Review: Blindman's Bluff

Blindman's Bluff (Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus, #18) by Faye Kellerman


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The rating of this book depends on why you're reading it. If you're reading because you're a Rina Lazarus/Peter Decker (and friends) fan and you want to catch up, it is a solid 4. If you're reading for a good, suspenseful mystery....it's a solid 3, possibly 3.5.

This isn't one of Kellerman's best mysteries. From the very beginning, you can make a pretty solid guess about who is behind the murder. She tries to throw you off with a few events, but all the information is right there in front of you. There are some gun fights, some investigation, but very few surprises. By the time the end of the book rolled around, I was curious as to the why, but only for a few of the more minor details. The main WHY (as in why the three people were killed) was evident long before the end.

But, for the most part, the characters shine in this book. If you're a longtime fan of the series, you'll be happy to catch up with your favorite people to see how their lives have progressed. The relationship between Decker and Hannah is a little bit awkward, and maybe that is on purpose as Hannah is in an awkward teen place. There was barely a mention of the boys and Koby, but other than that, it was like a reunion. I only wish Kellerman could have done BOTH well, instead of just one side or the other. I always said I cared more about the characters than the actual mystery of the books, but maybe that wasn't as true as I had hoped. It was a good book, as far as it went, but I was expecting more.

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Review: Long Lost

Long Lost by Harlan Coben

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
Right before I started this book (on audio) I read a less than stellar review from a newspaper critic. I'm a big fan of Coben and of Myron Bolitan (well, of Win mostly, but you know...) and I was sure that I would love the book regardless of whatever problems it might have. When I finished, though, I thought the critic had been a little bit harsh in her assessment.



First of all, I thought the story was good. The ending was a little bit creeptastic, but I'm sure that was entirely on purpose. If I had to criticize the plot at all, it would be that it is so easy to design a plot around muslim extremists now that it doesn't even register with me anymore. It's like making walls cream or eggshell in a room. You don't even notice them. There are just some things that don't leave an impression anymore because they are so overdone both in real life and in entertainment. You want to be impressive or memorable, make Danish extremists. Finnish extremists. Wow, that is something new. Buddist extremists and I may never forget it. Muslim extremists? I've seen that season of 24 at least 2 years in a row. The story was good, there was a twist that I'm still thinking about, but until that happened, it was mostly a forgettable plot line.



But the characters were spot on. Everyone you expect to see in a Bolitar novel was present and accounted for. The one thing about a longstanding series is that there are some things you see over and over again. Almost all the usual jokes were there (MB Sportsreps, etc.) And because they were almost all there, I could tell which one was missing (El-Al....like the airline.) I understand that not everyone has read all the books in the series (and why not?) and that you have make them accessible to newcomers to the series. I'm just saying, when you've read them all it can be a little.....repetitive.



But even after all of that, this book delivers everything I expected and even some creeptastic chills that I didn't expect. I could read about Win all day and this one will definitely get a re-read.



A word about the audio: Every character seemed to be right on the money except Esperanza. It just wasn't right. Everything else was perfect, and she wasn't there enough to put you off the audio if you are inclined in that direction. But, it did bother me enough that I had to mention it.


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Review: Plum Spooky

Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich

My review

rating: 1 of 5 stars
Wow. I don't know that I've ever given a one star review. Maybe I have and I just blocked it from my mind.



I attempted to read this last night. Now, in all fairness, I should have known better. I broke up with Evanovich after Lean Mean Thirteen. The books started to read the same and I no longer cared about the characters....even the ones I have previously liked very, VERY much. So, why, then, would I try and read this "Between the Numbers" novel? Because I'm an optimist, that's why. MAYBE, I thought, there would something good in here. After all, she's still hella popular. Well, I was right and wrong at the same time. I was right to have broken up to her, and wrong to be such an optimist. I read the first chapter and decided to skim the rest of the book. I skimmed the next three chapters, flipped to the somewhere in the back and read, and then I was done. Never did I get the hook that made me want to go back and see what I'd missed. Never did I get the hook that made me want to read the last page to see how it ended. I put it down and picked up something interesting.



I'm glad she still has a huge following and that those peeps are still getting something out of her novels. Finger Lickin' Fifteen already has 200+ holds 3 months before pub. I won't be one of them. We are truly broken up for good.


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Review: One False Move

One False Move by Harlan Coben

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is probably my favorite of the Myron Bolitar mysteries by Coben. I listened to it this time, and I'm not crazy about the reader. It didn't seem like he had the same intensity throughout the entire book.



There were things in the story that I had glossed over the other times I had read it. There was an obscure Joe Biden reference that seemed to pop out at me given our current political situation. And, there was a reference to the Billy Jack series of movies that I immediately had to wiki. Listening to it may have made my mind focus on other things. The basic story, though, was still as incredible as the first time I'd read it. Yes, I know the ending. But, the ending wasn't really why I was listening to it. All of the action leading up to the ending wasn't as intense as the first time I'd read it, of course, but it was damn close.



If you're looking for a good mystery, this is a great choice. If you're looking for a book with spectacular characters and will make you laugh out loud while you're reading, check this out. No one I have recommended this book to has been disappointed.


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The Sound of a Giant falling

Tony Hillerman died over the weekend. I'm sure there will be a multitude of obits over the next few days, weeks.....months. I never got around to reading one of his books, and thankfully I still have the chance. But, you can't really be a fan of literature, fiction, or popular culture, without knowing what a large figure he was. I know he'll be greatly missed.

The Brass Verdict: A Novel by Michael Connelly

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
When I said back in August, that I had a soft spot for Mickey Haller, I really did mean it. I loved Connelly's The Lincoln Lawyer and I was glad to see him doing a new book with that character. I expected to like it.



Part of what I loved so much about it, though, was the audio reader who brought the character to life. When I saw that there was going to be a different reader, it made me wonder if I would feel the same way with a different reader.



Yeah, I needn't have worried. Both the reader, and the author, come across in The Brass Verdict. The characer of Mickey Haller is as complex and conflicted as he was in Lincoln Lawyer and he's got a few new scars and ghosts to carry. For those hardcore Connelly fans who are expecting lots of Bosch, you're going to probably be disappointed. All the advertising plays up the fact that the two of them are together, but there isn't as much togetherness as Bosch fans might want. This is definitely a Mickey Haller book, and Bosch is a supporting actor.



I highly recommend this book, and I recommend it even more on audio. But be warned: you probably won't get anything else done until you finish it.


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Review: The Mercedes Coffin

The Mercedes Coffin by Faye Kellerman

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
First of all, I love Chris Donatti. Truly. He is one of the best characters in mystery fiction right now.....in my not so humble opinion. I know that makes me kind of psychotic, but so be it. I've loved him since Kellerman's Justice where he was introduced. MORE CHRIS!!!



Ahem. Anyway, this wasn't a bad entry to the series. I missed the boys, they were no where to be found. They were mentioned, but that's it. The rest of the gang reported for duty, and the mystery was serviceable. Of course, I don't read Kellerman for her mystery, I read for the characters. Things were fresh here, and this almost reminded me of some of the earlier books in the series. Nice work.


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Lady Killer CD by Lisa Scottoline

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Fanfreakingtastic!



The woman reading this, Barbara Rosenblat, was born to read this book. Seriously.



The story was good too, but I don't think it would have come across as meant just by reading. Scottoline is a genius, but that shouldn't be news to anyone. Her books, and characters, tend to stay with you long after the book is over. There was absolutely nothing about this book that I did not love.


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I have a soft spot for Mickey Haller

I would say that I'm kind of hit or miss with Michael Connelly. What I've read, I've really liked. But, I haven't been compelled to read each and every book. The Poet was one of my favorites until I came across The Lincoln Lawyer. That was the first book I listened to on audio from beginning to end. I'm not sure if it was the story, or the narrator, but I hadn't been able to get through a book on cd before LL.

Connelly's upcoming book brings together his "series" character, Harry Bosch and Mickey Haller, from Lincoln Lawyer. The two also happen to be half brothers, so that should be interesting. I think this is the first time I've actually anticipated a Connelly book.

Review: The Turnaround

The Turnaround by George Pelecanos

I read an ARC of this a few weeks ago and, while I couldn't put it down, I couldn't explain why I was so disappointed at the end. I am a huge, unabashed, Pelecanos fan. Almost to the point of being obnoxious about it......although some may say I passed that point a long time ago. But this one left me a little cold. I couldn't figure it out, but I chalked it up to everyone has a book that isn't as stellar as all the others.

I never considered that the problem with the book could be ME instead of the book. I think that is what happened this time. The book wasn't what I had expected. Pelecanos has moved on, but I was still in the same place, expecting the same thing he's done in the past.

So far, the reviews of the book have been good. NYT liked it. Washington Post liked it. The Sun-Times liked it too. It probably deserves a little more consideration from me, too.

Review: Chasing Darkness

Chasing Darkness by Robert Crais

I listened to this one, not having time to actually read while studying for the bar exam. I could listen on the way to and from work (or anywhere else I had to go.) I also checked out the amazon reviews for this before starting it, and the I got a little bit nervous. Long time Crais fans were grumbling. It wasn't the full out rebellion that Evanovich fans were having when Fearless Fourteen hit the shelves (and some even before it hit shelves.) but there was a definite sense of dissatisfaction with this book.

I can see where people might have been disappointed with this one, but I wasn't. I thought it was good. Would I have liked different things? Sure. Did I think the characters were caricatures of themselves? Not at all. Did I think Crais was phoning it in? Nope. There were a couple of places where the tension seemed weak. A couple of places where you could see exactly why it had to be done that way and I winced that it was so transparent. The end was tied up a little too nicely, and I really hated the last few lines. Truly. But the overall "mystery" was fantastic. Yeah, I figured out who it was before the end, but who did it was hardly the main reason for reading the book.

There were some things at the end that didn't get tied up. Whatever happened to Elvis' "clients"? Did they get the information they wanted? What about Starkey? (more about Starkey!!!) You know, things like that. But, overall, it was a good book. Crais fans will like it. Newcomers to the series will probably not be bowled over and may wonder what all the fuss is about.