Mini-reviews #2…
#9: David Baldacci, One Summer, 2.5 stars—If you’re looking for a Baldacci thriller, this is not your book. David is better known as a thriller and suspense writer (I’ve read so many of his books that I feel I’m on a first-name basis), but he can write literary fiction with the best of them (it probably doesn’t pay as much, however). (How “literary fiction” became part of the legacy publishing lexicon is beyond me—isn’t all fiction literary?)
One Summer is a case in point. Like his Wish You Well, this little jewel is a folksy, down-home, humorous, uplifting, and romantic entry in the genre that will please some and disappoint others. While Wish You Well can be considered a coming-of-age novel, One Summer can be considered a dealing-with-death novel. Nevertheless, One Summer is not morose, since the main characters work their way out of their funks—you might find it enjoyable, especially if you find Baldacci’s thrillers a bit gritty and violent (they’re not). I found it slow going at first but more interesting as I worked through it—but definitely not a page-turner.
#10: Barry Eisler, Hard Rain, 3.0 stars—The continuing adventures of spy-assassin John Rain. A bit more martial arts, a bit more intrigue, but a definite sequel. Eisler’s descriptive skills are in top form here. Many of the martial arts scenes are not for the squeamish. The local color of Tokyo, where the main action takes place, is superb. With my Irish blood, I only object to the renewed emphasis on Scotch—doesn’t Barry know that thrice-distilled is better?
Eisler is not as dark as John Connolly, say, but you’ll be hard put to come up with any redeeming human qualities among his characters—well, maybe Rain’s girl friends and the cop. The pianist from the previous novel is back, albeit briefly. So is the CIA. Hardcore stuff….
#11: Jon Land, Strong Enough to Die, 3.0 stars—The first Caitlin Strong book? Caitlin Strong, Texas Ranger? If you have visions of Walker, forget it! (It doesn’t take my imagination to believe that Caitlin looks a lot better than Chuck Norris, by the way.) Although it sounds corny to have a female protagonist as Texas Ranger, Jon Land has been successful in pulling it off.
Fortunately for readers, Caitlin is a strong (pardon the pun) female character who doesn’t limit her law enforcement activities to Texas, that state of illegal immigrants (I’m referring to the bozos who stole it from Mexico). This woman gets around and goes where the bad guys go, sometimes embarrassing her bosses. I’m reading these books in the wrong order, but it seems to not make any difference. Some of the things present in later books are explained here, but all the books are good reads by themselves. Not so hardcore….
#12: Richard Castle, Heat Rises, 2.5 stars—This mystery series is much better than the ABC TV series about Castle and Beckett (and that’s pretty good compared to the crap you’ll find on network TV). The heat rising is Nikki Heat (at the end in the author’s notes, Castle says his original title was Heat, Heat, Heat) and you’ll find scenes here between Rook (chess enthusiasts will appreciate the name) and Heat that they don’t allow on network TV, even though ABC’s Castle airs at 10 p.m. when all the innocent kiddies are supposed to be sleeping.
I don’t know much about writing mysteries, but I’ve found this series very enjoyable. However, here the twist at the end seems a bit abrupt and contrived. I won’t give it away, but I’ll say that I was surprised. Now if someone could just tell me who the author is. We’ve eliminated Stephen Cannell by now—he no longer participates in Castle’s poker games because he’s passed on to writing mysteries to entertain the Big Guy in the Sky! The good police procedurals will remind you of Connelly—the funeral service at the end seemed bleak, sad, and very real.
In libris libertas…
