequels too. I just can't be left hanging there, what with Grey? And... Ogawa?

regards all.

[snapdogs]

 ;DMo Hayder books are a bit like eating chocolate's..... you eat one and you just want more!
I read the first two of Mo's books back to front... but I was bitten by the bug and have read every book she has written.... just wonder how long I will have to go cold turkey until the next book comes out?