Category: Fiction Page 311 of 341

Dusted Off: Rizzo’s Daughter by Lou Manfredo

By

On December 9, 2013

In Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

Rizzo's DaughterRizzo’s Daughter

by Lou Manfredo
Hardcover, 304 pg.
Minotaur Books, 2012

Not the best of the Rizzo books, but it’s still one of the most compelling and honest (and brutal) books I’ve read this year.

Manfredo has never shied away from the ethical gray areas — this time he dives in further than before (and honestly, maybe veers to the more black than gray area).

The mini-cases that are featured here, alongside the two major cases, as perhaps more interesting than their counterparts and once again give you insight into the world of the NYPD as much as they give you something interesting to read. The procedure is authentic, the violence isn’t dazzling as it is in similar books, which makes it more brutal and more real.

Even though this wasn’t my favorite, what Manfredo has set up for the two Rizzos in blue can’t come fast enough for me. So glad I stumbled onto this series.

—–

3 Stars

Dusted Off: Rizzo’s Fire by Lou Manfredo

By

On December 9, 2013

In Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

Rizzo's FireRizzo’s Fire

by Lou Manfredo
Hardcover, 304 pg.
Minotaur Books, 2011

It’s always tough to follow up a strong first book–and Manfredo isn’t the first author to come up a little shorter the second time around.

Still, it’s a solid read. Each page, each moment screams “authentic.” Not just because of what Manfredo used to do, though that certainly helps. The way that Rizzo and Cil have to juggle cases, call in and ask for favors, cut deals with all sorts of unsavory types, play politics, so on and so forth–if that’s not as close as you can get to reality, I don’t know what is.

The central case is less-than-gripping, but it’s still good to see solid procedure in a police procedural (even if our heroes cut a few corners). And I could sit and listen to Sergeant Rizzo tell war stories and share his philosophy of crime solving for hours.

Not a great book, but a really good one.

—–

3 Stars

Dusted Off: Rizzo’s War by Lou Manfredo

By

On December 9, 2013

In Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

Rizzo's WarRizzo’s War

by Lou Manfredo
Hardcover, 290 pg.
Minotaur Books, 2009

Wow! Where has Manfredo been all my life? This was a gripping tale with great characters and just enough twists to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Sure, I have no way of knowing how authentically the characters, situations, and ethics of the NYPD detectives are depicted, but man, it couldn’t feel more authentic. You get the feeling you’ve been shadowing actual detectives for eleven months by the time you’re done.

Can’t wait for the sequels!

—–

4 Stars

Unleashed by David Rosenfelt

By

On December 6, 2013

In Andy Carpenter, Authors, David Rosenfelt, Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, P-U

Unleashed
Unleashed

by David Rosenfelt
Series: Andy Carpenter, #11

Hardcover, 308 p.
Minotaur Books, 2013

Granted, he has 13 less books under his belt, but at this point Rosenfelt’s Andy Carpenter series is managing to do something that Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series has failed at — it’s still funny, still smart, and the criminal/suspense elements are as serious as any hard-boiled novel. Sometimes, sure, certain elements of the series — Hike’s depression, Marcus’ size/appetite, Edna’s allergy to work, for example — are overdone, and by being overdone, aren’t as funny as they could be. But Rosenfelt can rein in his impulses and produce a book that balances the whackiness with the grim and result it’s easy to forgive him for indulging his too-silly moments.

MAJOR COMPLAINT: How long has it been since Sam & Andy have song talked? Multiple books, not sure how many, but far, far, far too many books. Sure, part of the upside is Sam being a more critical character, and well-rounded. But it’s too high a price to pay.

This starts off like a typical Andy Carpenter book — a trip to the Tara Foundation, someone wanting Andy to take a job and him not being interested (I actually thought he was wrong in this — Sam was asking, not a stranger), and then Andy getting sucked in anyway — and away we go. Laughs, twists, Andy talking about his dog (and other people’s, too), smart-aleck courtroom antics, and so on. And that’s good enough for me. Sign me up for another 11 of them right now. But this one’s a little special.

The first adult mysteries I ever read were Erle Stanley Gardner’s Perry Mason books — I read and reread my public library’s collection I don’t know how many times — and when I could find them, I bought every one I saw. Andy’s more entertaining then Mr. Mason ever was, but his legal strategies aren’t quite up to his level. By this time, I really thought I knew all of Rosenfelt’s tricks (and he plays them well enough I don’t care if I can see them coming), but he pulled the rug out from underneath me in Unleashed. I may have gasped audibly, I’m not sure — I do know my jaw literally dropped.

Without giving too much away, Andy gets a little more into the nitty-gritty of the outside the courthouse action this time, as shown here:

[Marcus] does give me the handgun I’ll be using. He had shown me how to use it in the motel — basically just pointing and pulling the trigger. If I have to use it, I may add in some moaning and whimpering, just to jazz it up.

Perfect Rosenfelt, real, self-deprecating, and just funny.

Unleashed is another successful outing for this series — imagine Janet Evanovich ghostwriting Erle Stanley Gardner.

EVEN MAJOR-ER COMPLAINT: I’ve now worked through the Andy Carpenter series. I have to wait until Rosenfelt finishes the next one. Ugh.

—–

4 Stars

T is for Trespass by Sue Grafton

By

On December 5, 2013

In Fiction, Kinsey Millhone, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, Sue Grafton

T is for Trespass
T is for Trespass by Sue Grafton
Series: Kinsey Millhone, #20

Hardcover, 374 pg.
G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2007

First thing I noted about this was, “This Prologue’s a bit heavy handed and overly dramatic . . . who knows? Maybe it’ll be justified.” I still think it was a bit too much — but on the whole, it was justified.

This was a slow burn of a novel. Sure, the reader is introduced to the villain, Solana Rojas, right off the bat (thanks to third person narration focusing on her in chapters interspersed with Kinsey’s narration), but Kinsey isn’t even hired for anything regarding her until roughly 100 pages in. The whole setup for this book is so unlike Grafton. I liked this, and it bugged me at the same time. Mostly the former, though, I’m all for Grafton stretching herself.

There was a time where Rojas had the upper hand over Kinsey, and while we know in the end that Kinsey will win out, Grafton sure could’ve made things look a little more dire for Santa Teresa’s hero. It was just a little too easy for Kinsey to convince others what was going on. In the end, that didn’t make this less satisfying.

Grafton’s never been a slouch, but in these last few books she’s really upped her game — this is the best thing she’s done. Her characters are better drawn, the plot’s more intricate, Rojas was probably a little more evil than anyone that Kinsey’s crossed paths with before. This is definitely the creepiest, most disturbing Grafton novel — haven’t read much in the last couple of years that’s as unnerving, really, when I stopped to think of it. Not as gory or violent as many in the genre (nowhere near that), but when you look at the trail of destruction that Rojas has left before she’s stopped — she’s unsettling in a way that your typical fictional serial killer isn’t.

—–

4 1/2 Stars

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

By

On December 4, 2013

In Authors, Fiction, General Fiction/Literature, P-U, Rainbow Rowel, YA/MG/Children's Books

Fangirl
Fangirl

by Rainbow Rowell
Hardcover, 438 pg.
St. Martin’s Griffin, 2013

No one can write messed-up characters like Rainbow Rowell can — socially awkward, clever, emotionally scarred, and incredibly likeable. A lot like many people.

Speaking of likeable, it takes no more than a few pages, maybe even a couple of paragraphs before Cath wins the reader over completely. Okay, so she’s a little too into this semi-Harry Potter world, and spends what many would consider an unhealthy amount of time on her fanfic — but she gets great grades, and something resembling a social life, who’s to judge? She’s having a hard time adjusting to college life — her identical twin (Wren — get it?) is taking the opportunity to go out on her own, and Cath’s just not ready for that. For the first time in her life, she’s really not half of a set, and that takes a toll on her esteem, confidence, and — actually — everything. Her high school boyfriend being in another state and mostly incommunicado makes it all worse.

Slowly, Cath starts to find a place in college — makes a friends (most of which are worth having). There’s a lot of ups and downs along the way — there’s plenty of family drama — friction between the sisters, emotional troubles for their dad at home, and a lot of unresolved issues surrounding their mother’s/wife’s abandoning the family years ago. Which doesn’t help out her schoolwork at all — and drives her further into her fanfic.

This is done in such a way that it doesn’t feel like silly teen/young adult dramatics — it feels like a rough patch that a dear friend is going through. The former would be easy for many authors to evoke, and I’d probably end up walking away from the book. But because Rowell can make us feel the latter, we pull for Cath, and keep reading on, getting further invested in her character.

There are bright spots — Cath and others make some progress in dealing with troubles from their past, Cath meets some fans of her fanfic, and — not at all surprisingly — there’s some fun (and awkward) and heartwarming romance kindled.

I know precious little about fanfic, honestly — I’ve read a few authors pouring out the hate for it, and some defending and/or celebrating it. I hardly have enough time to read the original works set in the worlds I like, I certainly have no time for the “unofficial” takes on it. So I really didn’t care about Cath’s passion for her hobby — or for those who had a different take on it. I thought Rowell dealt with it pretty well, on the whole, and was fair enough to both poles while staying fairly realistic.

Not as gut- and heart-wrenching as Eleanor & Park, but told with the same amount of heart (and more laughs). This is one of those books that when you see the end coming, you start to read slower, because you’re just not done with these people yet. If she had the story, I’d have read another few hundred pages just to stick with Cath, Wren, Levi, Reagan and the rest for a little longer — honestly, I’d have done it without the story.

—–

4 1/2 Stars

Dusted Off: False Covenant by Ari Marmell

By

On December 3, 2013

In Fiction

False Covenant (Widdershins Adventures, #2)False Covenant

by Ari Marmell
Series: Widdershins Adventures, #2

Hardcover, 281 pg.
Pyr, 2012

It doesn’t matter what Ari Marmell writes — whether the fantasy is YA or not — it’s gripping and intense. The only difference is the swearing and amount of blood.

Still reeling from the events of the first volume — the death of a close friend, a showdown with a demon, a burgeoning friendship with an up and coming star in the Guard (not a good move for a professional thief)– this adventure will push Widdershins even further and harder and will keep the pages turning ’til the jaw-dropping end.

Marmell has created a rich and elaborate world for Widdershins — the magic/mythology system, the thieves’ guild, it’s a soil that many volumes could be grown in, I certainly hope they do.

—–

4 Stars

Dusted Off: Thief’s Covenant by Ari Marmell

By

On December 2, 2013

In Fiction

Thief's Covenant (Widdershins Adventures, #1)Thief’s Covenant

by Ari Marmell
Series: Widdershins Adventures, #1

Hardcover, 273 pg.
Pyr, 2012

Marmell’s first foray into YA is exactly what it should be–his kind of story, without the adult-y material, which he managed to do without feeling like he watered anything down. There’s some light moments–and some flat-out clever writing–but on a dime, Marmell can turn things dark and gruesome

Adrienne/Widdershins/insert-alias-here is a heckuva character — tough, but vulnerable; wise, yet naive; reckless, yet skilled–a good YA character. She’s good at what she does–maybe even great–but not perfect, which I really appreciated.

A good, solid fantasy in a package that’s smaller than a doorstop. I’ll be back for more.

—–

3.5 Stars

Shaken by J. A. Konrath

By

On November 29, 2013

In Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

Shaken
Shaken

by J.A. Konrath
Paperback, 262 pages
AmazonEncore, 2011

There are three stories told in the penultimate Jack Daniels novel: one told shortly after the events in Cherry Bomb, one that takes place three years earlier, and the last that takes place 18 years before that. Now, given that I knew Jack would survive all three stories between that timeline (not being a time traveler, she obviously couldn’t die 21 years before current events) and the fact that I read this a year after the followup novel were written — you’d think I’d be able to kick back and let the novel play out.

Nope, not even close — I was on the edge of my seat from the get-go. How Konrath pulled that off, I don’t know — don’t really care, either.

In the oldest storyline — Jack’s still sporting her maiden name and is a fairly new cop working prostitution stings — with her partner, Harry McGlade — which lead to her being enlisted in a undercover operation for Homicide — and almost getting killed by a real psycho.

A bit more current, Jack and Herb are trying to prevent the murder of a child by a legendary serial killer, who they think they’re about to catch after years of people all over the country hunting him down.

The most recent story starts off with Jack kidnapped — she fell asleep in her bed next to Phin, and awakens in a dark room, bound, with no one around. But there’s a clock counting down how long she has left to live — and it ain’t long.

Last week, I talked a little bit about my problems with prequels. The storyline 20+ years old really serves as a prequel to the series — and has all the shortcomings of them — inside jokes, heavy haded bits about how no one will need a mobile phone in the future, how Jack plans to upgrade her car (she’s still driving it currently), Herb’s legendary metabolism, etc. Some of these jokes I did enjoy — the more subtle ones, mostly. Still, as always, Konrath knows when to lighten up on the humor and apply the suspense — and he does it very successfully in each story.

I’ve seen some reader reviews here and there complaining that the ending’s a bit too deus ex machina — and I think you can make that case. Still, I disagree sequel ex machina? Sure, I’ll buy that — it was all about setting up the next installment of the series. And given how effective the rest of the novel really was — I’ll give Konrath a pass on that.

A lot of laughs, some good twists, many nails bitten — a great read. This, in so many ways, is not the place to start with this series, go back to the beginning, with Whiskey Sour and jump on there. But if you’ve been sticking with Jack, this is a great addition.

—–

4 Stars

Opening lines – Blades of Winter by G.T. Almasi

By

On November 26, 2013

In Blog Series, Currently Reading, Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, Opening Lines, Quotations, Science Fiction

We all know we’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover (yet, publishing companies spend big bucks on cover design/art). But, the opening sentence(s)/paragraph(s) are fair game. So, when I stumble on a good opening (or remember one and pull it off the shelves), I’ll throw it up here. Dare you not to read the rest of the book

—–

Nothing pisses me off more than being shot at while I’m eating. It’s the midday rush here in my new favorite restaurant, a cozy Hungarian joint on East 82nd Street. I’m jammed into a small table by the kitchen, with a Redskins cap pulled low over my face. The charming old dining room is packed, and the paneled walls echo the Eastern European barks of the broad, buxom waitresses as they dominate the good-humored customers. The food here is spectacular, but right now I’m kind of distracted by that bullet hurtling straight at my left eye.

from Blades of Winter by G.T. Almasi

Page 311 of 341

Previous

Next

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén