Smoke
Author enjoyed writing this one. Drags in places.
Archive for the 'Fiction' Category
What’s So Funny?
The Dortmunder series is pretty good.
Bleeders
Not bad. Doesn’t stuff it with fluff.
The Burgler Who Studied Spinoza
Moves along. Nothing heavy.
The Honor Farm
Interesting premise. Decent ending with a lot of muddle in between.
Money For Nothing
Not much going on in this book.
Von Ryan’s Express
Might be one of those rare instances where the movie is better than the book.
Cops and Robbers
Straight ahead with little filler.
Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf
I guess it’s a classic, but I found it pretty pointless. Might be better on stage.
Bad News
First 1/3 is pretty good, then it drifts and sputters to a close.
Phantom Prey
One of Sandford’s weaker efforts.
Nobody Runs Forever
Unique voice and story that keeps moving.
Dead Watch
Starts off strong, but fizzles out.
The Tin Roof Blowdown
I was very surprised not to like this book. Burke is one of my favorite authors, so I hope he is not running out of gas. Nothing much new in the story lines and switching from first person to omniscient narrator interrupts the flow. It seems to be a mandate in detective fiction that, as the series ages, the protagonist’s home life becomes the central story, rather than the detecting. McBain kept it to a minimum, Parker wallows in it and Mosley actually makes it interesting. I hope Burke comes back with something stronger.
Crusader’s Cross
Pretty good overall. Unravels a bit at the end and needs an Epilogue to drop stitch everything together.
Crusader’s Cross: A Dave Robicheaux Novel (Dave Robicheaux Mysteries)
Downtown
I haven’t read many McBain outside the 87th series, Definitely a different take. This one is a bit odd and loose.
Fiddlers
Classic McBain – “The one thing he couldn’t stand was a smart ass nun.”
Fiddlers: A Novel of the 87th Precinct (87th Precinct Mysteries)
The Turnaround
Another chapter in the Pappas saga. Unravels a bit at the end, but pretty good overall.
