Tough to get through but the ending blew me away!

Wow wow wow! Didn't know "who done it" until last page. Wish Ms McCullough was still around writing books.

I did enjoy this book but there were a few things that got to me.

Firstly the suspect list - there was a suspect list a mile long. I didn't guess the killer and monitoring all of the suspects with all their different issues were a bit tricky.

There is a love affair in here which seemed a bit out of place. I almost felt like slapping him and saying "girls are being murdered and here you are flirting!". This was a bit of a detraction for me.

The "On, Off" at the end got a bit annoying. The ending was also a shock. Some of the bits in the last chapter were really weird and didn't really gel with the rest of the book. I am not sure if there are some of the last reveals come up in later books in the series.

The main character is not particularly heroic nor handsome but that made me really like him. His love interest is also a average woman which also made the book seem more real and was a plus in my eyes.

Most of the book was enjoyable and if you are into these kinds of novels it is worth a read.

Šis, manuprāt, ir līdz šim nepārspēts kriminālromāns.
Stāstījums tāds, ka no pirmās lapas nevar īsti atrauties. Intriga līdz pēdējam vārdam (burtiski). Slepkavību skaits...lielākais manā kriminālromānu lasīšanas vēsturē.
Visu laiku ir sajūta, ka zini, kurš ir vainīgs, bet neesi par to drošs. Tikai pašās beigās atklājas, kā visi ir kļūdījušies.
Makkālovas slavenie Dziedoņi protams bija/ir klasika, bet viņai bija jāraksta vairāk kriminālromānu.

I had no idea this author existed (too young to know Thorn Birds wasn’t just a movie) and thoroughly enjoyed this murder mystery. I can’t wait to read more of her!

I didn’t know what to expect as I have read a number of her books in a different genre. This was very interesting although parts of it seemed to drag on. I was 90% through the book and figured it to be done. Why did I have 10% more of the book. I am glad I finished it as the ending was excellent and it became obvious of why the Title was On/Off. I will read the next in the series.

A good thriller in which you "get to know" all the major suspects in a terrifying murder enquiry. There's plenty to keep you guessing & while the end isn't a total surprise, it does have a nice twist.

I did go back to it though a few days later to re-read the ending. On reflection a lot of questions had come to mind -things that I just accepted the first time round now didn't seem credible - still I enjoyed it while I read it & that's the main thing!

What a departure this is for Colleen McCullough. Best known for The Thorn Birds and her historical writings, this book journeys into the genre of the serial killer thriller and the brutality of this excursion is one that will leave the reader horrified and disgusted, but quickly turning the pages to discover the identity and motivation of the murderous monster capable of committing such appalling crimes against innocent teenage females.

The story begins in October 1965 with the gruesome discovery of the torso of a young girl found at a neurological research center in Connecticut. This is back in the days before we coined the term "serial killer" or utilized DNA testing as an aid in crime solving. The protagonist of the piece is one Lieutenant Carmine Delmonico, an old fashion sleuth, who continually seems to be a few steps behind the clever murderer. His suspects are a myriad of research center employees and directors, each with obsessions and varied quirks as well as a few camouflaged secrets.

The killer is devious, driven and bold and the outcry from the media and terrified parents of potential future victims makes the Lieutenant's job a real tightrope walk.

Readers who are turned off by scenes of torture and rape should steer clear of On/Off. If, however, you would like to use your wits to see if you can arrive at the complete solution to the puzzle and can "hang in there" until the last page you will be presented with an ending that will leave you agape.

Oh my goodness what a great read right up to the end. A page turner with a bit of goosebumps

I was totally surprised to see a book by Colleen McCullough in the mystery/thriller section. I love her historical fiction for the breadth and the depth they give to famous people and places in history, and for her lush writing style. I also love mysteries. So I thought I would combine my two loves, and ended up very pleased. So many mystery/thrillers are just packed with unnecessary jolts of suspense or cliffhangers at the end of a chapter just to keep a person reading; the characters are really caricatures of police detectives or bad guys; and the plot is often obvious from the start. Now I see what these kinds of books can be when in the hands of an excellent writer!! While I thought the premise of the book was disturbing, the story was so well told that I could not help caring what happened to the characters and wondering why they did what they did. I also loved how it was set not in the present-day, so there was some cultural context of the '60s to the story, and how the current mystery was tied to a mystery from even further back in the past. All in all, a fascinating read, and even the twist at the end made sense to me (after I re-read it about 5 times...).

DNF

Si bien al principio es un poco aburrido y cuesta seguir el hilo, luego de la mitad del libro, es muy entretenido. El teniente Delmonico tiene una personalidad que empatiza con el lector. Distinto a muchos libros policiales que lei, es un policía sin características que lo hacen extraordinario. Es simplemente un buen investigador que piensa y usa la cabeza. El final es inesperado.