From the Bookshelf of Around the World in 80 Books…

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F.H. Batacan

Start date: December 15, 2020

Finish date: January 15, 2021

Discussion: Group Reads Discussions

Why we're reading this: December 2020 selection for World Mystery
[close] December 2020 selection for World Mystery

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Group Reads Discussions

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By Diane , Armchair Tour Guide · 3 posts · 1369 views

last updated Jan 18, 2013 07:12PM

I've Been Waiting
By Carole · 1 post · 12 views

last updated Sep 16, 2025 07:57PM

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What Members Thought

Jun 21, 2015 Sam rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed, 1-contemp-literary, setting-asia-southeast, setting-philippines, read-2015

Recognized as the Philippines’ first crime novel, you’ll see the familiar tropes here. This time our world-weary investigator is a Jesuit priest/forensic expert who looks into the killings of young boys in one of the poor neighborhoods in Metro Manila. The unfolding of the mystery is solid enough, but what makes the story a standout for me isn’t the main plot, but rather the glimpses of regular life in the Payatas slums. These few paragraphs scattered throughout the book show us briefly the fami ...more

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Dec 29, 2015 Tony rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: thriller, setting-asia, novels, own-loanable, project-fit

I am generally not inclined to give serial killer stories the time of day -- I think there's plenty of suspense and drama to be milked from crimes committed by people without extreme psychoses. However, I am willing to make exceptions for books with other compelling elements -- such as this one. Hailed as the first Filipino crime story, this is a greatly expanded version of a short novel that originally appeared more than a decade ago, winning various prizes.

The story revolves around the murder ...more

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May 05, 2016 Nadine in NY Jones rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, forensics

I can feel them. Scurrying in circles around me, smaller and smaller circles like rats around a crust of bread or a piece of cheese. Waiting, waiting, waiting for the right moment. The moment when I slip up, when I make a mistake, when I get careless.

The story is gripping, and the writing maintains a fast and faster pace as the plot winds tighter.

I enjoyed the twist that the investigating forensic anthropologist is a Jesuit priest, but I was also confused by that. Is it common for priests to ...more

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Mar 24, 2018 Ann rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2018-aty-52, 2018-atw-8

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I bought this book with an automatic bias -- it's Philippine English Literature, it features Jesuits, a good friend was involved in the film adaptation, and crime/thriller/mystery is my favorite genre.

A+ genre fiction
...more

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Aug 10, 2025 Rachel N. rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2025, mystery, corruption, phillipines, child-abuse

Priests Gus Saenz and Jerome Lucero are assisting the National Bureau of Investigation in Manila with what appears to be a serial killer. The killer is murdering and mutilating young boy and leaving them in the dump. Along with the murder investigation the book explores corruption in the local police and the Catholic Church. The book is very dark in places and there is graphic depictions of the murders. While I wouldn't exactly call the book enjoyable it was very interesting and I liked the two ...more

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