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Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
Michael Joseph, (2011), Edition: Second edition, Hardcover
Description
Frieda Klein is a solitary, incisive psychotherapist who spends her sleepless nights walking along the ancient rivers that have been forced underground in modern London. She believes that the world is a messy, uncontrollable place, but what we can control is what is inside our heads. This attitude is reflected in her own life, which is an austere one of refuge, personal integrity, and order. The abduction of five-year-old Matthew Farraday provokes a national outcry and a desperate police hunt. And when his face is splashed over the newspapers, Frieda cannot ignore the coincidence: one of her patients has been having dreams in which he has a hunger for a child. A red-haired child he can describe in perfect detail, a child the spitting image of Matthew. She finds herself in the center of the investigation, serving as the reluctant sidekick of the chief inspector.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member sweetiegherkin
In the 1980s, a little girl is snatched off the street in broad daylight without a trace. Twenty-two years later, the same thing happens with a little boy. A police officer wonders if the two cases are connected, although no one else believes so. That is, until a therapist named Frieda Klein is
I had really high hopes for this book but it was just so-so. Although it is in some ways a typical police procedural, I did appreciate that the main investigator is a therapist rather than a police officer or private detective. The prologue and beginning chapters (maybe even up to the first third of the book) were extremely slow going. It felt like it took a really long time for the book to take off, and so many characters were being introduced that seemed unconnected at first. When the plot did get going, the reader is basically informed who the perpetrator is so it's just a question of whether or not the police can nail him and if/when the missing child will be found dead or alive.
The two big twists near the end -- thatTerry was the grown-up Joanna and that Alan was really dead, simply dressed in Dean's clothing -- were things I predicted before their reveals. Points to the authors for creativity, but it wasn't really a surprise or a tense edge-of-your-seat moment for either. A lot of the hows and whys of the mystery were left unresolved; perhaps this is because this is the first book in the series, but I wasn't a fan of how up in the air things felt after all the time I invested in reading this book. While this copy ended with previews of other books in the series, I'm not interested in continuing on with it.
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listening to a patient describe his vivid dreams that have an eerie connection to the case...I had really high hopes for this book but it was just so-so. Although it is in some ways a typical police procedural, I did appreciate that the main investigator is a therapist rather than a police officer or private detective. The prologue and beginning chapters (maybe even up to the first third of the book) were extremely slow going. It felt like it took a really long time for the book to take off, and so many characters were being introduced that seemed unconnected at first. When the plot did get going, the reader is basically informed who the perpetrator is so it's just a question of whether or not the police can nail him and if/when the missing child will be found dead or alive.
The two big twists near the end -- that
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LibraryThing member Bookish59
Psychoanalyst Frieda Klein is my new hero. Smart, experienced, curious, honest, stands up for her principles, kind, and patient within limits. While friendly she isn't extroverted and is strongly protective of her personal space and time.
One of her patients describes a son he'd like to have in
I am very impressed with the plot, characters, dialog, and timing. But most of all with the incredible handling of relationships between the characters. Well done. And the ending is surprising and disturbing as well.
Excellent compelling read.
One of her patients describes a son he'd like to have in
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detail. Shortly after a young boy that matches this description is kidnapped. Dr. Klein visits the police to make them aware. But Detective Chief Inspector Karlsson, the lead investigator, is annoyed with her vague information. He's overwhelmed by the seriousness of the case itself, and by the many calls from the public with a pandora's box of nonsensical and outrageous responses of what happened to the boy. I am very impressed with the plot, characters, dialog, and timing. But most of all with the incredible handling of relationships between the characters. Well done. And the ending is surprising and disturbing as well.
Excellent compelling read.
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LibraryThing member Ellemir
I am a little torn about this book. I loved the setting, the way the author (in fact two authors - husband and wife) described London, especially the parts you would never see as a tourist. The first chapter, telling about an abduction of a little girl more than twenty years ago was quite catching.
On the other hand, the characters were well drawn, the case was interesting- although I had some problems with the twin issue. I know that there seems to be a bond between identical twins, even when they are not raised together and that their lifes tend to have a lot of similarities - but some of the stuff in this novel was hard to believe.
I liked the book and will read the sequels - in fact I already read the second book of the series before the first (not a great idea in this case - too many spoilers).
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Then the author starts to introduce the main characters - and there are many of them, so the book gets a little slow. Some of the events seem to be almost unrelated and the main character, Frieda Klein, a psychologist with personal problems, is not entirely believable all the time - and I have problems accepting that a layperson - okay, a psychologist in this case, which partly explains it - helping the police solves the case much faster and better than the police. On the other hand, the characters were well drawn, the case was interesting
I liked the book and will read the sequels - in fact I already read the second book of the series before the first (not a great idea in this case - too many spoilers).
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LibraryThing member Olivermagnus
Blue Monday begins with the disappearance of a five-year-old girl named Joanna, gone missing while walking home from school with her sister. When a little boy is abducted over twenty years later, Frieda Klein becomes concerned after one of her patients describes his dreams of a little boy with red
It took me a while to get involved in Blue Monday. The set up requires some extra care and, because it's the first of an anticipated eight book series, the main characters need some extra introduction. Once I got past the first quarter of the book it became quite interesting. Blue Monday is also well-written, the gritty London streets are very atmospheric and the characters are different and intriguing. Overall, this is an enjoyable, quick read that really draws you into the story. Suspenseful writing and great descriptions make this series one to follow and I plan to read the next book in the series, Tuesday's Gone.
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hair who matches his description. She doesn't want to violate patient confidentially but decides to contact Detective Chief Inspector Malcolm Karlsson to report her worries. Eventually she joins with the team of investigators to search for the missing boy and his kidnapper. It took me a while to get involved in Blue Monday. The set up requires some extra care and, because it's the first of an anticipated eight book series, the main characters need some extra introduction. Once I got past the first quarter of the book it became quite interesting. Blue Monday is also well-written, the gritty London streets are very atmospheric and the characters are different and intriguing. Overall, this is an enjoyable, quick read that really draws you into the story. Suspenseful writing and great descriptions make this series one to follow and I plan to read the next book in the series, Tuesday's Gone.
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LibraryThing member pgchuis
This really wasn't for me. A little girl disappears and then, 20 years later, a little boy. There were multiple disorientating viewpoints. Frieda, the psychoanalyst, was a reasonably likeable character, but I wanted the police to get on with finding Matthew, rather than listening to her tutor her
Then Frieda went into detective mode a little herself and seemed to travel round the country discussing her client with everyone she met in a totally inappropriate way. I had to skip the Matthew sections and then started skimming altogether. I found the ending rather disturbing. I did not see the final twist coming, but I do not believe it.
Strangely the whole book felt vaguely familiar; maybe I have read another in this series without recording it.
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niece or agonize about her love life. Then Frieda went into detective mode a little herself and seemed to travel round the country discussing her client with everyone she met in a totally inappropriate way. I had to skip the Matthew sections and then started skimming altogether. I found the ending rather disturbing. I did not see the final twist coming, but I do not believe it.
Strangely the whole book felt vaguely familiar; maybe I have read another in this series without recording it.
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LibraryThing member Carol420
Frieda Klein, psychotherapist, becomes concerned when one of her patients reveals fantasies that seem to tie in with the abduction of 5-year-old Matthew Faraday. As she gradually gets sucked into the investigation of the abduction, she has to deal with the dilemma of whether her priority should be
It was hard to get involved in the story. Once it eventually kicked off it became more interesting, although as much as I like a bit of scene-setting I got really tired of reading page after page after page after page describing the streets. While still enjoyable this would have to be my least favourite Nicci French book, and I really don't know if I could be bothered to read the seven more books planned about the same not-particularly-interesting main character when nothing much really happens for half the story.
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the safety of the child or her professional duty to her patient.It was hard to get involved in the story. Once it eventually kicked off it became more interesting, although as much as I like a bit of scene-setting I got really tired of reading page after page after page after page describing the streets. While still enjoyable this would have to be my least favourite Nicci French book, and I really don't know if I could be bothered to read the seven more books planned about the same not-particularly-interesting main character when nothing much really happens for half the story.
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LibraryThing member gpangel
Blue Monday by Nicci French is a 2011 publication and is the first book in the Frieda Klein series.
I enjoy British mysteries, but rarely get the pleasure of indulging in one these days. I have been trying for a while to get started on this series after reading several other books by this author.
However, I was initially taken aback by how this story started off and the way it seemed to flit from one scene to another with no warning that the entire train of thought has been switched, not to mention the motley crew of characters that also bounced in and out of the story with no particular rhyme or reason. So, the story was at once a dark psychological mystery and offbeat and quirky. It was as though the authors were going for an atmospheric, creepy sort of suspense, but was thwarted by this odd duck cast of characters and their own little personal dramas.
Frieda is a psychotherapist that takes on a new patient with various maladies, but is soon confiding in her about some strange fantasies and dreams, which leads Frieda to believe he man be somehow involved in the disappearance of a young child.
Enter Detective Chief Inspector Karlsson, who is working the case and decides to put his skepticism aside and allow Frieda to help with the case.
In the meantime, Frieda makes a new friend, loses a lover, and deals with the downfall of her mentor on top of coping with her niece and the approaching Christmas holidays.
Anytime a story deals with a missing child there is automatically a feeling of unease and tense emotions. The fate of young child hangs in the balance as Frieda and Karlsson race against time to find him, while connecting the dots in a much older missing persons case.
The mind games that proceed with Frieda coaxing information from her patient are odd, edgy, and surreal at times. There are some truly warped and diabolical plot twists along the way, making this a pretty dark thriller.
Frieda’s character is hard to get a bead on, but I did like her and found myself hoping she will find some happiness in her personal life at some point in the future. I hope this same group of characters are recurring ones because although I initially found them to be distracting, I ultimately grew to like them and care about their problems. In a strange way they all made a pretty good team.
While most of the questions were answered there were a few lingering issues that will haunt Frieda and one huge shocker that left me feeling very ill at ease.
The good thing is that there are several more installments of this series and now that I have this first one under my belt, and know what to expect, I’m very curious to see how things will proceed from here.
3.5 stars
I enjoy British mysteries, but rarely get the pleasure of indulging in one these days. I have been trying for a while to get started on this series after reading several other books by this author.
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However, I was initially taken aback by how this story started off and the way it seemed to flit from one scene to another with no warning that the entire train of thought has been switched, not to mention the motley crew of characters that also bounced in and out of the story with no particular rhyme or reason. So, the story was at once a dark psychological mystery and offbeat and quirky. It was as though the authors were going for an atmospheric, creepy sort of suspense, but was thwarted by this odd duck cast of characters and their own little personal dramas.
Frieda is a psychotherapist that takes on a new patient with various maladies, but is soon confiding in her about some strange fantasies and dreams, which leads Frieda to believe he man be somehow involved in the disappearance of a young child.
Enter Detective Chief Inspector Karlsson, who is working the case and decides to put his skepticism aside and allow Frieda to help with the case.
In the meantime, Frieda makes a new friend, loses a lover, and deals with the downfall of her mentor on top of coping with her niece and the approaching Christmas holidays.
Anytime a story deals with a missing child there is automatically a feeling of unease and tense emotions. The fate of young child hangs in the balance as Frieda and Karlsson race against time to find him, while connecting the dots in a much older missing persons case.
The mind games that proceed with Frieda coaxing information from her patient are odd, edgy, and surreal at times. There are some truly warped and diabolical plot twists along the way, making this a pretty dark thriller.
Frieda’s character is hard to get a bead on, but I did like her and found myself hoping she will find some happiness in her personal life at some point in the future. I hope this same group of characters are recurring ones because although I initially found them to be distracting, I ultimately grew to like them and care about their problems. In a strange way they all made a pretty good team.
While most of the questions were answered there were a few lingering issues that will haunt Frieda and one huge shocker that left me feeling very ill at ease.
The good thing is that there are several more installments of this series and now that I have this first one under my belt, and know what to expect, I’m very curious to see how things will proceed from here.
3.5 stars
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LibraryThing member julie10reads
This superb psychological thriller from the pseudonymous French (The Other Side of the Door) stars a cerebral and self-contained London psychotherapist, Frieda Klein. When one of Frieda's patients describes longings for a child eerily like five-year-old Matthew Faraday, whose recent abduction is
Great atmosphere, great literary style and great protagonist. Frieda Klein is too idiosyncratic for just one book so I am delighted that BLUE MONDAY is the first in a series. As I've noted before, I don't bother trying to figure out "whodunit", especially when the writing is as good as this; but the authors throw in a few surprises with superb timing!
8 out of 10 Highly recommended to readers of literary mysteries.
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front-page news, she reluctantly reports what she hopes is a coincidence to the authorities. Det. Chief Insp. Malcolm Karlsson asks for her insights first on one aspect of the case and then on another, drawing her into an investigation involving her patient's shadowy past and an earlier abduction with subtle links to Matthew's. In a further breach of her once impeccable boundaries, Klein's personal life gets tangled as well, when her lover decides to relocate overseas, her adolescent niece grows troubled, and a colleague spins out of control. Summary HPLGreat atmosphere, great literary style and great protagonist. Frieda Klein is too idiosyncratic for just one book so I am delighted that BLUE MONDAY is the first in a series. As I've noted before, I don't bother trying to figure out "whodunit", especially when the writing is as good as this; but the authors throw in a few surprises with superb timing!
8 out of 10 Highly recommended to readers of literary mysteries.
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LibraryThing member maneekuhi
Blue Monday is a very enjoyable book despite several flaws. It's about a London psychiatrist, Frieda Klein, who becomes involved in a missing child case. Actually, there are two cases, spanning more than 20 years - are they related ? Frieda is an interesting character, an occasional insomniac who
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enjoys walking London streets at 3am. There are many characters in this first book of an 8 book series, and most are well done. Patients, cops, colleagues, a handyman. The story moves along at a brisk pace and there are the usual Nicci French pearls, e.g., you can only love one city (and London is Frieda's love). Frieda is unattached, very unattached - she has just broken up with her love who has taken a position in America - will he be back? (excuse the soap operaism, probably not fair). So Frieda is available and meets the cop, and sparks fly. Not romantic ones, sparks like what are you doing on my turf, and, I'm having a bad day so I thought I'd yell at you... This is one of the flaws mentioned above - several scenes between the cop and F just don't feel right. Somehow, NF have to fix the cop before book 2. Irascible is ok, but it just isn't working here. It's not cute, doesn't feel real - some of those scenes feel like a bad romantic comedy. Capra coulda fixed this. The climax is good, but.....there is probably one too many last minute twists/coincidences. But it's not a totally happy ending, so there's a bit of realism there I suppose, and it works. These are the things that give clues to what the rest of the series might be like. More - Frieda doesn't always act with the professionalism that one would expect from a psychiatrist, see the restaurant scene - so that didn't feel real either but that's ok. Maybe 4 stars is a bit generous. The title is ok, should be easy to keep track of the order of the books, but that was about all it did for me. I'll read the next one, but I don't feel committed to the series yet. Show Less
LibraryThing member Sensory
If I belonged to a mystery/thriller book club, Blue Monday would be an excellent choice for the club read. There are so many things going on in this book that would lead to good discussions. Is such and such character really who they claim to be? What is the main character’s real motivation? What
Blue Monday kept me awake until the wee hours on Sunday night and made me late for work (yes, I blame it on the book!) the next morning. Not because I slept in too late but because I picked it up again in the morning and just had to finish those last fifty pages!
The premise is an interesting one: a psychotherapist suspects one of her patients is involved in the disappearance of a young boy. What the therapist does with her suspicions leads the reader on an ever-deepening mystery about what exactly is going on. Meanwhile, the boy is still missing. There are lighter moments too in the form of a builder from the Ukraine. He conveys a humorously solemn feeling to the scenes he is in.
Blue Monday is a must-read for mystery and thriller fans and for those who haven’t tried that genre yet. This book has just the right amount of creepiness. It’s got what I call the ‘chill’ factor in spades: that feeling you get when you thought you knew what was going on but come to the slow realization that there was something else eerily creepy taking place right under your nose. This is an engrossing read and one I highly recommend.
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is she hiding? There are so many questions and it would be fun to get other opinions, so I’ll be reading other reviews aside from mine. I can’t imagine however that I will read a bad review!Blue Monday kept me awake until the wee hours on Sunday night and made me late for work (yes, I blame it on the book!) the next morning. Not because I slept in too late but because I picked it up again in the morning and just had to finish those last fifty pages!
The premise is an interesting one: a psychotherapist suspects one of her patients is involved in the disappearance of a young boy. What the therapist does with her suspicions leads the reader on an ever-deepening mystery about what exactly is going on. Meanwhile, the boy is still missing. There are lighter moments too in the form of a builder from the Ukraine. He conveys a humorously solemn feeling to the scenes he is in.
Blue Monday is a must-read for mystery and thriller fans and for those who haven’t tried that genre yet. This book has just the right amount of creepiness. It’s got what I call the ‘chill’ factor in spades: that feeling you get when you thought you knew what was going on but come to the slow realization that there was something else eerily creepy taking place right under your nose. This is an engrossing read and one I highly recommend.
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LibraryThing member SharonR53
This book opens with the kidnapping of a five year old girl in 1987. I thought that I would not be able to read it but I kept going. Am I glad I kept reading! This story is one that you just cannot put down.
Frieda Klein is a therapist who gets a new patient after her boss and former mentor screws
Frieda herself is going through some difficulties with her family and the man who has recently become her lover. The police detective is having family issues. Her boss, Reuben has split with his lover and of course the patient at the center of it all, Alan, is coming to Frieda for anxiety related to his family or lack of one.. The interesting thing about Alan is that he seems to be in the most stable relationship of all the characters. The book goes into the workings in a therapist’s mind when she knows she may be crossing an ethical line in service of the greater good of the community and whether that is really a valid reason to do so. Frieda does seem to be a principled person, who finds herself in an unimaginable situation.
Every time you think you have figured out what is happening in this book, you are surprised by a new twist. The final twist is especially shocking (although I had suspected) and the book does not tie up all of the loose ends. This is the first book in a series by Nicci French, who is actually a husband and wife writing team and maybe some things will be revisited or as in real life, sometimes we never get answers. I eagerly await book two in the series!
Frieda Klein is a therapist who gets a new patient after her boss and former mentor screws
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up the patient’s initial appointment. The patient Alan, talks about how he wants a child and fantasizes about a red headed son he mysteriously gets. When a little boy matching the described fantasy child disappears, Frieda goes to the police and starts a series of events that she never would have imagined. Even though this lead doesn’t pan out Frieda keeps getting contacted by the lead detective and the two of them plug through many twists and turns involving Alan, the kidnapping, and even the 1987 kidnapping. Frieda herself is going through some difficulties with her family and the man who has recently become her lover. The police detective is having family issues. Her boss, Reuben has split with his lover and of course the patient at the center of it all, Alan, is coming to Frieda for anxiety related to his family or lack of one.. The interesting thing about Alan is that he seems to be in the most stable relationship of all the characters. The book goes into the workings in a therapist’s mind when she knows she may be crossing an ethical line in service of the greater good of the community and whether that is really a valid reason to do so. Frieda does seem to be a principled person, who finds herself in an unimaginable situation.
Every time you think you have figured out what is happening in this book, you are surprised by a new twist. The final twist is especially shocking (although I had suspected) and the book does not tie up all of the loose ends. This is the first book in a series by Nicci French, who is actually a husband and wife writing team and maybe some things will be revisited or as in real life, sometimes we never get answers. I eagerly await book two in the series!
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LibraryThing member nbmars
Frieda Klein is a psychotherapist in her mid-thirties who is seeing a patient, Alan Dekker, for panic attacks. His dreams and thoughts preceding these attacks have aspects which sound remarkably like details of the abductions of children that have terrorized London. In spite of her commitment to
Discussion: Frieda tries to lead a very controlled, regulated life. She is afraid of deviation from routine, and afraid of being happy. She is unapt to reveal her vulnerabilities or doubts, and as Karlsson observes to his frustration, keeps herself to herself. And in fact, at one point she tells someone that she never falls in love with her patients because she knows too much about their thoughts: “You can’t fall in love with someone if you know everything about them.” It’s a good character portrait, but it doesn’t help the reader get to know Frieda anymore than it helps Karlsson. I’m hoping that in future installments of this new series, the omniscient narrator will relent a little a give us more about Frieda’s interior life.
Evaluation: This is an incredibly scary thriller with plenty of twists. The main source of the twists is a clever gimmick that the authors won’t be able to repeat in the future, so I look forward to seeing if future books come up with as many twists and turns. (This is the first in a planned series of eight featuring Dr. Klein.) I also really like Karlsson, and hope to see him again as well.
Note: Nicci French is the pseudonym for the writing team of husband and wife Nicci Gerrard and Sean French.
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the confidentiality of patient confessions, she feels obliged to go to the police. She begins to work with Detective Chief Inspector Malcolm Karlsson, and soon is in incredible danger herself.Discussion: Frieda tries to lead a very controlled, regulated life. She is afraid of deviation from routine, and afraid of being happy. She is unapt to reveal her vulnerabilities or doubts, and as Karlsson observes to his frustration, keeps herself to herself. And in fact, at one point she tells someone that she never falls in love with her patients because she knows too much about their thoughts: “You can’t fall in love with someone if you know everything about them.” It’s a good character portrait, but it doesn’t help the reader get to know Frieda anymore than it helps Karlsson. I’m hoping that in future installments of this new series, the omniscient narrator will relent a little a give us more about Frieda’s interior life.
Evaluation: This is an incredibly scary thriller with plenty of twists. The main source of the twists is a clever gimmick that the authors won’t be able to repeat in the future, so I look forward to seeing if future books come up with as many twists and turns. (This is the first in a planned series of eight featuring Dr. Klein.) I also really like Karlsson, and hope to see him again as well.
Note: Nicci French is the pseudonym for the writing team of husband and wife Nicci Gerrard and Sean French.
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LibraryThing member writestuff
Frieda Klein is a reticent woman, a psychotherapist living in London who helps others work through their inner turmoils while she is reluctant to open up in her personal life. She has trouble sleeping, walking the streets of the city at night where she feels most comfortable. When a troubled and
Blue Monday is the first in a new series featuring Frieda Klein, and it is a suspenseful and twisty psychological thriller. Frieda is a complex character who at first left me a bit cold with her reserved and careful demeanor. But as the novel progressed, I found myself empathizing with her character and wanting to understand her psychological underpinnings. People seem to move in and out of Frieda’s life – an immigrant who literally falls in front of her, a colleague on the verge of professional collapse, a lover who no longer wants to live in London, and her dysfunctional sister and troubled niece. Frieda is the unflinching and constant influence in all these people’s lives, and yet she seems almost untouched by them.
Perhaps the most interesting part of this novel is how the connections are revealed between characters. Nothing is really as it first appears. There is a terrific twist about half way through the book which I didn’t see coming and which adds another layer to the mystery.
If I have any complaints with the book, it was with the latter half which felt a little slow to me. Some of the plot turns at the end were a bit predictable as well. That said, I did enjoy this novel for its psychological depth and because of Frieda who, despite her short comings (and maybe because of them), is a strong enough character to carry a series.
Readers who love psychological suspense will want to read this book. Atmospheric with strong characterization, Blue Monday is the type of book that will appeal to readers who like their novels dark and mysterious. I will undoubtedly be looking for the second book in the series when it is eventually released.
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anxious man named Alan comes to her for help, Frieda at first approaches the case as any other. But when a young boy named Matthew Farraday goes missing, Frieda recognizes something disturbing: Alan’s dreamlike expressions about wanting a child are uncannily similar to Matthew’s disappearance, and Matthew looks like he could be Alan’s son with his red hair and freckles. Frieda takes her worries to chief inspector Karlsson, a surly man who reluctantly listens to her. As the case unfolds, disturbing questions arise: Who is Alan and is he capable of stealing a child? And is Matthew’s disappearance related to another child abduction from 25 years ago?Blue Monday is the first in a new series featuring Frieda Klein, and it is a suspenseful and twisty psychological thriller. Frieda is a complex character who at first left me a bit cold with her reserved and careful demeanor. But as the novel progressed, I found myself empathizing with her character and wanting to understand her psychological underpinnings. People seem to move in and out of Frieda’s life – an immigrant who literally falls in front of her, a colleague on the verge of professional collapse, a lover who no longer wants to live in London, and her dysfunctional sister and troubled niece. Frieda is the unflinching and constant influence in all these people’s lives, and yet she seems almost untouched by them.
Perhaps the most interesting part of this novel is how the connections are revealed between characters. Nothing is really as it first appears. There is a terrific twist about half way through the book which I didn’t see coming and which adds another layer to the mystery.
If I have any complaints with the book, it was with the latter half which felt a little slow to me. Some of the plot turns at the end were a bit predictable as well. That said, I did enjoy this novel for its psychological depth and because of Frieda who, despite her short comings (and maybe because of them), is a strong enough character to carry a series.
Readers who love psychological suspense will want to read this book. Atmospheric with strong characterization, Blue Monday is the type of book that will appeal to readers who like their novels dark and mysterious. I will undoubtedly be looking for the second book in the series when it is eventually released.
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LibraryThing member AlexanderDS
This was my first Nicci French novel. I don't think it's complete rubbish at all - the plot idea was good and I did get a feel of London as they described it. It reads fluently as well. But there were far too many characters - and of those, far too many I didn't connect with at all. I also felt
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like the same scene was repeated over and over again - Frieda lying awake at night and thinking, Frieda eating, etc. Sometimes, the pace was really off as well. At time, I felt they could've told the story spread over 100 pages in just 30 or so.I'll still give the first Nicci French novel a try, though. Show Less
LibraryThing member Beamis12
Really enjoyed this first book of a new series. This is a psychological novel, with a psychoanalyst as an aid to the police, and has brilliant twists and turns as they try to save the life of a young boy. Fantastic writing, good characters, Josef is a character I really enjoyed and hope he will be
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making an appearance in future books. Will appeal to fans of Minette Walters and Sophie Hannah. Show Less
LibraryThing member kylenapoli
Frieda's a very interesting character with a personal history in knots it will be fun to tease out in future books. Although the final twist in this particular plot won't come as a surprise if you've been paying attention, that doesn't make it any less juicy. Recommended.
LibraryThing member otterley
So this is the start of a new series 'starring' Frieda Klein, psychologist, with the usual personal issues and - as is par for the course for French - with the sort of flat and domestic life that makes me feel deeply inadequate in the world of interior design. This story is about child abduction.
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It's difficult to review a thriller without spoilers, but for me this would have worked much better on screen than on the page. Perhaps it's having read a Peter James book recently with the same premise, but I couldn't help but feel cheated by what must be one of the oldest tricks out there (and the twists were, I think, signposted way too early). Perhaps with the lead character established the next book will be less overtly sensation and more - perhaps - psychological? Show Less
LibraryThing member Twink
Blue Monday marks the start of a new series from bestselling husband and wife team Nicci French.
Frieda Klein is a psychotherapist in London, England. She is a private person, who keeps her own emotions and life tightly in check.
One of her latest patients has been having dreams . Dreams where he
"She thought of all the secrets she had been told over the years, all those illicit thoughts, desires, fears that people gave to her for safe keeping. ...she had always carried them with a sense of privilege, that people allowed her to see their fears, allowed her to be their light."
But when little red headed Matthew Farraday goes missing and the details are eerily like her patient described, Frieda feels she has no choice but to go to the police with her concerns.
Detective Chief Inspector Malcolm Karlsson is the other protagonist in this series. He's a bit all over the map, but is a likable character who will grow into his role I believe.
I found the opening of this book to be a bit slow. Indeed, I started it, read about 50 pages and put it down. It was only on picking it up a second time, that it really got good for me. I did found it hard to believe that Josef, a carpenter who falls through Frieda's office ceiling becomes such an important and trusted confidante in her life. On the other hand, it does speak volumes about her personal life. Other characters, such as her niece Chloe, don't overly add to the story, but seem to have been to lay the background for further books.
French has crafted an excellent plot. I don't want to give any of it away, but it truly was unique. The chapters written from Matthew's point of view in captivity were, as to be expected, hard to read.
I always like being able to get in on the ground floor and read the first novel in a new series. I think this will be an interesting series, focusing on more of the psychological aspects of the crimes and characters versus a 'gritty' crime series. Now that the stage has been set and the players introduced, I'm sure further books will be a bit 'smoother' and we'll get to know Frieda and Malcolm a little better.
Frieda Klein is a psychotherapist in London, England. She is a private person, who keeps her own emotions and life tightly in check.
One of her latest patients has been having dreams . Dreams where he
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'obtains' a son - a red haired little boy that he describes in great detail. "She thought of all the secrets she had been told over the years, all those illicit thoughts, desires, fears that people gave to her for safe keeping. ...she had always carried them with a sense of privilege, that people allowed her to see their fears, allowed her to be their light."
But when little red headed Matthew Farraday goes missing and the details are eerily like her patient described, Frieda feels she has no choice but to go to the police with her concerns.
Detective Chief Inspector Malcolm Karlsson is the other protagonist in this series. He's a bit all over the map, but is a likable character who will grow into his role I believe.
I found the opening of this book to be a bit slow. Indeed, I started it, read about 50 pages and put it down. It was only on picking it up a second time, that it really got good for me. I did found it hard to believe that Josef, a carpenter who falls through Frieda's office ceiling becomes such an important and trusted confidante in her life. On the other hand, it does speak volumes about her personal life. Other characters, such as her niece Chloe, don't overly add to the story, but seem to have been to lay the background for further books.
French has crafted an excellent plot. I don't want to give any of it away, but it truly was unique. The chapters written from Matthew's point of view in captivity were, as to be expected, hard to read.
I always like being able to get in on the ground floor and read the first novel in a new series. I think this will be an interesting series, focusing on more of the psychological aspects of the crimes and characters versus a 'gritty' crime series. Now that the stage has been set and the players introduced, I'm sure further books will be a bit 'smoother' and we'll get to know Frieda and Malcolm a little better.
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LibraryThing member Daftboy1
OK book this first in the series of Freida Klein books.
Freida is a therapist based in London she assists people who feel lost and need her help.
This book is ok but a bit to far fetched the writing was good thoughl
Keeps you guessing right to the end.
Will look out for the second novel in this
Freida is a therapist based in London she assists people who feel lost and need her help.
This book is ok but a bit to far fetched the writing was good thoughl
Keeps you guessing right to the end.
Will look out for the second novel in this
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series. Show Less
LibraryThing member Fluffyblue
I haven't read any Nicci French in a long while and this is the second one I've read in less than a week. I really enjoyed it. I found it was well written, although some parts were for me a little unbelievable, but I will put that down to artistic license. I thought the main character, Frieda
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Klein, was okay - I found a little cold and unlovable. I also guessed what happened at the end. But for me a welcome return to Nicci French books. Show Less
LibraryThing member A_Reader_of_Fictions
I'm not a big mystery reader. I enjoy them, but they tend a bit too much to the formulaic for me, although I realize the irony given how much time I spend reading YA paranormal novels. Also, being a character-driven reader, I generally have trouble relating to the hard-boiled detective types.
That
What I definitely loved was that the focus of the book, and the series, is Frieda. She is awesome and a character I can totally relate to, even in her desire to push people away. She is really why I so much enjoyed reading this book, because she really has a strength as a character. Plus, I liked that the mystery was from the perspective of a psychologist rather than a detective, which gave a different filter to the story.
I know I will be reading more Nicci French (Nicci Gerrard Sean French) novels in the future, especially the next Frieda Klein book. So glad there's more!
P.S. I really want you to know that this cover looks so much prettier in person, because it's all shiny.
That
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said, I really enjoyed reading this, perhaps even loved it. I have always been fascinated by the minds of criminals, along with everyone else apparently, given the popularity of shows like Criminal Minds. Blue Monday focuses on the kidnapping of young children, a girl and 20 years later a boy. The reader gets a third person view into the mind of every character, which really worked for this novel.What I definitely loved was that the focus of the book, and the series, is Frieda. She is awesome and a character I can totally relate to, even in her desire to push people away. She is really why I so much enjoyed reading this book, because she really has a strength as a character. Plus, I liked that the mystery was from the perspective of a psychologist rather than a detective, which gave a different filter to the story.
I know I will be reading more Nicci French (Nicci Gerrard Sean French) novels in the future, especially the next Frieda Klein book. So glad there's more!
P.S. I really want you to know that this cover looks so much prettier in person, because it's all shiny.
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LibraryThing member bsquaredinoz
The first book in a planned series from husband and wife writing team Nicci Gerrard and Sean French features therapist Frieda Klein as its nuanced protagonist. She is a very private person but spends her working life delving into other people’s secrets in an effort to help them cope. One of her
Although I read this book easily and quickly there was something about it that left me thinking I would be unlikely to seek out future books in the series. The best way I can describe my reaction is that I thought it had the feel of having been a book written by committee, and I’m not referring to the fact it has two authors. There just seemed to me to be a few too many details and features that had been carefully inserted to take advantage of current trends and marketing opportunities, and I felt like they took precedence over any story demanding to be told. Each (of the many, many) characters has the feel of having been very carefully chosen to offer as broad a cross-section as possible of each kind of demographic one might meet in a big city (and thereby appeal to the broadest possible cross section of readers). There’s one with a Scandinavian-sounding name (which had me hearing the wheels of a bandwagon rolling along), one immigrant builder, one self-harming teenager and so on but none of these are really dealt with in much depth. Even the book’s title is meant to offer some kind of branding that will link future titles together using days of the week but this is also a surface-only element as nothing at all is made of the title in this book.
The main plot of the book, the desperate search for young Matthew Faraday, is well-handled, if predictable in parts and has a satisfyingly complicated resolution. The use of snippets of story seen from the kidnapped boy’s point of view is restrained and therefore does add drama and intensity to this aspect of the story and the use of Frieda as the tenacious amateur sleuth adds originality to a crowded space. There is some exposure to some interesting scientific ideas that I would actually like to have seen further explored, perhaps at the expense of some of the more random elements of the story.
I wonder if I’ve been harsher on this than I usually am with first books in a series but this writing team does have a dozen standalone novels to their name (of which I’ve only read a couple) so they shouldn’t be making the same mistakes as a debut author might be forgiven for. In the end I enjoyed Blue Monday enough to read another one in the series if it crosses my path (as this one did for my face to face book club) but I’m not really interested enough to actively seek one out.
My rating 2.5
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new patients tells her something that she links to the case of a kidnapped child that has been in the media for many days and, with misgivings, she goes to the police with her idea. The detective in charge of the case is Malcolm Karlsson who, desperate not to be known as “the copper who didn’t rescue Matthew Faraday” and having no real evidence to go on, acts on Frieda’s vague speculations.Although I read this book easily and quickly there was something about it that left me thinking I would be unlikely to seek out future books in the series. The best way I can describe my reaction is that I thought it had the feel of having been a book written by committee, and I’m not referring to the fact it has two authors. There just seemed to me to be a few too many details and features that had been carefully inserted to take advantage of current trends and marketing opportunities, and I felt like they took precedence over any story demanding to be told. Each (of the many, many) characters has the feel of having been very carefully chosen to offer as broad a cross-section as possible of each kind of demographic one might meet in a big city (and thereby appeal to the broadest possible cross section of readers). There’s one with a Scandinavian-sounding name (which had me hearing the wheels of a bandwagon rolling along), one immigrant builder, one self-harming teenager and so on but none of these are really dealt with in much depth. Even the book’s title is meant to offer some kind of branding that will link future titles together using days of the week but this is also a surface-only element as nothing at all is made of the title in this book.
The main plot of the book, the desperate search for young Matthew Faraday, is well-handled, if predictable in parts and has a satisfyingly complicated resolution. The use of snippets of story seen from the kidnapped boy’s point of view is restrained and therefore does add drama and intensity to this aspect of the story and the use of Frieda as the tenacious amateur sleuth adds originality to a crowded space. There is some exposure to some interesting scientific ideas that I would actually like to have seen further explored, perhaps at the expense of some of the more random elements of the story.
I wonder if I’ve been harsher on this than I usually am with first books in a series but this writing team does have a dozen standalone novels to their name (of which I’ve only read a couple) so they shouldn’t be making the same mistakes as a debut author might be forgiven for. In the end I enjoyed Blue Monday enough to read another one in the series if it crosses my path (as this one did for my face to face book club) but I’m not really interested enough to actively seek one out.
My rating 2.5
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LibraryThing member JackieBlem
I've always been a bit curious about the husband and wife writing team known at Nicci French, so when I learned that their latest book was the first in a new series, I snatched it up. The series spotlights psychotherapist Frieda Klein--a woman with more than few quirks--and her practice. This first
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one involves a patient she reluctantly took over after a colleague's nervous breakdown. She begins to suspect that her new client may have something to do with a missing little boy, and reluctantly speaks to the police about it, stirring up a major storm that blows in all sorts of unexpected things. While I felt that there were a couple of unsupported leaps in the story line, I still found it an absorbing thriller that ends in a very, very interesting way. Show Less
LibraryThing member dannN
An excellent psychological thriller! I am looking forward to the next Dr Frieda Klein novel.
LibraryThing member cookiemo
This is the first book I have read by Nicci French. I found it a little hard to get into but enjoyed it once I did.
I will read more of this author's work.
I will read more of this author's work.
Awards
Theakstons Old Peculier Prize (Longlist — 2012)
Original publication date
2012-03-01
Physical description
416 p.; 6.38 inches
ISBN
0718154959 / 9780718154950
Other editions
Blue Monday by French Nicci (Paperback)