As a writer, Dan Brown has developed a certain formula, and he follows it consistently in each of the books in his Robert Langdon series. His fans oftAs a writer, Dan Brown has developed a certain formula, and he follows it consistently in each of the books in his Robert Langdon series. His fans often refer to it as some big surprising even occurs, forcing Robert and some beautiful woman to go on the run while being chased by bad people. Over the course of a few days the two of them must solve several puzzles and mysteries, often based on prejudicial historical information, and solve the overall mystery before the bad guys stop them. The pace is frantic, with lots of action, revealing mysteries and conspiracies, and interesting locations.
“Origin” - for better or for worse, the fifth outing for Robert Langdon, Harvard symbiology and religious professor, is much the same. When the book begins, Robert is just arriving at the famous Guggenheim Museum Bilbao to attend a major announcement by Edmond Kirsch, a forty-year-old billionaire and futurist whose high-tech inventions and bold predictions have made him a renowned global figure and hero to many. Kirsch, a former student and mentee of Langdon’s, is about to unveil a controversial discovery that he promises will change the face of science forever by answering the fundamental questions of human existence itself.
However, during the presentation, Kirsch is shot and killed before he can share his discovery, forcing Robert to flee with Ambra Vidal, the museum director who staged the event with Kirsch. Together, they go on the run to Barcelona on a quest to locate the cryptic password that will unlock Kirsch’s discovery. Dealing with hidden history and extreme religious figures, Robert and Ambra must evade those who want Kirsch’s secret hidden from the world, and uncover clues in modern art and symbols that will lead them to Kirsch’s striking discovery.
Although the formula remains unchanged, Brown does a good job in setting up this adventure and laying out the foundation of the story. The beginning flows well and doesn’t feel rushed or forced. Characters are introduced in a multi-layered manner, flashing between the current moment and their background story that brought them to this point. This sets up nicely for Kirsch to begin his presentation, be killed before the big reveal, and the dramatic chase begins for our fearless hero and heroine.
One of the interesting aspects was that, except for the beginning and ending scenes, Robert and Ambra are not on the front stage as much as in prior books. They have some important scenes solving puzzles to discover Kirsch’s password to his discovery, but the other characters played more primary roles in driving the multiple plots throughout the book. There are several of them, including Navy admiral and assassin, Luis Avila; Jewish Rabbi Koves; Catholic Bishop Valdespino, advisor to the King; Prince Julian of Spain and the fiancée of Ambra; Commander Diego Garza and agent Diaz of the elite Spanish security force trying to protect the King and Prince; Monica Martin, Spain’s PR Coordinator, a real wild card; and of course, Winston, Kirsch’s unique AI computer system that partners with Robert throughout the story. Each plays a significant part in the overall storyline.
In addition to the characters, Brown places a large emphasis on art, religious history, and Spanish architecture. Each of course is woven into the background and tapestry of the story being told in ways that Brown is famous for. When it comes to the ending and the big reveal of where mankind came from and is going, I will not share any spoilers. What I will say is that there is a lot of scientific theory and modeling involved, to the point of almost overwhelming the reader. However, I found the answer to one of the two questions to be very interesting and thought-provoking. I leave it to each reader to decide their thoughts on the two answers for themselves and how they viewed the discovery. I am sure there will be lots of arguing and debating over the points that Brown makes and whether you favor creationism or evolution, the argument of science and religion will continue to rage regardless of the ideas expressed in this book.
On a personal note it would be nice moving forward to see more development for the character of Robert Langdon. He ends up being the facilitator that propels the plotline forward by solving clues and providing intellectual stimuli. It’s interesting to me that he never, never, ever, gets the girl. In this one he gets closer in building a sentimental bond, but the highlight is a what-could-have-been overdone goodbye hug… it would be nice if he could be more of a 3D character with real depth.
Overall, the book is a fun read for the most part. I believe the challenge with reading a Dan Brown is this. If you treat his work as fiction, knowing that historical, scientific, and religious references are mixed in to heighten the mystery and conflict in the story, you will enjoy him. However, if you take his conspiracy theories and secrets and try to make them real, then you will have problems. Brown tries so hard to make his plots and theories seem factual, but the reality is he is a fiction writer. Truth be told, he is a fiction writer who has had success trying to sell fiction as potential truth. As long as you recognize it is a work of fiction, you will be fine. Let the conspiracy buffs feed their own beliefs and arguments. Enjoy him for the escape and thought-provoking questions he asks, and you will be fine.
Merged review:
As a writer, Dan Brown has developed a certain formula, and he follows it consistently in each of the books in his Robert Langdon series. His fans often refer to it as some big surprising even occurs, forcing Robert and some beautiful woman to go on the run while being chased by bad people. Over the course of a few days the two of them must solve several puzzles and mysteries, often based on prejudicial historical information, and solve the overall mystery before the bad guys stop them. The pace is frantic, with lots of action, revealing mysteries and conspiracies, and interesting locations.
“Origin” - for better or for worse, the fifth outing for Robert Langdon, Harvard symbiology and religious professor, is much the same. When the book begins, Robert is just arriving at the famous Guggenheim Museum Bilbao to attend a major announcement by Edmond Kirsch, a forty-year-old billionaire and futurist whose high-tech inventions and bold predictions have made him a renowned global figure and hero to many. Kirsch, a former student and mentee of Langdon’s, is about to unveil a controversial discovery that he promises will change the face of science forever by answering the fundamental questions of human existence itself.
However, during the presentation, Kirsch is shot and killed before he can share his discovery, forcing Robert to flee with Ambra Vidal, the museum director who staged the event with Kirsch. Together, they go on the run to Barcelona on a quest to locate the cryptic password that will unlock Kirsch’s discovery. Dealing with hidden history and extreme religious figures, Robert and Ambra must evade those who want Kirsch’s secret hidden from the world, and uncover clues in modern art and symbols that will lead them to Kirsch’s striking discovery.
Although the formula remains unchanged, Brown does a good job in setting up this adventure and laying out the foundation of the story. The beginning flows well and doesn’t feel rushed or forced. Characters are introduced in a multi-layered manner, flashing between the current moment and their background story that brought them to this point. This sets up nicely for Kirsch to begin his presentation, be killed before the big reveal, and the dramatic chase begins for our fearless hero and heroine.
One of the interesting aspects was that, except for the beginning and ending scenes, Robert and Ambra are not on the front stage as much as in prior books. They have some important scenes solving puzzles to discover Kirsch’s password to his discovery, but the other characters played more primary roles in driving the multiple plots throughout the book. There are several of them, including Navy admiral and assassin, Luis Avila; Jewish Rabbi Koves; Catholic Bishop Valdespino, advisor to the King; Prince Julian of Spain and the fiancée of Ambra; Commander Diego Garza and agent Diaz of the elite Spanish security force trying to protect the King and Prince; Monica Martin, Spain’s PR Coordinator, a real wild card; and of course, Winston, Kirsch’s unique AI computer system that partners with Robert throughout the story. Each plays a significant part in the overall storyline.
In addition to the characters, Brown places a large emphasis on art, religious history, and Spanish architecture. Each of course is woven into the background and tapestry of the story being told in ways that Brown is famous for. When it comes to the ending and the big reveal of where mankind came from and is going, I will not share any spoilers. What I will say is that there is a lot of scientific theory and modeling involved, to the point of almost overwhelming the reader. However, I found the answer to one of the two questions to be very interesting and thought-provoking. I leave it to each reader to decide their thoughts on the two answers for themselves and how they viewed the discovery. I am sure there will be lots of arguing and debating over the points that Brown makes and whether you favor creationism or evolution, the argument of science and religion will continue to rage regardless of the ideas expressed in this book.
On a personal note it would be nice moving forward to see more development for the character of Robert Langdon. He ends up being the facilitator that propels the plotline forward by solving clues and providing intellectual stimuli. It’s interesting to me that he never, never, ever, gets the girl. In this one he gets closer in building a sentimental bond, but the highlight is a what-could-have-been overdone goodbye hug… it would be nice if he could be more of a 3D character with real depth.
Overall, the book is a fun read for the most part. I believe the challenge with reading a Dan Brown is this. If you treat his work as fiction, knowing that historical, scientific, and religious references are mixed in to heighten the mystery and conflict in the story, you will enjoy him. However, if you take his conspiracy theories and secrets and try to make them real, then you will have problems. Brown tries so hard to make his plots and theories seem factual, but the reality is he is a fiction writer. Truth be told, he is a fiction writer who has had success trying to sell fiction as potential truth. As long as you recognize it is a work of fiction, you will be fine. Let the conspiracy buffs feed their own beliefs and arguments. Enjoy him for the escape and thought-provoking questions he asks, and you will be fine....more
Last year I read Ruth Ware’s first three books and became an instant fan. All three books were complex psychological mystery thrillers with well-pacedLast year I read Ruth Ware’s first three books and became an instant fan. All three books were complex psychological mystery thrillers with well-paced plotting. They pulled me in immediately and immersed me into complex and layered mysteries that made me ache to discover what came next, followed by late night reading because I couldn’t dare stop until every page was devoured and intimate detail was revealed.
In her fourth outing, “The Death of Mrs. Westaway”, Ware continues to hone her craft by grabbing us by the throats and demanding our full attention throughout an eerily and tight knit mystery that deepens with every page. Each of her books demonstrate increased skills, and this one in particular, demonstrates her ability to create interesting characters and layer each aspect of the overriding mystery on top of one another, setting up one twist after another for the reader. Ware makes sure to keep the reader stumbling, never allowing us to be sure of a character’s situation or if what they are experiencing is fully real. Each character has their own perceptions and reality.
“The Death of Mrs. Westaway” is a story about Hal, a young woman trying to survive on her own after her mother’s recent death. She works as a tarot card reader and spends most of her time avoiding the local loan sharks and riff-raff. One day she receives an unusual letter bestowing her with a large inheritance. After realizing she is not the intended recipient, curiosity gets the better of her and she finds herself attending the deceased’s funeral.
When Hal is introduced to the three Westaway brothers and their dysfunctional families and their aging Trepassen home estate, it doesn’t take long for her to figure out that there is something very strange about this situation and wrong about the inheritance. The large house is aging badly, without electricity, and her upstairs bedroom has locks on the outside of the door. And then there is Mrs. Warren, the strange old housekeeper who moves silently and harshly warns Hal to get out while she can. What starts off as a strange adventure quickly turns into a deadly mystery when Hal realizes somebody in the family didn’t expect to her to show up and being killed is a real possibility.
Ware has several strengths as an English mystery writer. She has a strong history of successful mystery and crime related authors to rely on and lookup to. Members of the media have compared her to Agatha Christie. I wholeheartedly agree with that assessment along with a touch of Alfred Hitchcock to go with it. However, I would go a step further and argue she has her own, unique writing voice. One is becoming a dominant influence in the current marketplace of mystery genre.
Ware can write an intensely suspenseful and scary scene that raises the hairs on your back and make you look around to see if someone is sneaking up on you. In each of her four books there was at least two moments where I literally had to stop reading and look around the room to make sure that I was safe. There is one particular moment in this book when Hal reached out and touched something in the dark and I had this feeling that I knew what it was she feeling… And even though I guessed it right, her description still made me shiver and tighten my shoulders. Trust me, there were several more of those moments in this one.
She also layers and twists her plots with the best of today’s bestselling mystery authors. In this book, she combines an Agatha Christie style mystery with a Shakespearian study of family-based relationships, how mistakes and choices can have lifetime consequences, and how love and sacrifice can make up for some of our mistakes. Ware demonstrates artistically how these themes impact the next generation and tear down our ability to grow and find strength in each other. Ware’s strength comes from demonstrating (not telling) these key themes in action. For me, she is easily becoming the Queen of psychological mysteries.
Overall, this is a very strong, well written, and worthy read. The best one of her four books. This is going to sound a bit strange, but I highly recommend that you read her books in the order in which she wrote them. Why, you ask? You certainly don’t have to do that in order to enjoy them, but if you do read them in written order you will get to see and experience first-hand her awesome growth as a writer. With each book, her plots get tighter, her characters more developed and more dimensional, and most importantly her ability to draw the reader into the front row seat of a most engaging and psychological thriller grows with each book she writes. I can promise you reading an Ann Ware mystery is always a personal reading experience of entertaining joy.
I know that I sound over-the-top in my praise. I understand that. However, if you find this hard to believe, test me. Give her a try and you’ll see. I am willing to put metaphorical money where my mouth is…...more
When I was about 100 pages, or a third of the way through this book, I found myself stopping to ponder. You know, I have never really ever read anythiWhen I was about 100 pages, or a third of the way through this book, I found myself stopping to ponder. You know, I have never really ever read anything by John Grisham book that I didn’t enjoy. I went through all of his titles in my head, and yes, I liked some more than others, but I can’t say I didn’t like any of them. Grisham’s worst is still better than most everyone else. That is until now…
Grisham’s new legal (if you can call it that) thriller, “The Rooster Bar” starts off during the Christmas holiday season, with four law school students and buddies – Gordy, Mark, Todd, and Zola – going into their last semester before graduation and the payback of their outstanding six-figure loan debt. Each of them has borrowed heavily to attend a lower-tier and lower-rated law school for profit. A school so mediocre that its graduates are rarely able to pass the bar exam and get the higher paying jobs most law students dream of.
One of them, Gordy, has researched further to discover their law school is one of a chain owned by a disreputable New York hedge-fund investor. Using shell companies, the investor also owns a bank specializing in student loans to the chain schools, as well as a group of low-scale law firms hiring the students for those schools. It is a greatly orchestrated law school scam in which they are now involved.
After a dramatic and personal loss, three of them quit school, acquire new identities, and start practicing law without licenses out of a local joined called the Rooster Bar. There are challenges along the way and it doesn’t take long for them in to get into trouble with unsatisfied clients, other cutthroat lawyers, and eventually law enforcement. In addition, Zola’s parents and brother are taken by federal authorities and deported to Senegal, causing her to work through the challenges of corruption in her home county’s legal system in hopes of saving their lives.
Eventually, as with other Grisham novels, the three eventually hatch a risky plan in hopes of getting back at the evil hedge-fund investor, the bad guy that created their unfair student loan situations. I will keep from spoiling the details and the various plot outcomes for those who want the experience of reading the book for themselves.
This book brought home for me a certain truth. John Grisham is an excellent storyteller. He can write an instruction manual or a cookbook and I would somehow be drawn in to his masterful prose. His writing flows in a way that few writers can capture. I often find myself losing track of time, staying up late and ignoring other responsibilities when I am devouring a Grisham book.
Unfortunately, it is that very great writing style that exposes the weaknesses of this book, which is that of a weak plot, less than interesting male protagonists, and a less than stellar ending. The plot lacks any real sustaining interest or suspense for the reader. The conflict does not create much worry or risk for the characters outcome. I was never scared that something really bad was going to happen them in terms of physical harm or serious legal penalties. And although I was drawn into Zola’s fight to save her parents, both Mark and Todd were one dimensional and provided no reason for sympathy or empathy. I had no reason to cheer them on, and the more mistakes they made, it was even tougher to side with them. What ended up saving the book and keeping my interest was Grisham’s strong writing. My enjoyment of his style kept me going to finish the book, even when the ending petered out in a very predictable and flat manner.
Overall, this would have been a good short story or novella, but there just wasn’t enough content for a novel length adventure. Grisham’s storytelling power still reigns, but this story needed more tension, suspense, and content to carry the length of a novel. It needed characters that I cared for and rooted for them to overcome their conflicts and challenges. And it needed an ending where I didn’t think so what about the outcome. That’s it? Really?
I guess there’s always a first, even for the best of them. I can't believe I am saying this, but better luck next time John… ...more
Two of my favorite mystery/suspense writers are Lee Child and David Baldacci. There are very few books by either author that I haven’t enjoyed. This iTwo of my favorite mystery/suspense writers are Lee Child and David Baldacci. There are very few books by either author that I haven’t enjoyed. This is the case with Baldacci’s new book, “End Game” which is his fourth adventure with Will Robie, a secret weapon of the United States government. Robie, along with his partner, Jessica Reel, are two of the most lethal assassins ever created. They are given the toughest assignments against the world’s deadliest terrorists and those seeking violence against the United States.
At the end of the previous book, Will and Jessica grew closer in their developing personal relationship outside of work. When this outing begins, Will and Jessica are back in the service of their country when their boss, the Blue Man, goes missing while on vacation in a rural area of Colorado. He was last seen fly fishing in his small hometown of Grand and is now completely off the grid. The Agency Director sends Will and Jessica to investigate and find their handler before any state secrets are lost, but Grand is not just any other small town. It holds many secrets including a stagnant economy, understaffed local and state police, multiple militant fringe groups, and an even stronger threat that will hinder their very ability to escape, yet alone find Blue Man.
Reading a Baldacci book is like an exciting roller coaster ride. The story moves along at break-neck speed, moving from one action packed scene to another in staccato fashion. As Will and Jessica work the clues, suspects and background information is revealed piece by piece, and the two argue and bicker over Jessica being distant from Will without explanation. She is holding something back from him and it adds to the tension of their search for the Blue Man. In my opinion, one of Baldacci’s best strengths as a writer is his ability to wrap a plot together in such a strong manner where the mystery, suspense, and clues are revealed one at a time like peeling away the layers of an onion. For an author that produces two books a year, he is still capable of intricate plotting and pacing. Each character introduced is unique and their own, and the conversations between them and the investigators flow with a rhythm almost lyrical in nature.
Will Robie and Jessica are two of my favorite Baldacci characters. Their developing closeness than pulling away from each other adds conflict to an all-ready exciting and tense relationship. And the mystery surrounding the Blue Man plays out in a personal and revealing manner that adds depth and sincerity to both his character and the series mythology.
Overall, it’s a very enjoyable journey for the reader to follow their journey and try to solve the mystery before they do. In my case, I think I damaged a few brain cells trying to beat Robie and Jessica to the resolution. If you haven’t tried reading Baldacci, this is one of his best series to start with if you like fast-paced plotting, robust mystery elements, and strong multi-dimensional characters you can cheer for.
I dare you to try him... I double dare you......more
You know what you get with a Janet Evanovich “Stephanie Plum” book. An independent, pretty girl, a couple of hunky guys – Moretti and Ranger - to teamYou know what you get with a Janet Evanovich “Stephanie Plum” book. An independent, pretty girl, a couple of hunky guys – Moretti and Ranger - to team up with, and an adventure full of mystery and silly zaniness. Solving the mystery usually involves visiting different locations, lots of overwhelmingly crazy characters, and comical situations throughout the quest. There is lots of teasing and innuendo between the Stephanie and the hunky guys as they work together, but in the end the mystery will be resolved whether on purpose or by accident within 300 pages of reading.
This describes her Stephanie Plum bounty hunter series and pretty much everything else she’s written. You may think it sounds fairly formula-matic, and that’s true. However, in all honesty, nobody else is better at writing this type of sarcastic humor and risqué laden banter than anyone else. Evanovich gets you to laugh out loud at least once every other page because of the downright silliness of her plots and character reactions.
“Hardcore Twenty-Four” continues the established silly world of Stephanie Plum, clumsy bounty hunter, but it unfortunately takes a step back.
This outing starts with Stephanie capturing professional grave robber, Simon Diggery, and having to promise him that she will care for his boa constrictor, Ethel. Stephanie spends the first fifty plus pages of the book trying to find the snake which has disappeared and cannot be found. In addition, headless bodies start appearing across town. Corpses from the local funeral home and the morgue have had their heads removed. Then a homeless man is murdered and dumped behind a church and the search for a killer begins.
Stephanie has other challenges too. Her two hunky guys – Policeman Moretti and Security Superman Ranger – are not enough for this adventure. Janet adds the return of Diesel, an angelic hunk that walks through walls and locked doors, and makes Stephanie weak in the knees. Also, Grandma Mazur has a new online paramour that she is getting ready to meet in person and introduce to the family, even though she represented herself using Stephanie’s mother’s picture. Like a bowl of alphabet soup, Jersey’s favorite bounty hunter is stuck with lots of questions and challenges as she tries to uncover the headless corpses, deal with her dysfunctional family, and handle three hunky men.
Having read all of Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum books, I found this outing to be funny and cute at times, but overall it really dragged. The over-arching mystery based on references to “The Walking Dead” was weak and never really developed at all. I understand that plotting is not the strengths of this series, but even the charm and idiosyncrasies of these unique characters like Lulu and are not strong enough to sustain momentum during this lackluster adventure.
Overall, I am disappointed to report it was a weak outing for Stephanie. There were a few chuckles here and there but not as many as usual. Although it provided a brief escape from the seriousness of life for a day or two, it was a flat and uneventful read. Better luck next time.,, ...more
What a difference the next book in a series can make for a reader! Last January I gave Lee Child’s previous Jack Reacher novel, “Night School” a less What a difference the next book in a series can make for a reader! Last January I gave Lee Child’s previous Jack Reacher novel, “Night School” a less than stellar review. As much of a Lee Child fan that I am, I found it to be the weakest Reacher book I have read in the series. Well, the good news is this outing is much better than the last and the Reacher that we love to read about is back.
When “The Midnight Line” starts, Jack Reacher, is in a hotel with Michele Chang, his partner from the last chronological adventure “Make Me”. It takes only the first paragraph for her to move on, and once again Reacher is on his own, strolling through a small Wisconsin town during a bus stop break. He spots a West Point 2005 class ring in a pawn shop window, takes a close look at it, discovering the small size makes it a woman’s ring. Her initials are engraved on the inside – S.R.S. Reacher’s mind starts to wonder and ask questions. 2005 is prior to Iraq and Afghanistan. What would make a person give up something they had worked so hard for four years for? Being Reacher, his curiosity and personal code requires him to buy the ring, find the woman, and return her ring.
Thus, begins Reacher’s new adventure, a journey that takes Reacher through Midwest America, including encounters with a biker gang outside a seedy bar, a local cheap mobster boss and his muscle holding court in a laundromat office, and a dedicated female cop who doesn’t stop believing she can make a difference. Reacher ends up finding himself with a private detective and sister of the missing ring owner searching through endless dirt roads in the middle of nowhere, Wyoming, searching for someone who doesn’t seem to want to be found. The deeper Reacher digs, the more dangerous things become. His search is awakening the powerful forces of a vast criminal enterprise along with several government agencies looking to crack down on them, putting Reacher right in the middle of the conflict.
This is a good book, emphasizing Reacher at his analytical and problem solving best. Although there are a few well done scenes of action and violence, the focus is more on investigation and using the clues to figure out where to go and what to do next. Child is a focused and tight in his writing style, moving from one exploratory scene to another, laying down the clues and unfolding the investigation like peeling a raw onion. The side characters are interspersed in the right amounts and timing throughout the book. There are no unnecessary scenes or wasted prose, as the mystery builds to a satisfying conclusion. Multiple connecting threads come together in a fluid and sensible outcome. In this case, there are multiple climaxing moments which provide depth and strength to the over-arching story. Without giving anything away, I can say that I found the revealed theme to be relevant and extremely heartbreaking.
Overall, this was well worth reading if you like well organized, fast paced, and methodical mysteries. While you keep analyzing the clues and think you have it, Child stays a step ahead with the story and revealed themes. I found that “The Midnight Line” to be a strong entry by Child in his bestselling Reacher series. Much better than the last outing and a prime example of why the Reacher books are so often found at the top of the bestseller lists and carry such loyal fan base....more
I was excited to read this debut book - “Girl in Snow” – by Danya Kukafka. I had heard positive advance praise in the media and several high-profile aI was excited to read this debut book - “Girl in Snow” – by Danya Kukafka. I had heard positive advance praise in the media and several high-profile authors provided positive reviews on the book cover, including Paula Hawkins, Owen King, and one of my personal favorites, Lee Child. Everything looked promising prior to reading it.
The book begins with the discovery of a body in a small Colorado town. It turns out to be Lucinda Hayes, a high school student who was murdered. As the investigation starts, the story is told from three individual points of view – (1) Cameron, a boy who loved her from a distance, (2) Jade, a girl who was jealous of her, and (3) Russ, the conflicted officer assigned to investigate. As their stories and background are revealed, each of them are forced to deal with their biggest secrets in order to discover the truth behind the death of their classmate.
Kukafka tries to tell a multi-layered story about handling weakness, dealing with deception, and fighting against negative reputations. The book is 343 pages long, a fast, page turning read. Kukafka uses the streaming personal viewpoints of the three characters to tell the story, bouncing back and forth between each of their own particular views. This approach to storytelling seems to be used more often in the last couple of years following Paula Hawkins’ bestselling hit, “The Girl on the Train”. Other similar examples of using this different viewpoint approach include Paula Hawkins second novel, “Into the Water”, and Shari Lapena’s “The Couple Next Door”.
In my mind, the good news is Kukafka’s ability to write unique and compelling characters. I really grew to appreciate them and feel sympathy for their flaws and challenges throughout the book. Seeing their own tainted view of the truth and reality strengthened the overall tension of the mystery.
However, the bad news outweighed the good for me. As interesting as the characters were in drawing me in, I struggled several times with Kukafka’s writing style in terms of plotting. She was all over the place. Although there were some really strong scenes and a solid ending, there was a lot of jumping around in telling each of the character’s backstory. It not only jumped from one character to another, but the history itself was often shared out of historical order, which added confusion to understanding the story.
The other plotting challenge was that the mystery itself felt like it played a small part in the overall storyline. About 90% of the book involved background stories while only 10% was focused on the actual murder and resolution of the mystery. Except for the epilog, the story takes place over 2 -3 days and not much time was spent on developing the investigation. It felt like the book cover really promoted the mystery aspect, but most of the time was spent on developing each character’s storyline separate from the mystery.
I think that some focused editing would have helped tighten up the plotting problems and then I would have been able to focus more on the interesting ways that Kukafka used to describe and develop her characters. Hopefully, that will be an area she strengthens in her future books because I think she has a lot of potential.
Overall, this was a conflicting read, balancing strong characters against being constantly bounced around between the three narratives as well as the revealing of their various backstories. For me, the advance praise was a bit overrated. In my opinion, this book could have been cleaned up better so I am giving this book a low score.
Another member of Goodreads, Kathrin from Germany, was exchanging thoughts with me as I was finishing my reading. She made an excellent observation that I think is key to really enjoying this book - “The investigation wasn't that important in the end. I liked the book a lot more when I finally understood that.” She is 100% correct. Kudos to Kathrin from Germany for nailing it!
And yes… I still believe Kukafka has strong potential and I wish her a better outing next time… ...more
First of all, I must say right up front that I am a big fan of Stieg Larsson’s Millennium trilogy and consider it some of the best mystery/suspense geFirst of all, I must say right up front that I am a big fan of Stieg Larsson’s Millennium trilogy and consider it some of the best mystery/suspense genre that I have ever read. I loved reading those books and was deeply saddened by his unexpected passing and ensuing estate battles between his father/brother and his longtime girlfriend. I personally think she got robbed and mistreated in ways that I cannot express without getting downright angry. Mostly, I miss Stieg not getting to continue writing his wonderful series and further developing his unique characters.
Putting that aside, I had very mixed feelings when it was announced that the father/brother were hiring another writer to continue the series. In my mind no one could come anywhere near capturing the magic that Stieg produced. Then in 2015, “The Girl in the Spider’s Web” written by David Lagercrantz was published and I read it. And now in 2017, the fifth book in the series – “The Girl Who Takes an Eye for an Eye” - (also by Lagercrantz) has been published and I have just finished reading it.
I am rather surprised by my reaction to the book and I think you will be too. I also realize that I may be in the minority when it comes to my views of the book, and I am okay with that. I am just trying to be as honest as I can, based solely on the merits of the book. So here I go…
“The Girl Who Takes an Eye for an Eye” starts off with Lisbeth Salander in prison, where she is upsetting not only a prison gang leader that everyone on both sides of the law fears, she is making enemies with Islamist extremists by protecting a young woman they are brutalizing. On top of those challenges, the primary plot involves Lisbeth’s mysterious past and how she was placed into foster care and separated from her twin sister, Camilla, and her mother. There are government officials who will do anything, including committing murder to keep certain sinister experiments of the past hidden. Salander’s best friend, Mikael Blomkvist, gets pulled into the mystery, trying to uncover those buried secrets while those close to him are marked for death,
This book is much better than I thought it would be. Lagercrantz has improved in his second outing in several ways. In his first book he got off to pretty slow start setting up the various storylines. I remember being on page 120 or so and wondering when things were going to start moving. That is not the case in this second book. The story kicks off right away and pulls you in with interesting scenes and activity. The plotlines are introduced in ways that are easy to follow and keep the reader’s attention, unlike the last outing, which focused heavily on computer based information that at some point sounded like Tom Clancy descriptions on crack. I think that Lagercrantz learned several valuable lessons from that first experience in another author’s world.
Even more important, in this outing Lagercrantz has figured out how to mirror the Stieg plotting pace and style that combines bouncing back and forth between various scenes and activities, building to moments of key revelation and conflict, and pushing things towards final outcomes and payoffs. He wasn’t able to do that in the last book, but in this one, he is hitting a good stride and his words flow well, moving from one scene to another with confidence. His characters and conversations seem more natural and organic as the story unfolds. There were moments when he laid down some excellent clues and mixed in time shifts in just the right dose to make the overall outcome stronger.
Overall, I was really surprised by Lagercrantz’s marked improvement from his first book to the second. Let’s be honest, taking on Stieg’s Millennium series has a bar so high that it is virtually impossible for anyone to come close to his unique ability to tell an intricate and layered story that draws heavily on our emotions. That is no insult; merely the truth. Still, I believe that Lagercrantz is able to successfully capture a bit of the Stieg magic and make it work. I know. I am as surprised to write that as much as you are to read it. Still, if you have read the previous books in the series, give this one a try. I think you will be pleasantly surprised. Really! ...more
This time around our 80’s based private investigator, Kinsey Millhone, faces two major challenges. One is a ten-year-old mystery that is told in paralThis time around our 80’s based private investigator, Kinsey Millhone, faces two major challenges. One is a ten-year-old mystery that is told in parallel timing with her current day investigation. The other is the return of Ned Lowe, the psychopathic killer from Kinsey’s last adventure, who is back and looking for personal revenge. Both are intensely delivered plots with strong emotional impacts.
Writing this review was not as easy as it usually is for a Kinsey Millhone mystery. Most of the time, it is a very enjoyable experience with Kinsey as she works to solve a challenging case while dealing with many side characters in her small Southern California town of Santa Theresa.
However, this time was different. There were two ways to react to this book and I felt the conflict between each as I progressed through my reading. I checked the reviews on Amazon and Goodreads to find I was generally right in my assessment. Most readers expressed one of two extremes – they either loved the book or found it too sad, graphic, and depressing to enjoy. There was not much in between. The responses were consistently high or low in rating the book.
This will probably sound weak on my part, but I understand both sides. This is a tough story to bear, and more graphic than any previous Kinsey adventure. Another critical factor is that this is generally considered to be Kinsey’s penultimate outing. Since there is only one more book to conclude the series, I think there was either something different or something more expected by the fans from her “Y” book, and this rather graphic plot line was neither one of those outcomes.
Taking this information into consideration, let me share my own review in as honest as a manner as I can provide. Was it graphic? Yes, especially so in moments. I was caught off-guard at times. Was the primary case sad and depressing? Yes, it certainly was. Many of the characters involved in the plot were weak and had sad lives, never arising above their sordid conditions. Did I enjoy the book? Enjoy isn’t the right word. I felt compelled and driven to read it. I wanted to find out what happened next.
Although the subject matter was serious, emotional, and even graphic, I found Grafton’s writing to be sharp, fluid, and polished. Although the book was a bit long and repeated some things multiple times, she did an excellent job of putting the various plot lines together in a well-paced, many layered, story that included well-timed surprises and lessons along the way. Although the storylines were tough to stomach, it was easy to read.
I have been reading Tess Gerritsen’s “Rizzoli & Isles” mystery series for long time, even before the television show starting airing. I have watched tI have been reading Tess Gerritsen’s “Rizzoli & Isles” mystery series for long time, even before the television show starting airing. I have watched the show and enjoyed it; however, I have always liked the books much better. There is a darker tone and more focus on suspense surrounding the procedural work of solving crimes. I enjoy the strong friendship between the two main characters – detective Jane Rizzoli, and medical examiner Maura Isles – and their related family situations. I also appreciate the detailed Boston setting and history that Gerritsen uses as a background for telling their stories.
One of the interesting things about this series is that Gerritsen was consistent in publishing a book every year from 2001 – 2012, keeping the series active in readers minds and in the forefront of the mystery sections in the bookstores. Since then, she has only published two books in the series – “Die Again” in 2014 and now “I Know a Secret” in 2017. She has not been as active with the series, so it’s nice to have a new book to read.
“I Know a Secret” is the 12th “Rizzoli & Isles” outing and Gerritsen hasn’t lost her writing touch. Jane and Maura are mature characters, comfortable in their skin, yet still growing and developing their emotional and philosophical sides. Once I started the book, I found myself right back in their world without missing a beat. This time the story starts out with two separate homicides in two different locations. Although the victims appear unrelated, investigating the crimes leads to an independent horror film, several martyred saints, a missing girl from 20 years ago, and a shocking abuse scandal in a small town.
As Jane and Maura work through their investigation, personal challenges also play a key part. Jane’s mother, who recently returned to her husband, is facing a crumbling marriage, and Maura is dealing with the imminent death of her own mother, an infamous serial killer dying of cancer in prison. In addition, the investigation draws in a religious expert who also happens to be Maura’s long-time lover and local Priest.
Gerritsen is a focused and detailed writer, moving from one exploratory scene to another, laying down the clues and unfolding the investigation like peeling a raw onion. The side characters and family members are interspersed in the right amounts and timing throughout the book. There are no unnecessary scenes or wasted prose, as the mystery builds to a satisfying conclusion. Multiple connecting threads come together in a fluid and sensible outcome. In this case, there are multiple climaxing moments which provide depth and strength to the story. Without giving anything away, I can say that I found the last page to be very chilling.
This was worth reading if you like a well organized, fast-paced mystery. While you keep analyzing the clues and think you have it, Gerritsen stays one step ahead with the surprises. “I Know a Secret” is a strong return by Gerritsen to her bestselling “Rizzoli & Isles” mystery series. Jane was her assured, headstrong self, and Maura was her self-conflicted, but rise above it all self. Reading this book reminded how much missed my annual outing with them. I hope that next time, Gerritsen won’t make use wait so long for a follow-up....more
** Continuing my read and review of Michael Connelly’s work *
As I work my way towards the end of Michael Connelly’s crime novels, I have been through ** Continuing my read and review of Michael Connelly’s work *
As I work my way towards the end of Michael Connelly’s crime novels, I have been through a lot with his classic characters, including Detective Harry Bosch, his half-brother and Lincoln lawyer defense attorney Mickey Haller, and the intrepid investigative reporter, Jack McEvoy. I greatly liked and appreciated all of three of them for their own strengths, flaws, and drives to do what they think is best to serve the betterment of society.
Now, in his 30th novel, – “The Late Show” – Connelly introduces a new lead female detective, Renee’ Ballard, who works the night shift in Hollywood - better known as the Late Show to most police officers. By nature of the work, Renee and her partner, Jenkins, start the up-front work of many investigations, but then hand them off members of the day shift. She was banished to this role as punishment for filing a sexual harassment complaint against a previous supervisor.
When the book begins on one of her nightly shifts, Renee gets caught in three investigations – a credit card robbery, a brutal beating of a left for dead prostitute, and a nightclub shooting leaving four people dead. Against explicit orders of those in command and her partner's concerns, she works all three cases during the day while maintaining her shifts at night. Each of these cases bring out her own inner demons and background story that drove her to be a detective.
What I really liked was being immersed as a front row seat participant in the story. Connelly is such a polished writer. He uses his proven writing experience to lay out three crimes and multiple secondary character relationships in a connected, interweaving use of plot and pacing to share an experience rather than a story. I felt like I was standing next to Renee yelling – “Go get them!” as she fought back against the prejudicial treatment of the L.A. police department old boys network. The narrative flowed effortlessly from one scene to another, one conversation to the next, and one twist to another until the multiple climaxes paid off. There was no extra verbiage or unnecessary descriptions taking away from the story’s focus.
There are two things, mostly minor, that I struggled with. One is that Connelly tends to use two unrelated mysteries in his recent books and moves the action back and forth between them. However, in this novel, Ballard is faced with three crimes in one night, and she solves all three in less than a week, which did not seem realistic. Maybe it would have been better for Connelly to have just two crimes and spend more time developing them with more depth and breadth. However, for the most part, I think he makes it work just fine within the confines of a structured novel, and it’s a small nit in the overall context of the book. (This is where the longtime Connelly fans are quietly cursing me – it’s okay, I did enjoy it).
The other struggle I had was with certain attributes of Ballard’s character. Like Harry Bosch, she has a gigantic chip on her shoulder, and rightfully so considering the challenges she’s been through in her personal life and police career. Still, she’s a pretty loose cannon that brings anti-authority to another level. For example, she takes down a suspect without wearing a bullet proof vest and argues vehemently that she’s not wrong. Yes, she was. She also gets away with logging into a former partner’s account at the police station which is firing offense. Yet, she doesn’t think twice about it because she’s trying to investigate a case she’s not even assigned to.
In Bosch’s defense, he’s been around for a long career, earning his right to challenge the law enforcement bureaucracy and political shenanigans over an extended period of time. Ballard is still early in her career and has not earned that same right yet. It was hard to stand by her selfish behaviors at times, especially her unnecessarily rude treatment of Investigator Car who was just trying to do his job. I appreciated his patience with her and felt bad for what he had to go through in dealing with her.
Still, I understand that these are fairly mild nits in an otherwise enjoyable read, and I hope that her character will relax her social tendencies a bit in future books when she works with Bosch.
Overall, this book was a joyful read that was easy to immerse myself in. Character nits aside, Renee Ballard was still a complex character with real strengths, poignant weaknesses, and internal demons driving her to be the best detective she can. Her background and unique quirks provide enough curiosity for future interest in how she develops. I look forward to her next outing. Connelly has created another unique and flawed character that may turn into a future winner.
This book is primarily targeted for fans of the “Jack Reacher” series by Lee Child, and will probably most enjoyed by the more hardcore fans. It is a This book is primarily targeted for fans of the “Jack Reacher” series by Lee Child, and will probably most enjoyed by the more hardcore fans. It is a collection of twelve short stories involving Reacher, and about five of them have already been available in electronic format. It seems to be the practice of several mainstream authors to write short stories for e-readers and then when they have enough to put together, they publish the stories in print editions. One of the benefits is having the stories organized together for easy access, and enabling authors to sell a product twice – individually and in a collection. (Yes, I realize that is an editorial opinion and I will stop now.
Some stories are better than others. I really enjoyed “Too Much Time” and “Small Wars”. I was not a big fan of “Not a Drill”. However, one of the nice things about the stories is that you get to experience Reacher as a teenager, young adult, and when he was in the military. You get to interact with his family in some of them, including his brother Joe, his dad and mom. One of the things I appreciated was that Lee Child really wasted few words. The stories ranged from about 55 pages to as few as about 5 pages. Each story was only as long as it needed to be, which was nice. If they were short and to the point, then that was how Lee wrote it.
Overall, the more hardcore Reacher fans will find the most enjoyment from these different types of shorter adventures. Others will appreciate some of the stories more than others. I am not usually a big fan of short story collections, but this one was worth the read. Not great, but good. ...more
This is the second book in the new Peter Ash series. The first book, The Drifter, did an excellent job of introducing a new action hero with real lifeThis is the second book in the new Peter Ash series. The first book, The Drifter, did an excellent job of introducing a new action hero with real life challenges. The second book continues that trend, adding a tighter plotline and stronger characters to the story.
Ash is an ex-military man who suffers greatly from post-traumatic claustrophobia from tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He loves and needs the outdoors, which makes interesting challenges for the writer when creating plotlines and character development. Like the first book, Burning Bright kicks off with action and pulls you into the mystery plot immediately. While hiking Ash accidently finds himself facing off against a grizzly bear which leads to his rescuing a woman reporter being chased by ex-military bad guys. He ends up helping the reporter try to find who killed her mother while on the run. The action is intense, but realistic. The plotting and characters strong and enjoyable. The bad guys are evil and watching Ash trying to bring them to justice is exciting.
Now let’s address the truth as to why this series is so good only two books in. At first look, Ash is a copy of Jack Reacher, the main character in Lee Child’s very popular action series. There is a definite similarity there. I have read all the Reacher books and know them well. However, because Ash suffers from such a serious post-war syndrome, he causes you to look at him in a different light. After only two books, I see how he is developing into his own character with his own defined strengths and weaknesses. He is not Reacher incarnate; Nick Petrie has created his own-antihero that stands on his own. Maybe that is why both Lee Child and David Baldacci wrote uplifting blurbs for the covers of the books, which is a pretty cool thing to have happen. That is respect.
The other similarity, at least for me, is Ash’s developing relationship and bromance with Lewis. Again, it reminds a lot of Robert Parker’s relationship between his famous detective Spenser and his blood brother, Hawk. Listening to Ash and Lewis talk, they are growing into a comparable style of banter, conversation, and brotherhood. And yet, it feels real and honest and a joy to read. I have loved Spenser and Hawk for almost 30 years. For me they are the standard that everything else is compared too. However, I must say that Ash and Lewis are starting off on the right foot.
Overall, Nick Petrie has done his homework and delivered. He has taken the foundation that prior great mystery and adventure writers have established and is moving a step forward. Although it is early in his career, he is making a significant impact in this genre by taking that foundation and laying a second floor that is beautiful and a joy to read. I promise that I am not related to him, nor do I know him personally. But I am becoming an avid fan who will recommend him to others with a smile....more
To begin with, I think it is only appropriate that I admit to being a fairly avid reader of John Sandford, especially a fan of his Lucas Davenport “PrTo begin with, I think it is only appropriate that I admit to being a fairly avid reader of John Sandford, especially a fan of his Lucas Davenport “Prey” series. However, this new book brings both good as well as bad news. The good news is that Davenport has been elevated to a federal marshal job that provides him a lot of freedom in which cases he investigates. The bad news is that the plot is not one of his strong ones and we don’t get to see his family and more familiar characters as much. Two new agents are introduced as they work with Davenport and I found them rather interesting. I hope they return in future books.
For me, this book wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great either. The introduction of the plot is interesting and sets up the potential for a bad boy, bad guy (like that play on words?) worthy of Davenport’s challenge. The first half of the book was good, but the plotline dies off fast in the second half. At that point, Davenport has found the bad guys and they are on the run for the last 150 pages or so. You know they are going to get caught, it’s just a matter of time. The drama has worn off and you are just wanting it to end. What once were smart and worthy criminals start making bad and downright silly decisions, leading to an overly drawn out, anti-climactic ending. This has happened before with a few other books in the “Prey” series, but thankfully not too often. There was a couple of nice saving graces in the last couple of pages, setting up nicely for the next adventure.
Overall, this book could have been better plotted and edited to make the bad guys more intelligent and challenging so the buildup to the ending provided a stronger climax. A few tweaks and this could have gone from an okay read to a much better read. Still, I remain a Lucas Davenport fan and wish the author better luck next time. ...more
Two of my favorite mystery/suspense writers are Lee Child and David Baldacci. There are very few (other than Reacher’s last book Night School) books bTwo of my favorite mystery/suspense writers are Lee Child and David Baldacci. There are very few (other than Reacher’s last book Night School) books by either author that I haven’t enjoyed. This is the case with Baldacci’s new book, “The Fixer” which is the third adventure with Amos Decker, a unique and quirky FBI investigator that walks to the beat of his own drum. Decker is an ex-football player who suffered a serious hit during a game, impacting his brain such that he gains a perfect memory of all that he sees. The tradeoff is that he is socially challenged like the TV character Monk.
In this outing, Decker witnesses a murder outside FBI headquarters – a man suddenly shoots a woman and then himself. The double murder pulls Decker and his investigation team into a mystery involving potential international spies, high levels of governmental infiltration, and decades old secrets. Although there is enough physical action, the Decker books are a thinking person’s treat. The reader is given clues, information, and activities throughout the investigation process, but the mystery-oriented plot challenges the reader to analyze and think their way through the plot, connect things, and figure out motivation and purpose.
In the end, the clues are there and the background information is revealed during the investigation, coming together in a strong and rewarding payoff. In my opinion, one of Baldacci’s strengths as a writer is his ability to wrap a plot together in such a strong manner where the mystery, suspense and clues are revealed one at a time like peeling away the layers of an onion. For an author that produces two books a year, he is still capable of intricate plotting and pacing.
Overall, it’s an enjoyable trip for the reader to follow Decker’s journey and try to solve the mystery before he does. In my case, I think I damaged a few brain cells trying to beat Decker to the resolution. It was also nice to see Decker’s continuing bromance with Melvin Mars, Decker’s buddy from the last adventure, as well as Decker’s growing feelings for Jamison, his partner. For me, this one was a winner. If you haven’t tried reading Baldacci, this is a good series to start with if you like being mystery challenged.
About a week ago I finished “American Assassin” – the first (prequel) book in the “Mitch Rapp” thriller series by Vince Flynn. It is being made into aAbout a week ago I finished “American Assassin” – the first (prequel) book in the “Mitch Rapp” thriller series by Vince Flynn. It is being made into a movie that will be released this September (2017). I enjoyed it so much that I immediately bought the second prequel novel “Kill Shot” on my Amazon Kindle. I am so glad that I did because the second book was even better than the first one.
In this second book Flynn has evolved as a writer, creating a tighter set of plots that build throughout the story and then crescendo together in a brutal and satisfying climax. There is a sense of Ludlum’s “Jason Bourne” and a touch of Lee Child’s “Reacher” in Mitch Rapp, an American assassin who finds himself on the run after being set-up during a mission in Paris. The strong pacing and interesting characters kept things moving along and demanded my full attention. It was worth every minute of my time it to see the story evolve in different and surprising ways. The members of Rapp’s team also developed more depth and background, which added to the tension. Even with a few preachy moments, I was compelled and driven to discover what happened next, which included a couple of late nights of reading.
I love reading suspense and thriller authors like Lee Child and David Baldacci, and am now adding Vince Flynn to my list. I cannot wait to start the next one in the series. If you haven’t, I highly recommend giving Flynn’s “Mitch Rapp” a try too. "American Assassin" and "Kill Shot" are two excellent books to starts with....more
First, it’s important to know that this is the second book in a mystery/crime trilogy that has some strong similarities to the Girl with a Dragon TattFirst, it’s important to know that this is the second book in a mystery/crime trilogy that has some strong similarities to the Girl with a Dragon Tattoo series, including a strong female lead who had a hidden abusive upbringing, a large cast of characters, and a fast-paced story style. I mentioned this is my previous review of the first book. However, the translation from Swedish to English improved from the first book to this one. There were less clunky phrases and the style flowed better for the reader. Also, please note that the second book starts where the last one ended so you need to read them in order or it will make little sense what is going on.
Second, just like the first book, I REALLY ENJOYED this book (gee, that’s a surprise…) I enjoyed the previously introduced cast of characters being thrown into surprising and energetic surprises, plot twists, and the revealing of secrets set-up in the first book. I liked the twist and turns and raw nature of the themes. Others may or may not like the writing style, but being from the states, I enjoy the strong mysteries being written by European and Scandinavian authors Steig Larrson, Jo Nesbo, and Henning Mankell. Some may feel it’s a bit too much like Steig Larsson, but that’s okay.
It is not stepping out on a limb to say that Emelie Schepp is becoming a brand name of her own. For me and my enjoyment, she has delivered another winner. I cannot wait to read the final book in her trilogy and see how everything turns out. If you try this trilogy, I also believe you will find why this is a real gem of a crime mystery trilogy that is worth the read.
This is the first book in a new series that looks and feels a lot like the "Reacher" series by Lee Child. It certainly doesn't hurt that the blurb on This is the first book in a new series that looks and feels a lot like the "Reacher" series by Lee Child. It certainly doesn't hurt that the blurb on the cover of the book proclaiming it's greatness is from Lee Child himself. I better state up front that I am pretty big "Reacher" fan and that is what initially drew me to read this book when I saw it last week at a bookstore in the Charleston airport.
The main character, Peter Ash, is recently released from the military and suffers from severe post-trauma syndrome whenever inside a building, small rooms, and tight physical spaces. This weakness makes Peter very empathetic and more compelling in some ways than Reacher. He doesn't feel as invincible as the plot gets going quickly. The first chapter wastes no time in pulling you while introducing what may be the world's ugliest dog and a suitcase with $400,000 in one hundred dollar bills hidden under an old falling apart porch.
The author does a superb job with revealing the mystery and characters in strong fashion, like peeling an onion one layer at a time. Although there are a few overly dramatic written sentences, the prose pulls you in and makes you more than comfortable. You care about solving the mystery; you care about the characters; you care about the relationships; and you certainly care about the outcomes. One thing for the author to work on next time was the ending. Although the ending built-up well to an explosive finished, it felt like it deserved a little bit more wrap-up and epilogue.
Still, I really enjoyed this book and have already reserved the second book in this series, ""Burning Bright" which was published last week in hardcover. I must admit that I cannot wait to read that next one and see what challenges the next adventure brings Peter Ash. I hope you take a chance on reading this new series too. It will be worth it!
In some ways, this is an unexpectedly hard review to write. After loving her first book, The Girl on a Train, I had really high expectations for her sIn some ways, this is an unexpectedly hard review to write. After loving her first book, The Girl on a Train, I had really high expectations for her second book. Part of that came from waiting the last four months to get my hands on the book, as well as thinking her writing would develop and grow stronger. I think the best way for me to describe my review of her second book, Into the Water, is to break into two parts – the first half of the book and the second half.
The first half of the book was a struggle to read and it didn’t always keep my attention. In her first book Hawkins switched between the viewpoints of three different women to tell the story in a unique and personal way that empowered the story. This time she tries to do the same, but with 14 different characters in a small town. In the first hundred pages or so, it came across as clunky, negatively impacting the rhythm of the plot many times and I needed a scorecard to keep up with the abundance of characters. One of the primary challenges for the reader wasn’t even that there were too many characters, but that she didn’t help explain them and their relationships enough to gain a foundational understanding of what was fully going on. I understand that some of it was due to trying to reveal the mystery in layers, but it provided a couple of moments where I really debated continuing the book.
However, the good part is that during the second half of the book Hawkins finds her rhythm and flow. The characters finally get connected in the reader’s mind and the change in character voices with each chapter starts to feel more natural, making sense, and moving the plot forward in an interesting manner for the reader. Like her first book, I didn’t find myself liking most of the characters, but I wanted the dual plot lines to come together and find out who did what to whom. Because the plotting was actually fairly well laid out (even though you couldn’t see the proper development until the latter half of the book) it made the book interesting enough to finish and gain some closure.
Overall, I am not sure having 14 conflicting voices helped or hurt her cause, but I can understand why she tried to make it work in telling the story the way she did. I think that problems I had with getting through it was more from her lack of really setting up the characters properly in the beginning to better engage the reader to understand the plot lines more succinctly. Lots of books today have a massive amount of characters, but they need to be introduced and explained well so the reader understands who they are, who they are related to, some background, and their motivations. Using baseball vernacular, I think Hawkins tried for a home run and ended with a double. Because of the strength of the second half of the book, I give her three stars and wish her continued development in her next outing....more
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