It's a beautiful spring day in the little city of Holloman, Connecticut. The year is 1967, and the world teeters on the brink of nuclear holocaust as the Cold War goes relentlessly on. But Holloman has other things to worry about—on April 3, 1967, twelve murders have taken place on one day. Suddenly Captain Carmine Delmonico, chief of detectives, has other, more important matters to occupy him than finding a satisfactory name for his infant son. With his cohorts Abe Goldberg and Corey Marshall giving him unfailing support, Carmine embarks on what looks like an insoluble case.
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"Wow - took me a while to get it done - it was a difficult book to read at times - maybe it was just me - but the sentences had to be reread because I didn't understand them. The storyline however was brilliant - and I very much liked the characters. It was well shaped and dramatic. I liked it."
— Leslie (4 out of 5 stars)
“A perfect read…The kind of book the world blockbuster was made.”
— Boston Globe, praise for The Thorn Birds“The historical setting gives the novel a fresh feel, and it keeps readers off guard…A thoroughly entertaining crime novel.”
— Booklist“Will be welcomed by readers who just love that creepy feeling…there’s plenty of criminal insanity to go around.”
— Publishers Weekly, praise for Sins of the Flesh" Could have had a better ending..still a good read! "
— Suzi, 2/14/2014" There were so many things wrong with this. Truthfully the plot wasn't bad but everything else was. I swear I've liked other things by her. I wonder what's wrong. "
— April, 2/8/2014" I enjoyed it was entertaining and had all kinds of twists and crime... I think Arson was the only thing that didn't happen in this book. "
— Vickie, 1/22/2014" When an author can stretch out all the mysteries in a book until the last sentence she deserves a five star rating. "
— Pam, 1/7/2014" Good read, very twisty plot. I seldom read books for a second time; this was an exception. "
— Harry, 12/25/2013" Plot was great, though the story forward wasn't that great. It kept me hooked nonetheless... So might not be the greatest piece of thriller, but wasn't disappointing either.. "
— Abhilasha, 12/23/2013" I picked this up off the New Fiction shelf at my library. I did finish it, however, it wasn't great. The story moved a bit slow. Like her earlier book featuring this main character, it does have a little twist at the end. "
— Linda, 12/7/2013" A very well written mystery with protagonists you can't help liking and admiring. It was a mystery clear to the finish, but also a deep involvement in relationships. Beautiful writing, intelligent writing and a flair for description and words. "
— Zoe, 11/25/2013" it was ok. was a bit confusing and a bit hard to follow sometimes. too many murders equals too many characters to track "
— Jean, 8/2/2013" I thought the plot line was too convoluted, but liked the characters so much I would not hesitate to pick up another in the series. "
— Amy, 7/23/2013" Not impressed. I expected more from the author of the Thorn Birds "
— Rae, 4/21/2013" Another excellent crime novel. Very unputdownable! "
— Drachen, 2/22/2013" Another one with an uh-oh ending. "
— Jane, 10/12/2012" Got a bit confusing because there were too many murders. Slow moving. "
— Kuna, 8/26/2012" Like the first in this series (_On, Off_) this one has so many characters I had to make notes of who's who. This one dragged in a few spots, but it's well written and well plotted, and again, with a shocker of an ending. "
— Carolyn, 5/18/2012" Stilted, contrived, and not believable. "
— Maureen, 4/12/2012" audio -- Slow and I dislike when the investigators have no flaws and are perfect. I dislike the pace of the book and that there is no background to these gruesome murders. The victims here are the readers. "
— Irene, 1/27/2012" I liked this book but can't say that I loved it. Too many names to keep track of - I found myself in the middle of the book having to backtrack to remember who was who "
— Joanne, 6/23/2011" Good read, very twisty plot. I seldom read books for a second time; this was an exception. "
— Harry, 3/16/2011" When an author can stretch out all the mysteries in a book until the last sentence she deserves a five star rating. "
— Pam, 2/7/2011" Loved it, loved the period and the different story line. "
— Robyn, 2/2/2011" really loved it couldn't put it down. Lots of twists and the end always has an accomplice who might be back!1 "
— Robyn333, 1/14/2011" Another excellent crime novel. Very unputdownable! "
— Drachen, 1/12/2011" Like the first in this series (_On, Off_) this one has so many characters I had to make notes of who's who. This one dragged in a few spots, but it's well written and well plotted, and again, with a shocker of an ending. "
— Carolyn, 11/1/2010" Too many characters--an alternate title. I did find myself getting lost here and there because I couldn't keep track of who was who, and though the build-up was good, I felt like it peaked too soon and fizzled up to that peak. "
— Deirdre, 8/19/2010" There were so many things wrong with this. Truthfully the plot wasn't bad but everything else was. I swear I've liked other things by her. I wonder what's wrong. "
— April, 8/9/2010" I was surprised to read a mystery book by Colleen McCullough, especially such a good one. One of my best-remembered books from "back in the day" was THE THORNBIRDS, but subsequent books by McCullough disappointed me. Now I want to reread THORNBIRDS to see how I like it at this age. "
— Carole, 7/3/2010" I don't understand this woman's writing. Strange book. Doesn't make a lot of sense. "
— Al, 6/28/2010" it was ok. was a bit confusing and a bit hard to follow sometimes. too many murders equals too many characters to track "
— Jean, 6/15/2010" I liked this book but can't say that I loved it. Too many names to keep track of - I found myself in the middle of the book having to backtrack to remember who was who "
— Joanne, 6/10/2010" This is a fun, interesting read. Not too deep, but good. "
— Jeanne, 6/2/2010" Alternate title could be Too Many Characters … and I don't really like a one of them thus far. <br/> <br/>OK. Finished it. Well, I sort of skimmed through the last few pages. Must try and remember to not read anymore McCullough mysteries ~ one of us doesn't satisfy the other. "
— Ruth, 5/16/2010" Loved this one. Very complex and loved how they all tied up together "
— Doreen, 3/4/2010Colleen McCullough (1937–2015) enjoyed worldwide renown, and her novels are bestsellers in a multitude of languages. She is the internationally acclaimed author of The Thorn Birds, Tim, An Indecent Obsession, A Creed for the Third Millennium, The Ladies of Missalonghi, The First Man in Rome, The Grass Crown, Fortune’s Favorites, Caesar’s Women, and other novels.
Charles Leggett, AudioFile Earphones Award–winning narrator, is based in Seattle where he works onstage at Seattle Repertory Theatre, Seattle Children’s Theatre, ACT, and Seattle Shakespeare Company, among many others. His voice work is also featured in the first two Dungeon Siege video games as well as in Hoyle’s Casino Empire.