3.2⭐ Another decent mystery/thriller from Jonathan Moore. San Francisco Police detective Inspector Gavin Cain is at the exhumation of a body, as part 3.2⭐ Another decent mystery/thriller from Jonathan Moore. San Francisco Police detective Inspector Gavin Cain is at the exhumation of a body, as part of a case he's working, when he's called away by his boss. The mayor is being blackmailed and Cain has to figure out who's doing it and why. As usual Moore has a nice touch with settings and characters and he makes the soggy, foggy streets of San Francisco come alive for us. He also ties together the apparent coincidences of his plot well, but subtley; the reader is credited with enough intelligence to have been paying attention throughout the story. The ending felt just a bit rushed to me but the whole book is very fast paced so Moore was just keeping up, I suppose. One of the things I like about this author is that he still writes stand-alone stories, that don't require you to be invested in a brand. That seems to be a vanishing art these days and I like the way it has allowed Moore's expansive imagination free reign to explore a range of locations and genres ( I've got nothing against interconnected series , I'm addicted to a number of them, but my hat's off to authors who create new worlds in each book). -30-...more
3.8⭐ "I counted what was left of Juliette's money, then counted the bullets in Jim's gun. Altogether my situation wasn't bad. I could buy thirty cups o3.8⭐ "I counted what was left of Juliette's money, then counted the bullets in Jim's gun. Altogether my situation wasn't bad. I could buy thirty cups of coffee and kill nine people." Lee Crowe in "Blood Relations."
Jonathan Moore is a very able writer, with a nice hand for gritty, eerie settings. This is the third book by Moore that I've read and I'm looking forward to the rest of them. His hero here is disbarred lawyer turned private eye, Lee Crowe, a character in the finest traditions of the dark thriller.
At first, Crowe appears to be a completely amoral slimeball, employing his skills on behalf of a shady lawyer. Later he's working for a grieving mother, investigating her daughter's death and we find out he's not as shallow and unscrupulous as he first appears.
As in Moore's "The Night Market", he uses high tech elements in his mystery and does so convincingly (at least to my unscientific eyes).
Sure, there are some miraculous escapes and unlikely coincidences but no more than most thrillers. Suspension of disbelief required is moderate.
I thought the pacing of the novel was excellent; it kept my interest all the way through.If you like well written, suspenseful thrillers, you could do a lot worse than this. -30-...more
4.0⭐ I think this latest short novel marks a return to form for Smith after the previous rambling and mystical installments of his Arkady Renko books,4.0⭐ I think this latest short novel marks a return to form for Smith after the previous rambling and mystical installments of his Arkady Renko books, like Siberian Dilemma and Wolves Eat Dogs. He's written a taut, spare mystery about the conflict in Ukraine and the end of Russia's fledgling civil society. Remarkably, according to the Acknowledgements, most of it was written long before the invasion and current war, underscoring Smith's understanding of his subject. Initially the mystery involves Moscow detective Renko and the disappearance and murders of persons involved with the political opposition to Putin's regime. Later, as they say, the plot thickens. I like all the Renko books but to me this one is closer to the earlier novels that made Smith's reputation, Gorky Park, Polar Star and Red Square. -30-...more
2.4⭐ A slow burning spy story/mystery set in Vietnam and featuring Paul Brenner, the hero of DeMille's best known book, The General's Daughter. Called2.4⭐ A slow burning spy story/mystery set in Vietnam and featuring Paul Brenner, the hero of DeMille's best known book, The General's Daughter. Called out of retirement, army detective Brenner is asked to solve a 30 year old murder, which occured during the Vietnaxm War. It was inspired by a trip DeMille, a veteran of the war, took in the late 1990's to revisit his old battlefields. That explains why much of the book reads like a travelog. The writing is fine but the story drags a bit, with all the description of the places visited and people met, much of which adds nothing to the plot. Also, Brenner's wise-cracking, tough guy character just isn't as believable in a foreign setting. In fact there's a lot that's unbelievable in this book and the slow pacing gives you time to dwell on it. It's also one of those books that's obviously been written with an eye on a movie project, complete with obligatory car chases and an insta-love romance. While the book professes much sympathy for the Vietnamese people, especially those in the former South Vietnam, it's villains, police and government officials are stereotypes straight out of The Green Berets. While some of the characters talk about leaving the war in past, obviously DeMille hasn't. All in all it's a rather pedestrian thriller and a cut below The General's Daughter. -30-...more
3.3⭐ Military police procedural, better at the military than the police, imho. Serviceable thriller, fast paced with sarcastic banter between the hero3.3⭐ Military police procedural, better at the military than the police, imho. Serviceable thriller, fast paced with sarcastic banter between the heros, mostly funny. The lead investigator, Paul Brenner is of the "rogue cop out for justice" type that I usually detest but DeMille handles it fairly well, required suspension of disbelief is moderate. There is a strange forward in the book where DeMille sings the praises of the Hollywood adaptation of the book, a sort of endorsement/booster blog. It looks like he wants to show the movie moguls he's a "good" writer, willing to play ball in the promotion of the film ( although he specifically reserves the right to be an asshat about future adaptations, if he doesn't like them). The story revolves around the bizarre and brutal murder of a woman army captain (the general's daughter of the title), on a base in the U.S. south. Publicly, she was a poster person for the ( then) new gender neutral army. In private she's a maze of secrets, both twisted and tragic. The story was probably considered edgier, 30 years ago but I still found it to be a decent and engaging mystery novel. I had seen the film so the plot was known but the characterization and detailed background held me to the end. I'd read another book by DeMille....more
3.4⭐ A skillfully written dark thriller, with a science fiction undertone courtesy of Phillip K Dick. San Francisco police Inspector Ross Carver and hi3.4⭐ A skillfully written dark thriller, with a science fiction undertone courtesy of Phillip K Dick. San Francisco police Inspector Ross Carver and his partner are called out to investigate a strangely decomposing body found in an upscale home. They are suddenly and roughly seized and decontaminated by persons identifying themselves as F.B.I. agents. Carver later wakes up at home with no memory of the last two days. Fast paced, with well drawn characters the story is also a morality play about corporate greed, rampant consumerism and the potential evils of technology misused. Suspension of disbelief required is mild to moderate. There are several unlikely coincidences but they're cleverly explained. Not as complex or original as Jeff Noon's Nyquist mysteries, which I've been recently reading, still a better than average example of it's kind. I'll most likely be reading more of Moore. -30-...more
Original review 23/02/23 Coda added 25/02/23 2.2 ⭐ It's official. Harry Bosch has jumped the shark. It's also a bit ironic that Michael Connelly uses thOriginal review 23/02/23 Coda added 25/02/23 2.2 ⭐ It's official. Harry Bosch has jumped the shark. It's also a bit ironic that Michael Connelly uses that exact phrase in the dialogue of this book. I think in his heart of hearts Connelly knows the truth- It's done.
An increasingly unpleasant Harry Bosch is lured out of his never quite retirement by Renee Ballard, who is putting the Open/Unsolved Unit back together with volunteers and part time help ( really? ). She promises Bosch he can work on his "white whale" case; the "one that got away," the one that "haunts" him. I've lost track of how many this is now, a few.
In this case it's a family of four who were brutally murdered in their beds and dumped in the desert. It has to be something repugnant in order to excuse Bosch's subsequent excesses of violence and criminality. This book pushed me over the limit of tolerance for the whole avenging angel, vigilante with a badge thing that Connelly has going. Bosch lies, commits assault, fraud and other crimes, up to and including murder (loosely disguised as self defense). Cops don't act this way. Hell, people don't act this way!
As usual, the crimes are solved through clues only Bosch can find, and the breaks always go his way. Renee Ballard is underused this time out, reduced to the hand wringing bureaucrat trying to keep her political bosses happy and scurrying after Bosch. She doesn't even get to kill anyone in this book. In the end I just couldn't come up with the colossal suspension of disbelief this novel requires.
It's been clear that Connelly has been winding Bosch down for a couple of stories now. Frankly, he should have finished him off in this book, it would have made the ending less obvious. But by stretching it out for one more novel Connelly's building up to the "Last Bosch Book." Probably due out just before some Christmas. Which I will doubtless buy or borrow, just like all the others. -30-...more
4.2 ⭐ Another creepy noir fantasy/mystery from Jeff Noon, his best in the series so far in my opinion.
John Nyquist is one of those detective characters4.2 ⭐ Another creepy noir fantasy/mystery from Jeff Noon, his best in the series so far in my opinion.
John Nyquist is one of those detective characters whose later path in life was marked out by childhood tragedy, like Arkady Renko; Harry Bosch or even Bruce Wayne. Nyquist's mother was killed in an accident when he was seven. A year later he's abandoned by his father who disappears into the mysterious Dusk district of his home city, never to be heard from again.
Years later Nyquist, a well established private eye ( or enquiry agent, as the Brits used to say), receives an envelope containing seven photographs. Six are places in a country village he's never been to or heard of, Hoxley- on-Hale. The seventh is of a man who appears to be Nyquist's father.
All of the previous stories took place in dark, urban settings. This one is country creepy and it's no less unsettling; no "cozy" here. I haven't read enough Agatha Christie to know if this is homage to her murderous English villages but judging by the TV adaptations I've seen, it might be. There is a definite "Wicker Man" vibe going on: Celtic-ish horror and elder god types masquerading as Christian saints.
Noon is a master of creating brooding, eerie atmosphere and he's in top form here. The book is well plotted, the characters well drawn and it's a pretty good mystery story, as well. I've been racing through the Nyquist books but Noon's written plenty of other weird stuff I'll have to give a try. -30-...more
3.4⭐ Another quirky, surreal, well written, novel by the talented Jeff Noon. I'm told this particular style, which strikes me as a blend of science fic3.4⭐ Another quirky, surreal, well written, novel by the talented Jeff Noon. I'm told this particular style, which strikes me as a blend of science fiction, fantasy and horror, is being called " The New Weird ". New or old, it's surely weird. But also not, really. It follows the forms and conventions of those other genres and also of the " hard boiled" private detective story.
Noon sets his tales in a strange, alternative England, during an alternative 1950's. His hero from the previous book in the series, A Man of Shadows, the somewhat hapless private eye John Nyquist has moved from the eternal light of Dayzone, to Storyville, a city that exists for the telling of tales. Every resident is expected to develop his or her own plot along acceptable lines, carefully watched by the Narrative Officers, also known as the story police, who are more feared than the regular cops.
Nyquist is hired to follow a man and to report on his activities, a seemingly simple but well paying job. Naturally, things soon take a dark and unexpected turn, or two. Nyquist gets beaten up as badly as he did in the first novel, actually getting put into a coma at one point but this time around he at least gets to hit back, on occasion.
Noon's baroque style won't be for everyone but I like his heavily embroidered characters and settings. He's particularly good at creepy or eerie atmospheres. This is a fine follow-up to the first book and left me wanting to read the third of the Nyquist adventures, Creeping Jenny. I also really like the cover art of these books by Will Staehle. Subtle, evocative, geometric drawings, sort of like Escher but not really . -30-...more
3.8⭐ Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler meet J.G. Ballard in this surrealistic, science fiction/noir mystery. John Henry Nyquist (he had the middle 3.8⭐ Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler meet J.G. Ballard in this surrealistic, science fiction/noir mystery. John Henry Nyquist (he had the middle name added to his office door even though it cost more, because he liked the sound of it) is your quintessential hard boiled private eye. He lives in a city divided between Dayzone, with it's perpetual light, and Nocturna, a place of eternal dark. In between is the eerie and ominous Dusk, which seems to be expanding at the expense of the other two districts.
Nyquist is hired by a plutocrat to find his runaway teenaged daughter. The book really rests on Noon's lush and lurid descriptions of his imaginative setting. Putting aside the weird elements, this really is a very conventional private detective story. Nyquist strikes me as a blend of Phillip Marlowe, Sam Spade and Jake Gittes. Although for a big, tough looking, streetwise gumshoe, Nyquist 1) gets beaten up an awful lot 2) always seems to be on the verge of a mental meltdown. Just part of his charm.
As for being science fiction, it's a borderline case. The story is not very futuristic in its technology, even featuring steam trains. The year given is 1959 but that's not to be relied upon because everyone in the city has the option of living on their own, or multiple, timelines. In some key plot elements the book's closer to fantasy or even horror, but, hey sci-fi's a big tent, so why not? Noon keeps everything fluid and ambiguous as to the the exact time and location of his story and in this case it successfully adds to the atmosphere.
Even though the writing edges close to "creative" at times, the story was sufficiently original and imaginative to keep me closely engaged, all the way through. I look forward to reading the two sequels. -30- ....more
3.4⭐ This is the first book I've read by either James Patterson or J.D. Barker so I can't really tell which author is responsible for which parts of th3.4⭐ This is the first book I've read by either James Patterson or J.D. Barker so I can't really tell which author is responsible for which parts of the story. Given their respective CV's I'm guessing Patterson did the police procedural parts and Barker handled the supernatural elements. But who knows? In any case the collaboration produced a fast paced thriller, a detective story mated with a sort of vampire tale, that works surprisingly well. Suspension of belief required is moderate to serious but the pace of the book picks you up and carries you along so you don't really have time to dwell on it all. I would have liked to have more of the Black Widow's back story, to see if P and B could have come up with a new interpretation of a character who goes back to the Bible. There's more than enough to let you fill in the blanks yourself. This is not the type of book I typically read but I was intrigued by the premise and was happy to have invested the time....more
4.2⭐ My second Bernie Gunter book but won't be my last. The battered, world weary, wisecracking private dick is my favourite noir character, even count4.2⭐ My second Bernie Gunter book but won't be my last. The battered, world weary, wisecracking private dick is my favourite noir character, even counting Phillip Marlowe, the granddaddy of them all.
This novel is split into two time periods and places. Germany in the mid-30's and Cuba in the 50's. Gunter is a hotel detective in Berlin when he runs afoul of a nasty American gangster. He also has a passionate affair with a U.S. journalist, investigating Nazi persecution of the Jews. Twenty years later he runs into the same pair as he's laying low in pre-revolutionary Havana. There's lots of unfinished business between the three.
As usual, I admire the depth of historical detail in Kerr's characters and settings. His snappy dialogue is entertaining and (mostly) convincing. A superior detective story by a fine writer. -30-...more
2.5⭐ Updated Adds Full Review 05/11/22 Not bad for a debut novel. Suffers from being completely unbelievable at points and from a bad case of Creative2.5⭐ Updated Adds Full Review 05/11/22 Not bad for a debut novel. Suffers from being completely unbelievable at points and from a bad case of Creative Writing, but I've read far worse. Full review to follow. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- The book has some flashy writing, good pacing and it kept me engaged until the ending. There are a few things that prevented it from a higher rating. The story screams ...more
3.0⭐ A shaggy dog of a book. The whole thing riffs off a classic Monty Python sketch. Detective Constable Peter Grant of London's magic police aka the F3.0⭐ A shaggy dog of a book. The whole thing riffs off a classic Monty Python sketch. Detective Constable Peter Grant of London's magic police aka the Folly investigates a series of supernatural murders linked to medieval persecution and relics. It's got everything fans of the series want, from sarcastic banter to talking foxes; loads of nerd nods referencing everything from Star Trek, to Lord of the Rings, Dr. Who, the aforementioned Monty Python. By now the series is formulaic, with repeating plot points and dialogue. Who cares? It's light entertainment, happy ending guaranteed. A better than average urban fantasy, for those who like the genre....more
2.5⭐ This latest Ballard/Bosch mystery is a return to form for Connelly, whose previous Lincoln Lawyer book 'The Law of Innocence' was a hot mess. Whil2.5⭐ This latest Ballard/Bosch mystery is a return to form for Connelly, whose previous Lincoln Lawyer book 'The Law of Innocence' was a hot mess. While still not one of his best novels, this one's fast paced and brings at least a few new ideas to the table.
In the aftermath of the Black Lives Matter demonstrations, Connelly depicts an LAPD in the midst of a mass dereliction of duty. Stung by public distrust and calls to "defund the police" the cops respond by essentially refusing to enforce the law, doing only the minimum required to keep up appearances. Connelly also suggests that the BLM protests bankrupted the police force ( which, with an annual budget of $3.14 billion, stretches credibility just a bit). What he's doing is creating a world where the only effective cops are rogue cops ( I.e Bosch and Ballard), who ignore the rules in order to achieve justice- yes, that tired old schtick. But, hey, it's more exciting than showing police plodding along, patiently doing their jobs ( which is how crimes are actually solved).
Renee Ballard, clearly in this novel the heir apparent to the venerable Harry Bosch, is flying solo on two big cases: a New Year's Eve murder rigged to look like an accident; and a series of vicious sexual assaults by a duo of rapists dubbed the 'Midnight Men'. Circumstances lead her to the only man she can trust ( again), Bosch.
I have to acknowledge that for this book Connelly has toned down his annoying product placement style endorsements, mentioning only a couple of restaurants/ stores/ coffee shops etc. That was an ongoing irritant, for me.
So, not high art, certainly, but a decent enough thriller to pass the time....more
Disappointing. This latest entry in the Lincoln Lawyer franchise is as fast paced as usual but also throughly formulaic. The twist in t2.8⭐ Rounded Up
Disappointing. This latest entry in the Lincoln Lawyer franchise is as fast paced as usual but also throughly formulaic. The twist in this book, such as it is, is that this time out, Mickey Haller is not only the defense lawyer but also the defendant, after the body of a con-man, ex- client is found in the trunk of his eponymous Lincoln.
The level of suspension of disbelief required by this novel is colossal, as the unlikely coincidences and improbable events pile up. Hard core Connelly fans won't care, discerning readers will have trouble choking it down. The ending in particular is poorly handled, abrupt and unbelievable. As usual, Connelly peppers his story with annoying product placement ads for his favorite bars, restaurants and stores. IKEA seems to be the latest client with two incongruous mentions.
In general, I like the Lincoln Lawyer and Harry Bosch books but after dozens of titles, Connelly seems to be ( understandably) running out of steam. I can recommend this novel to die-hard fans and series completists only....more
*Updated. Adds Review To Rating.* 4⭐ The last of the Bernie Gunther mysteries that Phillip Kerr wrote before his death turns out to be the first one I *Updated. Adds Review To Rating.* 4⭐ The last of the Bernie Gunther mysteries that Phillip Kerr wrote before his death turns out to be the first one I read, based strictly on availability. As it's chronologically set early in Gunther's career, it doesn't really matter. Its also such a fine, stand alone story that it doesn't matter, either. Dense with historical detail and atmosphere it drops you back into the unsettled and decedent days of Berlin during the Weimer Republic. Gunther is investigating serial killers who target prostitutes and disabled war veterans forced to beg on the streets. Kerr also pays tribute to Fritz Lang's film noir classic, 'M', in a minor sub plot. In Gunther, Kerr has created a complex, gritty hero who's trying to find his way through morally ambiguous times and circumstances. Kerr's grasp of period detail is amazing; I can only guess at the research involved. You get a mystery and a history lesson, for the price of one. It's just the best, most original detective fiction I've read this year. I look forward to reading the rest of the Gunther stories....more
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