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Posted: Apr 16th, 2005 at 12:17 am
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The Codex by Douglas Preston
Douglas Preston usually writes with his partner Lincoln Child. Together Preston and Child have authored some thrilling books, such as The Relic, Reliquary, Riptide, and Thunderhead. So I was looking forward to Mr. Preston's latest solo effort with relish. After having read The Codex I have one all-consuming thought:
Douglas Preston owes me $7.99.
The premise behind The Codex is as follows: Maxwell Broadbent, richer than Croesus and ethically challenged art and antiquities dealer, is dying. So he spirits all of his vast fortune to a secret location and challenges his three sons to find his tomb-whoever finds the fortune inherits it.
This book is a tomb of sorts itself-it must be where old cliches go to die. Some examples: of course the three Broadbent brothers each decide to seek the treasure alone, because of course they don't get along with one another. Of course there is a beautiful scientist one of them falls in love with. Of course she is engaged to another man. Of course there is a wise old bush guide who helps them on their journey. Etc etc etc...
I could go on, but I don't want to commit a spoiler-most of what I've just told you can be found, in slightly less sarcastic form, on the back of the book. Everything, including the ending, is predictable.
Not recommended.
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"I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed, or numbered. My life is my own."--The Prisoner
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demonluv
Global Moderator  Member is offline Groovy
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Posted: Apr 22nd, 2005 at 12:12 am
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The White Road by John Connolly
We are trapped not only by our own history but by the histories of all those with whom we choose to share our lives.
I wanted to begin with that quote, because it is not only an honest quote, but also because it says a lot about the book itself. It was included on the jacket of the book for good reason.
Charlie Parker, private detective, has finally moved on with his life after the murders of his wife and daughter. He and his girlfriend, Rachel, are expecting a child of their own and they are finally building a home for themselves.
But all that Parker holds dear is put at risk with one phone call. An old friend of his, Elliot Norton, now practicing law in his hometown in South Carolina, asks Parker for a favor. Norton is representing a young black man of the rape and murder of his white, and very rich, girlfriend. Everyone, with the expection of Norton himself, believes that the young man committed the crime. And Norton needs Parker's help to prove his innocence. At first, Parker refuses. But he soon changes his mind when he finds that the frighteningly powerful religious fanatic he has helped put behind bars has the support of a wealthy white supremacist that resides in the same town.
Complications abound; there is the ghostly figure of a hooded woman that was witnessed at the scene of the murder, a blood feud between the young man's family and his girlfriend's family that dates back to the Civil War and then there is Norton himself, who is hiding an explosive secret of his own.
The book is horrifying at times, and poignant at times, but it is always a gripping read. The novel begins with the revenge killing of several men that participated in the lynching death of a black man years before by two strangers passing through Georgia. We realize soon enough who these two strangers are and how they fit into Parker's life. In short, the book is full of fascinating and sympathetic characters. But not all of them are nice guys, some of the ones that aren't so nice you find yourself pulling for. And some are just outright repulsive.
Parker himself is a marvel. He is tough, sometimes surprisingly so; but he is also kind,compassionate, and tormented by his own demons. He also has quite an unusual connection to the dead. But again, this is not for everyone. Connolly's books are dark and sad. And as I mentioned in my previous review, have fairly high body counts.
Grade: A
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TrueWatcher
Administrator Member is offline Poor Victor....
Posts: 21,081
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Posted: Apr 28th, 2005 at 12:11 am
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100 Malicious Little Mysteries
[i]Selected by Martin H. Greenberg, Selected by Joseph D. Olander[/I]
Synopsis: A collection of short stories (from a few paragraphs to only a few pages) with unexpected twists, delectable puzzles, or devastating revelations, from such writers as Bill Pronzini, Elsin Ann Graffam, Ed Dumonte, Carroll Mayers, John Lutz, Elaine Slater, Edward D. Hoch, others.
Need something to read while awaiting your turn with the dentist, doctor or whomever? Then this book is perfect. Each story can be read in only a few minutes, but most pack a wallop just like their larger brethren. If you want to see how some of the best writers can create a small universe while concealing a terrific twist on the outcome, then this collection is a definite must. From the short story concerning one famous English detective to the English‘trick or treat’ shiver-inducing tale, each will make you shake your head in amazement.
Though a handful of tales presented really don’t belong in this collection, the rest make up for it and have actually inspired me to write a few ‘page nasties’ of my own.
I give it 8/10 cookies. - TW
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demonluv
Global Moderator Member is offlineGroovy
Posts: 3,754
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Posted: Apr 28th, 2005 at 01:02 am
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Sunset and Sawdust by Joe R. Lansdale
This novel, like The Bottoms, is set in Depression-era Texas. This time around it is the small sawmill town of Camp Rapture. The book is also similar to The Bottoms in that it deals some with race relations of the time.
Instead of a teenage boy though, the central character is a woman, Sunset Jones, who is savagely attacked by her husband and responds to the attack with one of her own. Fearing for her life, she shoots him with him with his own gun. Pete Jones was constable of Camp Rapture and his death is met with outrage. But when Sunset gets support from an most unexpected place, her mother-in-law, three-quarter owner of the mill and an abused wife herself, Sunset suddenly finds herself named as the new constable. Most people are surprised and upset by the news, but Sunset takes her job seriously. And when the only black landowner in town finds the oil-drenched body of a murdered woman and her unborn baby, Sunset begins an investigation that puts her, and everyone she cares about, at risk.
There are surprises along the way and it is actually a pretty solid mystery. Unfortunately, the characters don't seem to have the depth of the characters in The Bottoms. Not to say that the book is devoid of interesting characters; Sunset is a strong woman and a strong central character. But sometimes her actions seem foolish compared to the strength, and smarts, she is supposed to exude. It is baffling how she can seem so together at times and then at others be so naive. And her daughter is so bland, and ultimately forgiving about the fact that her mom has just killed her father, that she comes off as an almost unnecessary character. Later in the novel she does become necessary to the plot. But even then, it is hard to work up too much sympathy for the character. And considering what she goes through, that says a lot.
But the book does have heart, not as much heart as The Bottoms, but it is there. And the end is fast paced and genuinely surprising in several ways. It is one hell of a fight.
Grade: B+
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TrueWatcher
Administrator Member is offlinePoor Victor....
Posts: 21,081
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Posted: May 8th, 2005 at 04:09 am
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Mutation
By Robin Cook
Synopsis: When o.b.g.y.n. and biomolecular researcher Dr. Victor Frank learns of his wife's infertility, he initiates a bold-and dangerous-experiment. Unbeknownst to everyone, including her, Dr. Frank has adapted the methods of animal husbandry and molecular genetics to human reproduction. Fusing his wife's egg and his own sperm, he sets in motion the production of a superior being, his child, Victor Jr. or VJ for short. The result of this experiment is born to a surrogate mother and legally adopted by the Franks.
To their delight, their son is physically perfect, and, by the age of three, displays the complex problem-solving abilities of a prodigy. Victor Frank is a happy man. He has produced a flawless human being, and that success - plus the subsequently healthy child, bodes for a dazzling future. Then, without warning, VJ's intelligence level plunges to a point appropriate to his age, but stabilizes. For the moment, Frank can breathe a sigh of relief: Even if VJ is no longer the genius he was, at least he will be normal. But that relief is tragically cut short when VJ turns ten. Things begin to unravel and unravel fast.
First, did Cook have to name the main character Dr. Victor Frank, as in ‘Frankenstein’? Which is exactly what Cook tried to do in this uneven thriller. Another moral play on the folly of man in his quest for the best, Cook uses a heavy hand again with his characters. The main issue I have with this novel is that you must suspend disbelief to its utmost in order to accept that a ten year old, even a super genius, could have done what VJ did. Another is the structure is almost cookie cutter, where you can see exactly where things are heading long before you get to the final, unsatisfying ending. The characters are not presented very realistically (which has been Cook’s failing with all the works of his I’ve read), which also detracts from the goings on.
Ultimately, this tale is simply Frankenstein with a bad twist.
I give it 4/10 cookies. - TW
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demonluv
Global Moderator Member is offlineGroovy
Posts: 3,754
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Posted: May 29th, 2005 at 12:37 am
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Instruments of Night by Thomas H. Cook
Paul Graves is a mystery writer that knows plenty about evil. He looked into evil's face as a boy when he survived the torture-murder of his older sister. Graves has never quite recovered, haunted by his sister whom he could not protect and by the murderer that was never brought to justice.
Now Graves is invited to spend a summer at Riverwood, a quiet artists' community. But Riverwood was once shaken by violence as well; the unsolved murder of a teenage girl named Faye Harrison fifty years before still taints the place. Graves has been asked by Faye's then best friend Allison Davies to investigate the crime and write a story that would explain what happened that day, whether it be a true account or a fictional one.
The past and the present mingle in this novel (like Cook's other novels), allowing the reader to catch a glimpse here and there of the horrors Graves witnessed the day of his sister's murder. It is a chilling tale; both incredibly sad and dark. There is a twist at the end, and while it is not surprising, it is a horrifying one. It is an alarming example of the kind of darkness that may be hiding in us all.
The characters are textured and real. And the story itself is so depressing because it also is so real. Like most of Cook's novels, it takes a long, hard look at the absolute worst of human nature and it isn't very pleasant. But as mysteries go, this is top rate.
Grade: A-
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demonluv
Global Moderator Member is offlineGroovy
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Posted: May 31st, 2005 at 11:20 pm
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Places in the Dark by Thomas H. Cook
The year is 1937 when Dora March arrives in Port Alma, a small sea village located on the coast of Maine. Her arrival means trouble to the two brothers , Billy and Cal, that come to love her. The brothers are as different as night and day; Cal is sensible to a fault, Billy idealistic to a fault. But the brothers share a strong bond. But that bond is shattered when Dora moves in with a troubled past in tow and then disappears before a year has past; leaving one brother dead and the other determined to find her no matter what the cost.
Here is yet another tale about human suffering that is just so sad,but written so beautifully, that it is captivating. We get another glimpse of the lengths people will go to bury the painful secrets of their past.....and also the lengths they will go to just to have a little love in their lives. There is another twist at the end, again not surprising, but still heart-breaking. And when it comes to the conflicting emotions of the human condition, Cook has it down. Even the people that have the most good in them can harbor terrible feelings of resentment, can think the unthinkable, can do the unthinkable. And that is the power behind Cook's novels.
Grade: A-
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demonluv
Global Moderator Member is offlineGroovy
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Posted: May 31st, 2005 at 11:46 pm
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The Broken Hearts Club by Ethan Black
Every week the same group of men meet; a banker, a literary agent, mechanic and a psychologist. They all have one thing in common; they all suffer from broken hearts. And they can't seem to recover. Soon their rage at being dumped turns into something more sinister. And women begin to die.
Detective Voort is assigned to the case and begins to look for a killer that seems to change drastically with each murder. But he has his own broken heart to contend with, as the woman responsible becomes the target of the same murderer he is hunting.
The idea was great. And some of the plotting is tighter than it has any right to be. But unfortunately, this novel is a major let-down. It had promise, but ultimately it doesn't offer anything new or particularly credible. There is a twist, of course there is, and I am sure anyone reading this has already figured the twist. It is simply that heavy-handed and done in a way that makes it a little ridiculous. Had the characters been developed in a less superficial way, then it might have worked and worked well. But none of the characters seemed true and Voort is not interesting enough to root for. Too bad.
Grade: D
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TrueWatcher
Administrator Member is offlinePoor Victor....
Posts: 21,081
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Posted: Jun 13th, 2005 at 11:14 pm
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Contagion
by Robin Cook
Synopsis: Dr. John Stapleton is a rebel NY forensic pathologist hardened by his experiences of personal and professional loss. When a series of lethal illnesses strike seemingly at random in New York City, Stapleton soon suspects he has stumbled upon a diabolical conspiracy.
Cook uses a device from one of his other novels, where a rather intelligent forensic pathologist is 1) single with a tortured past, 2) a renegade, 3) athletic, 4) acts stupidly and 5) is a reincarnation of a poor Nancy Drew.
Too bad he also doesn’t get it right. It’s a good idea to try and keep the suspense up, but to have our ‘hero’ defy death several times over and attribute it to ‘luck’ is hard to swallow. It also hurts when Cook ventures outside his field and tries to incorporate slang and black-gangster-speak in the proceedings. Another thing he does is break most ethical rules by having his characters discuss what should be internally sensitive topics as if they were discussing the weather outside.
I can accept some of this, but he mostly uses these conversations for his personal pulpit of doom and gloom, whereby he beats it into our heads that these are TRUTHS about the medical industry, hospitals, third parties and administration and things need to CHANGE. He even backhands the police and their handling of gangs. And I really wish someone would help Dr. Cook learn that people do not talk the way he portrays them, especially in the heat of an emotion - ‘good grief’!
If you want to learn about nosocomial infections and some influenza history, then be my guest.
I give it 5/10 cookies. - TW
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TrueWatcher
Administrator Member is offlinePoor Victor....
Posts: 21,081
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Posted: Jun 22nd, 2005 at 09:39 pm
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Black Friday (aka Black Market)
by James Patterson
Synopsis: A terrorist group called Green Band attacks Wall Street with precision and bombs, asking for... nothing! Is this in the hopes of igniting an economic world war? It's up to Wall Street power attorney Caitlin Dillon and fearless federal agent Arch Carroll to solve the mysteries and thwart their efforts before the world economics are changed forever.
This is the first book by Patterson I've read, but I am familiar with some of his works through the movie versions of his books (Along Came A Spider, Kiss the Girls for instance). And to tell you the honest truth, even though the story literally races to its conclusion, all I could hear was 1960's angst - Country Joe and the Fish/PeterFonda/Anti-establishment - sentiment. More simply put, and this is a spoiler, so skip it if you want to read this novel afresh: This is just a ridiculous fairy tale about how poor Joe Vet, screwed by the 'man' and a 'super secret cabal of 12', gets his due.
Mr. Patterson intelligently uses Wall Street as a colorful, believable background without the convoluted processes to hinder your enjoyment. If you don't know a bond from a stock, don't worry. The characters are fleshed out nicely, but Mr. Patterson fails us with some of the relationships that were developed (Note: This is his fifth novel, so he must be given some slack here) and the action is quite intense, though suspension of belief is needed several times. The biggest issue I have with this moral play is not the main story, but the big twist surprise concerning one major terrorist - it's really too much to believe when you sit down and think about it.
Criticisms aside - the story is fast and furious, the action well paced and painted. Until the last few chapters the reader will be swept along with the intrigue by Patterson's writing style (sometimes only one and a half pages make a chapter!). So, if you like these types of political mystery/romance/thrillers, then you won't be too disappointed.
I give it 6/10 cookies. - TW
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demonluv
Global Moderator Member is offlineGroovy
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Posted: Jul 13th, 2005 at 01:05 am
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The Edge by Catherine Coulter
FBI agent Ford "Mac" MacDougal is recovering from severe injuries sustained from a terrorist bombing when his sister, Jilly, a medical researcher drives her Porsche, off a cliff in Oregon. It appears that she was trying to commit suicide, but Mac refuses to believe his sister would take her own life. Because he feels as if he was in the car with her as it went over and he senses something else was happening in that car. Soon after he arrives in Portland, she awakes from her four day coma and promptly disappears, leaving her brother wondering who took her....and what she was involved in that led not only to her plummet from the cliff but also to her sudden disappearance.
The basic premise of the book? Sex and drugs. That is all what it comes down to. With no clear answer to, or focus on, the brief psychic connection between Mac and his sister (which is by far the most interesting part of the book), it leaves the reader wanting more of that part of story and a lot less of other parts. The love story is bland, and most of the characters are as well. And not many of them are particularly moral. A complete waste of my day.
Grade: D
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Meck's Book Reviews. Comments Welcome! - (Read 2,360 Times)
