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Five Hardcover – 9 December 2014
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Product details
- Publisher : Minotaur Books; Reprint edition (9 December 2014)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 324 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1250037417
- ISBN-13 : 978-1250037411
- Dimensions : 15.95 x 3.23 x 24.11 cm
- Customer Reviews:
Product description
Review
"Ursula Archer takes you on a terrifying journey. This is a superior psychological thriller with twists at every level." - Karin Slaughter
"A deliciously dark and terrifying cat-and-mouse thriller you won't be able to put down until the last page is read. Haunting."--Allison Brennan, "New York Times" bestselling author of "Dead Heat" and "Cold Snap""Intriguing and gripping, I was hooked from the start and shocked by the end. A believable hero and a story cleverly told. I loved "Five."--"Neil White, author of "Next to Die"
"A riveting mystery...The suspense builds until the shocking climax."--"Publishers Weekly"
"[a] fast-paced thriller...Sure to appeal to Stieg Larsson fans."--"Booklist"
"well-constructed ...an inventive plot."--"Kirkus Review"
"Beatrice is a refreshing protagonist who isn't afraid to take chances... Archer's very effective procedural, with some clever twists (and gruesome crimes), also explores the intriguingly odd world of geocaching, and those who inhabit it. While some readers may have things figured out before the end, the journey is well worth it."--"Library Journal"
""[Five" is] definitely not a book for the faint-hearted, but it delivers great suspense, unexpected plot twists, and multi-dimensional characters."--"Mystery Tribune"
"Intriguing...this unusual story will kee you guessing and your heart pounding."--"RT Book Reviews"
"This brisk German police procedural is anchored by a fully developed strong cast of law enforcement officials and murder victims, but the freshness comes from the geocaching clues. "Five "is a strong serial killer cat and mouse hunt."--"Midwest Book Review.".".a hugely entertaining hunt as gutsy Austrian detective Beatrice Kaspary is pitted against a very creepy killer. Compulsively readable."--"The Sunday Mirror" (UK)."
"Like so many satisfying European police thrillers, "FIVE" combines many story elements--Beatrice's painful personal history, the interpersonal dynamics of the detective squad, and a rogues' gallery of victims and suspects--with convincing specifics. ... Most convincing of all is the book's heroine, who perseveres, braving much danger, pursuing an illuminating connection 'like a thin red thread in the darkness.'"--"Wall Street Journal"
"A canny police procedural. The narrative does a slow burn at first, but builds up to an alarmingly faster pace in the second half, as clues and revelations come thick and fast. The novel itself is tightly structured and the mystery element has a terrific number of twists and turns built in that don't let up until the final page. Also excellent are the maddeningly intricate mind-twisters in note form that the cops have to solve in order to move onto the next clue (or, in some cases, the next corpse)."--"The Boston Globe"
"An intriguing melding of a gripping police procedural and an exciting update of the puzzle mystery. Archer imbues "Five" with an inventive plot, tense suspense and fully realized characters that seem as if they have been around for years. Archer's clever use of geocaching proves that the light puzzle mystery can be successfully incorporated into a hard-boiled novel with aplomb."--"Associated Press"
"Ursula Archer takes you on a terrifying journey. This is a superior psychological thriller with twists at every level." - Karin Slaughter
"A deliciously dark and terrifying cat-and-mouse thriller you won't be able to put down until the last page is read. Haunting."--Allison Brennan, "New York Times" bestselling author of "Dead Heat" and "Cold Snap""Intriguing and gripping, I was hooked from the start and shocked by the end. A believable hero and a story cleverly told. I loved "Five."--"Neil White, author of "Next to Die"
"A riveting mystery...The suspense builds until the shocking climax."--"Publishers Weekly"
"[a] fast-paced thriller...Sure to appeal to Stieg Larsson fans."--"Booklist"
"well-constructed ...an inventive plot."--"Kirkus Review"
"Beatrice is a refreshing protagonist who isn't afraid to take chances... Archer's very effective procedural, with some clever twists (and gruesome crimes), also explores the intriguingly odd world of geocaching, and those who inhabit it. While some readers may have things figured out before the end, the journey is well worth it."--"Library Journal"
""[Five" is] definitely not a book for the faint-hearted, but it delivers great suspense, unexpected plot twists, and multi-dimensional characters."--"Mystery Tribune"
"Intriguing...this unusual story will kee you guessing and your heart pounding."--"RT Book Reviews"
"This brisk German police procedural is anchored by a fully developed strong cast of law enforcement officials and murder victims, but the freshness comes from the geocaching clues. "Five "is a strong serial killer cat and mouse hunt."--"Midwest Book Review.".".a hugely entertaining hunt as gutsy Austrian detective Beatrice Kaspary is pitted against a very creepy killer. Compulsively readable."--"The Sunday Mirror" (UK)."
Like so many satisfying European police thrillers, "FIVE" combines many story elements--Beatrice's painful personal history, the interpersonal dynamics of the detective squad, and a rogues' gallery of victims and suspects--with convincing specifics. Most convincing of all is the book's heroine, who perseveres, braving much danger, pursuing an illuminating connection like a thin red thread in the darkness.' "Wall Street Journal"
A canny police procedural. The narrative does a slow burn at first, but builds up to an alarmingly faster pace in the second half, as clues and revelations come thick and fast. The novel itself is tightly structured and the mystery element has a terrific number of twists and turns built in that don't let up until the final page. Also excellent are the maddeningly intricate mind-twisters in note form that the cops have to solve in order to move onto the next clue (or, in some cases, the next corpse). "The Boston Globe"
An intriguing melding of a gripping police procedural and an exciting update of the puzzle mystery. Archer imbues "Five" with an inventive plot, tense suspense and fully realized characters that seem as if they have been around for years. Archer's clever use of geocaching proves that the light puzzle mystery can be successfully incorporated into a hard-boiled novel with aplomb. "Associated Press"
Ursula Archer takes you on a terrifying journey. This is a superior psychological thriller with twists at every level. "Karin Slaughter"
A deliciously dark and terrifying cat-and-mouse thriller you won't be able to put down until the last page is read. Haunting. "Allison Brennan, New York Times bestselling author of Dead Heat and Cold Snap"
Intriguing and gripping, I was hooked from the start and shocked by the end. A believable hero and a story cleverly told. I loved Five. "Neil White, author of Next to Die"
A riveting mystery...The suspense builds until the shocking climax. "Publishers Weekly"
[a] fast-paced thriller...Sure to appeal to Stieg Larsson fans. "Booklist"
well-constructed ...an inventive plot. "Kirkus Review"
Beatrice is a refreshing protagonist who isn't afraid to take chances... Archer's very effective procedural, with some clever twists (and gruesome crimes), also explores the intriguingly odd world of geocaching, and those who inhabit it. While some readers may have things figured out before the end, the journey is well worth it. "Library Journal"
["Five" is] definitely not a book for the faint-hearted, but it delivers great suspense, unexpected plot twists, and multi-dimensional characters. "Mystery Tribune"
Intriguing...this unusual story will kee you guessing and your heart pounding. "RT Book Reviews"
This brisk German police procedural is anchored by a fully developed strong cast of law enforcement officials and murder victims, but the freshness comes from the geocaching clues. "Five "is a strong serial killer cat and mouse hunt. "Midwest Book Review"
...a hugely entertaining hunt as gutsy Austrian detective Beatrice Kaspary is pitted against a very creepy killer. Compulsively readable. "The Sunday Mirror (UK)""
Like so many satisfying European police thrillers, FIVE combines many story elements--Beatrice's painful personal history, the interpersonal dynamics of the detective squad, and a rogues' gallery of victims and suspects--with convincing specifics. Most convincing of all is the book's heroine, who perseveres, braving much danger, pursuing an illuminating connection like a thin red thread in the darkness.' Wall Street Journal
A canny police procedural. The narrative does a slow burn at first, but builds up to an alarmingly faster pace in the second half, as clues and revelations come thick and fast. The novel itself is tightly structured and the mystery element has a terrific number of twists and turns built in that don't let up until the final page. Also excellent are the maddeningly intricate mind-twisters in note form that the cops have to solve in order to move onto the next clue (or, in some cases, the next corpse). The Boston Globe
An intriguing melding of a gripping police procedural and an exciting update of the puzzle mystery. Archer imbues "Five" with an inventive plot, tense suspense and fully realized characters that seem as if they have been around for years. Archer's clever use of geocaching proves that the light puzzle mystery can be successfully incorporated into a hard-boiled novel with aplomb. Associated Press
Ursula Archer takes you on a terrifying journey. This is a superior psychological thriller with twists at every level. Karin Slaughter
A deliciously dark and terrifying cat-and-mouse thriller you won't be able to put down until the last page is read. Haunting. Allison Brennan, New York Times bestselling author of Dead Heat and Cold Snap
Intriguing and gripping, I was hooked from the start and shocked by the end. A believable hero and a story cleverly told. I loved Five. Neil White, author of Next to Die
A riveting mystery...The suspense builds until the shocking climax. Publishers Weekly
[a] fast-paced thriller...Sure to appeal to Stieg Larsson fans. Booklist
well-constructed ...an inventive plot. Kirkus Review
Beatrice is a refreshing protagonist who isn't afraid to take chances... Archer's very effective procedural, with some clever twists (and gruesome crimes), also explores the intriguingly odd world of geocaching, and those who inhabit it. While some readers may have things figured out before the end, the journey is well worth it. Library Journal
[Five is] definitely not a book for the faint-hearted, but it delivers great suspense, unexpected plot twists, and multi-dimensional characters. Mystery Tribune
Intriguing...this unusual story will kee you guessing and your heart pounding. RT Book Reviews
This brisk German police procedural is anchored by a fully developed strong cast of law enforcement officials and murder victims, but the freshness comes from the geocaching clues. Five is a strong serial killer cat and mouse hunt. Midwest Book Review
...a hugely entertaining hunt as gutsy Austrian detective Beatrice Kaspary is pitted against a very creepy killer. Compulsively readable. The Sunday Mirror (UK)
"About the Author
URSULA ARCHER is a science journalist and an award-winning author of YA and children's books. Five is her first adult mystery. She lives in Vienna, Austria, with her family.
Customer reviews
Top reviews from Australia
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If you love police procedurals with a very different theme, then this should definitely be on your radar! Detectives Beatrice Kaspary and Florin Wenninger have their work cut out for them when they are asked to solve the murder of a young woman found in a cow paddock with GPS coordinates tattooed on her feet. When they follow the killer’s directions, they discover their first ever geocache – containing body parts of another murder victim, whose blood has been detected on the young woman’s clothes. The deeper Beatrice and Florin look into the geochaching community, the more convinced they become that the killer is either part of it, or has a huge grudge against it – or both!
It is getting harder and harder to find thrillers with an original premise, but Poznanski certainly delivers that! Those readers who love working out clues and following leads will also get their wish, as Bea and Florin have their work cut out to decipher the killer’s cryptic instructions to find the next cache – in the hope of catching him before another person dies. This is a dark and disturbing book with a mounting body count, which belies its idyllic location in beautiful Salzburg. I recently visited the city with a friend and could vividly picturing the locations described, which made for great armchair travel, though I was very happy to be sitting on the other side of the world as this one played out!
I really loved Beatrice as a main protagonist, which will make me seek out other books in the series. Due to the constant demands of police work, Bea’s marriage has fallen apart and she has recently separated from her husband. With the gruesome murder case taking up all her time, it is getting increasingly difficult to juggle motherhood and work, and Bea is constantly feeling torn between wanting to be with her young kids and feeling under pressure from her boss to work longer and longer hours. Her ex-husband, who is still angry at her, makes matters worse by constantly guilt-tripping her into believing she is a bad mother, which is taking its toll. Enigmatic and smart, Bea is the perfect protagonist representing working mothers everywhere, and Poznanski does a great job in portraying her struggle to be a good mother and fulfil the demands of her career at the same time.
Austria has really come through for me lately with some great Scandi-noir type books that have given me all the dark and disturbing elements I love in a thriller. This clever police procedural will appeal to all lovers of multi-layered and somewhat unsettling stories that will keep you at the edge of your seat until the thrilling finale. Highly recommended for anyone looking for an original premise and an overall great read.
The novel also introduces many of us to geo-caching. I have a virtual blogging friend in Canada who’s into geo-caching but I had no idea what it was until I read this novel. In the simplest of terms it’s a bit like a treasure hunt. Of course, in Five it’s not treasure which Beatrice and Florin find at each location, rather some gruesome body parts along with the next clue.
The blurb for this novel suggests it’s not for the faint-hearted. I assumed that meant it would be gruesome which isn’t the case. The killer’s a little sadistic (which is kinda expected in a fictional psychopath!) but there’s nothing too horrific. It is however, a sit-on-the-edge-of-your-seat thriller.
Read the full review in my blog: http://www.debbish.com/books-literature/five-by-ursula-archer/
Top reviews from other countries

The geocaching link to the series of murders was a good way of linking them, though I must admit that I glossed over the clues, leaving that to the experts. There was some gore and I don't think I will ever be tempted to go geocaching (not that I was to start with). It was disappointing that at the end, the all too common 'the heroine gets into life threatening trouble because she goes off on her own despite the obvious dangers and is rescued at the last minute' plot device was used, but all in all, a gripping read and I would recommend it to fans of Nordic noir! There was a nice twist, the murderer seemed obvious at the end, the clues were there for the reader, if paying close attention.




Really hope we get more translations of Ursula Archer's works, as I would love to be able to read the series.