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Body Language
When Alexandra Rafferty was a girl, something unspeakably cruel happened to her on a summer afternoon. Her father, a cop, knew about it, but nobody else did. Or so she thought. Now a forensic photographer for the Miami P.D., Alexandra remains haunted by that horrible day, and it colors all of her relationships. Stan, her emotionally estranged and loutish husband, drives a Brinks armored car and has his own mindbending agenda. Her now aging, not-altogether-there father is more and more dependent and less and less dependable. And her work photographing crime scenes has become a life-consuming obsession.
Now Alexandra is about to get caught up in a gruesome series of rape/murders that seem to speak to her long-hidden past. But before she can understand the killer's message, her personal life spins out of control, sending Alexandra on the run -- from her husband, from the crooks after him, from a surprisingly persistent boyfriend, and from a killer who's bent on making sure Alexandra won't live long enough to translate his message.
With this "unputdownable" crime novel, the author of Under Cover of Daylight and Red Sky at Night heads for bestsellerdom.
Now Alexandra is about to get caught up in a gruesome series of rape/murders that seem to speak to her long-hidden past. But before she can understand the killer's message, her personal life spins out of control, sending Alexandra on the run -- from her husband, from the crooks after him, from a surprisingly persistent boyfriend, and from a killer who's bent on making sure Alexandra won't live long enough to translate his message.
With this "unputdownable" crime novel, the author of Under Cover of Daylight and Red Sky at Night heads for bestsellerdom.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1990
32 people are currently reading
414 people want to read
About the author
James W. Hall
87 books485 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
James W. Hall is an Edgar and Shamus Award-winning author whose books have been translated into a dozen languages. He has written twenty-one novels, four books of poetry, two collections of short stories, and two works of non-fiction. He also won a John D. MacDonald Award for Excellence in Florida Fiction, presented by the JDM Bibliophile.
He has a master’s degree in creative writing from Johns Hopkins University and a doctorate in literature from the University of Utah. He was a professor of literature and creative writing at Florida International University for 40 years where he taught such writers as Vicky Hendricks, Christine Kling, Barbara Parker and Dennis Lehane.
James W. Hall is an Edgar and Shamus Award-winning author whose books have been translated into a dozen languages. He has written twenty-one novels, four books of poetry, two collections of short stories, and two works of non-fiction. He also won a John D. MacDonald Award for Excellence in Florida Fiction, presented by the JDM Bibliophile.
He has a master’s degree in creative writing from Johns Hopkins University and a doctorate in literature from the University of Utah. He was a professor of literature and creative writing at Florida International University for 40 years where he taught such writers as Vicky Hendricks, Christine Kling, Barbara Parker and Dennis Lehane.
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July 15, 2021So' sconcertata...
Allora, superato lo sconcerto, passo alla mie note di lettura...
L'alfabeto dei corpi
La storia avrebbe anche potuto essere coinvolgente, ho trovato l’inizio interessante... Si apre con un ricordo, relativo a un tremendo evento, vissuto dalla protagonista, Alexandra Collins, appena undicenne, che, pur non avendo conseguenze "ufficiali", condizionerà la sua esistenza. Poi, la narrazione torna al tempo presente della storia, diciotto anni dopo. Troviamo Alexandra, oramai adulta, impiegata come fotografa scientifica per la polizia, impegnata sulla scena di un orrendo crimine, a raccogliere documentazione fotografica. Si tratta di un reato odioso, stupro e omicidio di una giovane donna, caso non isolato, ma che rientra in una sanguinosa catena di crimini, tutti della stessa natura e compiuti con la stessa modalità, da quello che è stato ribattezzato, dalla polizia, Lo Stupratore Sanguinario e che, ormai da mesi, tiene in scacco le forze dell'ordine. Dato rilevante: lo stupratore assassino lascia i corpi delle vittime nudi e disposti in posizioni non casuali, alle quali, tuttavia, gli specialisti non sono ancora riusciti a dare una spiegazione. Vengono introdotti progressivamente tutti i personaggi fondamentali per Alexandra, e scopriamo che non solo la sua vita è stata condizionata dal dramma vissuto in maniera profonda, ma tutte le scelte che ha fatto ne sono state, più o meno consciamente, una conseguenza... Ora, come scrivevo all'inizio, la storia avrebbe anche potuto darmi delle soddisfazioni se, da un certo punto in poi, non fosse stata sviluppata in maniera, per me, quasi assurda e paradossale... Tutto si svolge in pochi giorni, ma l'autore, invece di risolvere in modo forse, sì, prevedibile ma, diciamo, coerente gli avvenimenti, aggiunge una serie di accadimenti, non direttamente connessi alla vicenda dello Stupratore Sanguinario, cui però si intersecano, con conseguenti reazioni particolari. Questa propagazione, credo, sarebbe dovuta servire ad arricchire di suspense e colpi di scena la storia, ma, invece, a mio gusto, la rendono solo, appunto, paradossale, e, persino, a tratti, ho avuto voglia di saltare pezzi interi di testo, soprattutto per come agiscono o non agiscono i protagonisti. Insomma, sono rimasta abbastanza delusa. Peccato, poteva essere una lettura gradevole.
Allora, superato lo sconcerto, passo alla mie note di lettura...
L'alfabeto dei corpi
La storia avrebbe anche potuto essere coinvolgente, ho trovato l’inizio interessante... Si apre con un ricordo, relativo a un tremendo evento, vissuto dalla protagonista, Alexandra Collins, appena undicenne, che, pur non avendo conseguenze "ufficiali", condizionerà la sua esistenza. Poi, la narrazione torna al tempo presente della storia, diciotto anni dopo. Troviamo Alexandra, oramai adulta, impiegata come fotografa scientifica per la polizia, impegnata sulla scena di un orrendo crimine, a raccogliere documentazione fotografica. Si tratta di un reato odioso, stupro e omicidio di una giovane donna, caso non isolato, ma che rientra in una sanguinosa catena di crimini, tutti della stessa natura e compiuti con la stessa modalità, da quello che è stato ribattezzato, dalla polizia, Lo Stupratore Sanguinario e che, ormai da mesi, tiene in scacco le forze dell'ordine. Dato rilevante: lo stupratore assassino lascia i corpi delle vittime nudi e disposti in posizioni non casuali, alle quali, tuttavia, gli specialisti non sono ancora riusciti a dare una spiegazione. Vengono introdotti progressivamente tutti i personaggi fondamentali per Alexandra, e scopriamo che non solo la sua vita è stata condizionata dal dramma vissuto in maniera profonda, ma tutte le scelte che ha fatto ne sono state, più o meno consciamente, una conseguenza... Ora, come scrivevo all'inizio, la storia avrebbe anche potuto darmi delle soddisfazioni se, da un certo punto in poi, non fosse stata sviluppata in maniera, per me, quasi assurda e paradossale... Tutto si svolge in pochi giorni, ma l'autore, invece di risolvere in modo forse, sì, prevedibile ma, diciamo, coerente gli avvenimenti, aggiunge una serie di accadimenti, non direttamente connessi alla vicenda dello Stupratore Sanguinario, cui però si intersecano, con conseguenti reazioni particolari. Questa propagazione, credo, sarebbe dovuta servire ad arricchire di suspense e colpi di scena la storia, ma, invece, a mio gusto, la rendono solo, appunto, paradossale, e, persino, a tratti, ho avuto voglia di saltare pezzi interi di testo, soprattutto per come agiscono o non agiscono i protagonisti. Insomma, sono rimasta abbastanza delusa. Peccato, poteva essere una lettura gradevole.
July 30, 2010
I didn't realize it wasn't a Thorn until I started. I generally avoid serial killer books, and this reminded me why. Crazy killer on the loose, watch out, again. Ho hum. The big twist seemed so contrived. The love scenes were overdone. The big clue that wasn't discovered until the end was obvious right at the beginning when it was introduced. Wacky bad guys with little quirks, yawn. Not all bad. Liked the Dad with the memory loss, interesting. Plot moved along nicely. Overall, it just seemed clunky and obvious.
December 21, 2021
For you Hall fans, this is not a Thorne. Hall has a new publisher and is trying something new. Trust me, you won't even miss Thorne. Alexandra Rafferty is a forensic photographer with the Miami Police. She is good at what she does. And her husband is a slime. And her ex-policeman father is losing his grip on reality. And there's a serial killer on the lose. This is a great story. It's got it all, great plot, great characters, some hysterically funny scenes and a wonderful telling of it all.
June 27, 2022
This is a good story with plenty of suspense.
Alexandra is a forensic photographer with Miami PD. She photographs crime scenes which included the murder of a number of women. The murders have a link to Alex and her past, but it takes some time for her to make the connection.
This story has a few twists and turns and a surprise at the end.
Alexandra is a forensic photographer with Miami PD. She photographs crime scenes which included the murder of a number of women. The murders have a link to Alex and her past, but it takes some time for her to make the connection.
This story has a few twists and turns and a surprise at the end.
September 12, 2016
Alex is on the hunt for a serial killer!
Starting with a childhood attack, and a coverup, it quickly moves on to a robbery, two million in cash, and a serial killer that can't be stopped. The action comes fast and doesn't stop till the end.
Starting with a childhood attack, and a coverup, it quickly moves on to a robbery, two million in cash, and a serial killer that can't be stopped. The action comes fast and doesn't stop till the end.
January 24, 2011
Quick read. Good story. Weird characters. Love Hall for all these things.
September 9, 2015
Fast paced suspenseful !! Loved this book.
January 29, 2025
What a nice surprise this book was! I have had this book on my shelf for a very long time. This year's theme has me taking the books that were published longest. I did this theme a few years ago which ticked off Black Beauty (loved it!) and Frankenstein (hated it!) so we are up to the 90's now. This book was published in 1998.
Sometimes books do not age well. I have put off my older books because of this and there is always something newer that other people are talking about that I want to read. But here we go and guess what? I loved this one!
We have the main character, Alexandra, a crime scene photographer. Not an investigator but loosely tied to the force. There is a serial killer on the loose with some distinct details that are his signature: each woman is left lying in an unusual position and there is always a trail of blood that does not belong to the victim.
We also have her father, who we know a bit about in the prologue when we read a story about Alexandar at age 11. Fast forward and her father now has Alzheimer's or some form of dementia. The scenes with the two of them together was so heartwarming. He would say the funniest things and she patiently went along with the things he would say, some nonsense, and some maybe not nonsense.... I giggled quite a bit with his antics.
There is her husband, Stan, who is a real piece of work. And other very entertaining characters. As with most good murder mysteries, it kept me guessing and ended with a surprise.
A few details that, if they changed the details just a little bit, they could re-market this book today.
1. After taking her crime scene photos, she "dropped the film off for processing" and would put a rush on it so she could look them over the next day.
2. Later, her father is operating a camera that after taking a shot, he had to wind the film to take the next photo. I remember those!
3. No cell phones at all. At one point she needed to use the pay phone and someone else grew impatient waiting for her to get off the phone and urinated on her leg.
4. Full-service gas stations.
5. Another scene with a phone and she was walking back and forth on the front porch with the cord stretching as far as it would go.
Other than that, change the model of the cars and this was still a very good novel today!
Sometimes books do not age well. I have put off my older books because of this and there is always something newer that other people are talking about that I want to read. But here we go and guess what? I loved this one!
We have the main character, Alexandra, a crime scene photographer. Not an investigator but loosely tied to the force. There is a serial killer on the loose with some distinct details that are his signature: each woman is left lying in an unusual position and there is always a trail of blood that does not belong to the victim.
We also have her father, who we know a bit about in the prologue when we read a story about Alexandar at age 11. Fast forward and her father now has Alzheimer's or some form of dementia. The scenes with the two of them together was so heartwarming. He would say the funniest things and she patiently went along with the things he would say, some nonsense, and some maybe not nonsense.... I giggled quite a bit with his antics.
There is her husband, Stan, who is a real piece of work. And other very entertaining characters. As with most good murder mysteries, it kept me guessing and ended with a surprise.
A few details that, if they changed the details just a little bit, they could re-market this book today.
1. After taking her crime scene photos, she "dropped the film off for processing" and would put a rush on it so she could look them over the next day.
2. Later, her father is operating a camera that after taking a shot, he had to wind the film to take the next photo. I remember those!
3. No cell phones at all. At one point she needed to use the pay phone and someone else grew impatient waiting for her to get off the phone and urinated on her leg.
4. Full-service gas stations.
5. Another scene with a phone and she was walking back and forth on the front porch with the cord stretching as far as it would go.
Other than that, change the model of the cars and this was still a very good novel today!
October 12, 2021
4.3/
First, I want to specially mention for how I love its writing style. It is beautifully written especially when Hall tries to describe the intensely-consuming narrative of every critical details. It is very vivid that would paint an animated images and scenarios to your mind. In fact, I highlighted and annotated some of the lines that made me awe of how it constructed.
Moreover, what I learned from this novel is to not conclude when the collective things are not yet presented to you. I did conclude amid of the story who the killer was and attempted upon that very moment to observe his general conduct. All the presumptions, however, I had in my mind about his were actually untrue. Unanticipated matters just unfolded at the nearest end leading me to contemplate and connect the dots if it would make sense and hell yeah, it subtly, certainly did. It is brilliantly shocking for I never saw it would coming. When I finished, I went back to the pages when the killer was having a good time to his last two potential victims since I got confused and quite did presume all the time the wrong person; complimenting myself all along I get caught the right one that established a belief that I could be sort of detective(lol).
Ultimately, my greatest takeaway for this is to always notice the unnoticeable. Consider, at all times, those unknowably innumerable possibilities.
First, I want to specially mention for how I love its writing style. It is beautifully written especially when Hall tries to describe the intensely-consuming narrative of every critical details. It is very vivid that would paint an animated images and scenarios to your mind. In fact, I highlighted and annotated some of the lines that made me awe of how it constructed.
Moreover, what I learned from this novel is to not conclude when the collective things are not yet presented to you. I did conclude amid of the story who the killer was and attempted upon that very moment to observe his general conduct. All the presumptions, however, I had in my mind about his were actually untrue. Unanticipated matters just unfolded at the nearest end leading me to contemplate and connect the dots if it would make sense and hell yeah, it subtly, certainly did. It is brilliantly shocking for I never saw it would coming. When I finished, I went back to the pages when the killer was having a good time to his last two potential victims since I got confused and quite did presume all the time the wrong person; complimenting myself all along I get caught the right one that established a belief that I could be sort of detective(lol).
Ultimately, my greatest takeaway for this is to always notice the unnoticeable. Consider, at all times, those unknowably innumerable possibilities.
July 27, 2018
A young woman, photographer for the Miami police, finds herself caught up in a net of nasty circumstances. One has to do with her low-life husband and his clumsy attempts at being a criminal, and one is linked to a traumatic childhood incident. That's where the serial killer comes in - a man who leaves his victims bent into odd shapes. The novel is an easy read although I found Alexandra to be rather one dimensional. I did like the relationship she had with her father.
July 2, 2017
One of the better Hall books. A forensics officer is in danger--through her work, from her husband and his indiscretions and her friends. Bodies seems to be dropping all over the place as protagonist Alexandra and her Alzheimer's Dad race from point to point to get to the bottom of what's going on--in their present and from their past.
December 2, 2018
Really don’t know why James Hall is criminally ignored by readers - he’s such a beautiful writer, and for a crime writer that’s saying something!!
This is yet again a taunt, well plotted thriller of the highest order, and right to the last page!! Brilliant stuff, so read Hall - he’s special and one of THE best crime writers of the world!!
This is yet again a taunt, well plotted thriller of the highest order, and right to the last page!! Brilliant stuff, so read Hall - he’s special and one of THE best crime writers of the world!!
Read
June 20, 2020A well-scripted thriller peopled with a couple of interesting characters (e.g., Alex), some rather weak characters (e.g., Emma), as well as some truly repulsive swine whose presence was extremely unpleasant (e.g., Stan). Like a wild roller coaster, it delivers the thrills while making some riders sick to their stomachs.
July 12, 2023
It was fast-paced and a very surprising and enjoyable book that was told from the point of view of different characters.
I didn't like that the end of the book was so abrupt with several questions left kind of unanswered, and events seemingly happening only to move the plot forward.
I didn't like that the end of the book was so abrupt with several questions left kind of unanswered, and events seemingly happening only to move the plot forward.
September 11, 2023
I picked up a signed copy of this book while on a vacation in Key West in December of 2021. I finally got around to reading it and boy, am I glad that I did! I thought it was quite the page-turner, and will recommend it to anyone looking for a good suspenseful read.
July 2, 2018
An OK read, but not even close to the quality of Hall’s Thorn series.
February 17, 2019
Good twists and turns.
A solid performance. Being from south florida, I like all the references to the area. It personalizes the story.
A solid performance. Being from south florida, I like all the references to the area. It personalizes the story.
July 2, 2019
Loved the book because it is a suspense thriller.
February 29, 2020
Calling Tarentino
How did you miss this one?Perfect blend of macabre violence and squalid humor. And there are some great insights where I least expected them.
How did you miss this one?Perfect blend of macabre violence and squalid humor. And there are some great insights where I least expected them.
August 11, 2020
Fast paced book. Loved it!!
December 3, 2020
Probably one of the worst books I have ever read. Stereotyping, cliches, bigotry, no suspense, shallow characters, unbelievable storyline, etc. Why is this author a bestseller?
April 14, 2021
A fairly mediocre thriller picked up from my local little library. It has a twist at the end that is a bit unexpected but which is also a cliche
July 4, 2021
If you like chillers and thrillers this one is for you.
November 16, 2021
Read in 2000. A heartfelt and gripping thriller.
December 17, 2023
Excellent novel. True crime writing without a lot of preachy description and endless side information. A good solid murder mystery.
February 19, 2024
3.5/5
Overall I really liked this book. It was just a lot from start to finish! So many crazy things happening!
Overall I really liked this book. It was just a lot from start to finish! So many crazy things happening!
September 19, 2024
Wow! Quite a story with a lot going on. Unexpected twists and surprises.
August 15, 2025
First book I’ve read by Mr. Hall. I really enjoyed it. A lot of mystery and intrigue. Thought I figured it out. I did not. Happy it worked out the way it did.
February 12, 2014
James Hall is a most interesting person. he was born in Kentucky, and graduated from Florida Presbyterian College with a B.A. in literature, and a deep love of Florida. He went on to earn an M.A. from Johns Hopkins University and a Ph.D. from the University of Utah. He then returned to Florida to teach literature and creative writing at Florida International University for the next 36 years.
The first books he published were four books of poetry followed by a collection of short stories and a book of essays. Since then he has published seventeen novels most of which feature an enigmatic loner named Thorn. This book, Body Language, is one of his Thorn series.
James Hall certainly catches the unique topographic heartbeat of Florida. I often feel Florida is an under-rated State, which is largely associated only with Theme Parks. This author does what he can to right that.
In this novel, photographer Alexandra Rafferty, is a fascinating character. She has been wounded by a childhood rape and so is very protective of her ex-policeman father who saved her then and has now slipped into senility. She deliberately keeps her talents and emotions in check. Her husband drives an armoured car. He is secretly planning the crime of the century. The rest of the plot involves the search for a killer of young women who leaves his victims in unusual postures.
I found this an interesting, compelling novel. However, I have to confess, this is my favourite genre and I have a great fondness for the State of Florida. I read the book straight through and found the plot was well executed but I found many of the characters difficult to warm to.
I had worked out who the killer was fairly early but the author threw just enough red herrings in to have me questioning my choices a few times. I was right in the end!
The author seemed to go out of his way a few times to be crude. I could have lived without that. However, I did like his description. I found I could really visualise my surroundings. This is the first book I have read by this author, but I doubt it will be my last. If you enjoy crime fiction, I would certainly commend this book to you.
The first books he published were four books of poetry followed by a collection of short stories and a book of essays. Since then he has published seventeen novels most of which feature an enigmatic loner named Thorn. This book, Body Language, is one of his Thorn series.
James Hall certainly catches the unique topographic heartbeat of Florida. I often feel Florida is an under-rated State, which is largely associated only with Theme Parks. This author does what he can to right that.
In this novel, photographer Alexandra Rafferty, is a fascinating character. She has been wounded by a childhood rape and so is very protective of her ex-policeman father who saved her then and has now slipped into senility. She deliberately keeps her talents and emotions in check. Her husband drives an armoured car. He is secretly planning the crime of the century. The rest of the plot involves the search for a killer of young women who leaves his victims in unusual postures.
I found this an interesting, compelling novel. However, I have to confess, this is my favourite genre and I have a great fondness for the State of Florida. I read the book straight through and found the plot was well executed but I found many of the characters difficult to warm to.
I had worked out who the killer was fairly early but the author threw just enough red herrings in to have me questioning my choices a few times. I was right in the end!
The author seemed to go out of his way a few times to be crude. I could have lived without that. However, I did like his description. I found I could really visualise my surroundings. This is the first book I have read by this author, but I doubt it will be my last. If you enjoy crime fiction, I would certainly commend this book to you.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews