Mystery Crime Books

This book has given my father hope for his heart disease. He was told by his cardiologist that his heart disease would progressively get worse and that there was nothing more that could be done for him. After taking the herbs recommended in the book for three weeks, he says he feels better than he has in years, and has plenty of energy and stamina. His blood pressure and cholesteral have dropped to a normal level. I recommend this book to anyone with heart disease, or has a family member with heart disease.

I have read and reread and lent out and refer to this book for reference always. This book has taught me a lot about the benefits of cayenne and more. There is also chapters about other herbs with are all so wonderful to use as a first resort before pharmaceuticals which I beleive should be a last resort. Do you know what they call a doctor who graduated last in his class? A doctor!! Read, research and take responsibility for your own health. Seek health care professionals trained in the healing arts and not the pharmaceutical arts. Dick tells his story and how he took charge of his own life and saved himself and shared it with others. I am grateful. It will make you expect more from your doctor now.

It appears that the majority of reviews are incredibly favorable of this non-surgical regime. How can that be disputed? Indeed herbs and natural remedies were availed to us from Day One, rather than the medical atrocities that were created by/for Big Profit. Sounds like "Quackery at its Worst, by A Customer" was written by one who may stand to lose big bucks by the loss of sales of drugs/surgeries of "modern medicine", e.g a doctor or med rep. I have just discovered a heart concern, and I full well intend to try this easy, cost-effective, non-surgical, natural regimen rather than ravage my body by poisonous drugs/surgery. Drugs involve complications, requiring yet more drugs to combat, evolving into a vicious cycle of drugs for drugs for drugs. And in the end, wouldn't safe, effective herbs be the cure of choice rather than drugs that ruin our kidneys/liver/heart/blood? Open minds lead to amazing discoveries.

I was introduced to this book 10-15 years ago by my x-father-in-law, who came to it by his accountant. His accountant was a man in his late 60's and diabetic. He was at a stage where he had lost all feelings in both his legs and feet. After reading this book and following up with Quinns Cayenne, his doctor was at a loss to explain why, in less than a month, he had feeling back in both legs. Being in my early 30's at the time, and with diabetes in my family, I bought this book. Right from the start you can tell it wasn't written by a "professional," but rather by a man that had "been there, done that." Every one of his tests, experiments, trials, do result in the outcome he states.(I know because I had to see if he was BS'n) I wouldn't advise because it does have a sting to them.
Over the years I have bought 20+/- copies of this book and given them away to friends and family. I could go on and on and on about the remarkable results that I've seen happen to people taking Quinns advice, but don't take it from me, see for yourself.

First off, the author is DICK QUINN and the book is a fabulous recounting of what happened to Dick Quinn after a heart attack and subsequent coronary artery bypass surgery. When a "full body scan" in 2002 showed I had badly occluded coronary arteries, I by luck, found a friend who had Dick's book.

I have followed Dick Quinn's regimen as closely as possible and now am approaching age 64. I truly feel that what Dick Quinn has written in this book and a subsequent book, "Death by Deception" should be read by all who have been advised by their doctors that they need surgery, etc to cure a coronary problem, et al.

This book is a true "eye opener"

I hope that this brief review has been of help!

The thing I like about Laura Lippman is that she does her research. The way she describes San Antonio is wonderfully accurate, down to the names of streets, places and historical facts. Coupled with her gift to tell a really great story with out giving "too much information".

It's a great summer book and reads nice and smooth. I've no doubt you'll enjoy it as much as I did, particularly if you're already a Tess Monaghan fan.

After listening to NPR's Crime in the City Series I decided to check out a Tess Monaghan story, written by Laura Lippman. I picked In Big Trouble arbitrarily, not realizing that this is one story that does not take place in Balitmore, even though the Monaghan series is usually set in "Charm City". It didn't matter though, San Antonio was a great location and the same type of attention that Lippman probably gives to Baltimore in her other books was lavished on Texas with great affect. The mystery itself was good, especially the way a 20-year-old unsolved murder case was woven into the plot. I almost felt the murders were true, so well was the plot line developed.

Tess was also a great protagonist; honestly I wasn't sure how a woman my age could possibly fit my vision of a hard-boiled detective, but Lippman successfully did just that, giving Tess just the right amount of humility, warmth, longing, and cynicism.

The only criticism I have of this book is that in the end the story's conclusion was a little too neatly wrapped up, with seemingly incidental characters playing major roles. I felt that either they should have been developed more so that the reader could have a chance to factor them into the mystery or that the final answers should have involved some unknown players; everyone just seemed to fit too well into the storyline.

In this continuation of the Tess Monaghan series, Ms. Lippman removes Tess from her usual milieu and places her in San Antonio, Texas, about as far, culturally-speaking, from Baltimore as can be.

I live in San Antonio, so I can vouch for the accuracy with which Ms. Lippman describes the Alamo City, and she does a good job of incorporating real restaurants and hangouts throughout the novel. She even got me thinking about a couple of things, including the way that the Broadway area is laid out. Kudos to her for that.

As far as the actual story goes, I enjoyed this one because it brings Tess and Crow back together. Those of you who've read the previous books in this series know that Crow left Tess when she basically told him she wasn't ready to commit to anything long-term with him. He is younger than she is, and he was always the one who gave their relationship and time together a sense of permanence; Tess felt a bit smothered and uncomfortable with that, and she told him that she didn't see their relationship the same way he did. Being the straightforward guy that he is, Crow packed his things up quick-smart and left her within moments of the conversation.

This book picks up with Crow and Tess after they've been apart for a good while, and it brings him back into her life when she gets a newspaper clipping indicating he might be in danger. She puts off doing anything about it, then decides to look into what he might be involved in. This is typical of Tess; she's excellent at either willfully ignoring her own emotions or acknowledging them and refusing to do anything about them. But she heads to San Antonio to look for Crow and see if she can get him out of trouble.

What she finds is a tangled mess of abuse, sex, and lies that almost gets her and Crow killed.

The good parts of this novel:
1) the back and forth between Tess and Crow, who is no longer just a sweet foil that allows us to see how sharp and competent Tess is (she has to fight for him now, something she's never had to do before in this series, and she also isn't as sharp and competent when it comes to understanding and interacting with this young man);
2) the peripheral characters, including the young woman with whom Crow appears to be romantically involved;
3) Ms. Lippman's consistently strong descriptive powers (you'll likely want to visit San Antonio after reading this book); and
4) the abundance of peripheral characters who keep the reader laughing and learning (I particularly want to see more of the young couple that Tess almost breaks up).

Overall, this is a good continuation of the series. Enjoy!

This is a complex plot about relationships. Crow has left Tess and taken his band (Poe White Trash) to Texas. Now his parents contact Tess because he is no longer in contact and they are worried. Tess has also received a message with an indication that he is in trouble. The search should be simple. She has a recent photo and is looking for a performing musician. But the trail is initially cold, and things are complicated by Tess finding an overripe body, someone of interest to the police in connection with a cold case from 20 years earlier. Tess loses her lunch and decides that she will never eat another Moon Pie.

Tess eventually tracks down Crow, playing at local clubs with a new band, but it drawn into the cold case which involves the new woman in Crow's life. There is a complex web of relationships related to the woman's family and dating back to a triple murder 20 years earlier. Tess finds a second overripe body, also a man of interest to the local police. Police use some forensic entomology (maggots can be used to establish a time of death).

There are a few surprises as the novel moves towards a climax. There are questions about a past kidnapping, and questions about who was responsible for the various murders. And there are questions about motives including sex, money, and revenge.

As the novel ends, Tess is in a tenuous renewal of her relationship with Crow, her aunt Kitty has become involved with Tyner, a wealthy man is charged with murder but has a high powered attorney and social connections, a young woman is charged but her attorney is claiming insanity, and Esskay has been spoiled with pork rinds and pizza. Tess does finish reading Don Quixote.

The plot is somewhat slow reading with lots of background color. There are language, some sex (actual or by reference), and some violence. At best, I would give it a PG-13 rating. Some scenes are not for the squeamish.

It's a shame to see some of the kvetching about Tess leaving her beloved Baltimore for other climes. Lippman wisely chose as a place she once worked as a newspaper reporter -- Texas. Having worked on a daily in Texas myself (and as a big fan of the city of San Antonio), I can tell you that Laura's depiction of this wonderfully quirky city and its inhabitants is dang near perfect. As with other Monaghan stories, it's as much about Tess as it is about the mystery to be solved ... and there few more interesting main characters in the genre today. Well done, Laura!

J. A. Konrath's first book within his series that details the career of one of Chicago's finest, Lt. Jack Daniels is an intoxicating read. Serial killer, The Gingerbread Man, becomes fixated on Jack when she starts tracking him. Despite the erroneous character profiling of the FBI, trying to keep from becoming a victim herself, and painstakingly nursing a bum leg, Lt. Daniels puts a stop to the killer.

Jack's ex-partner, limelight stealing, Harry McGlade and her current partner, the always ready for something to eat, Herb Benedict help Jack along the wild trail of the heinous murderer.

This thriller is sprinkled with giggle inducting one-liners from beginning to end.

If you want to be thoroughly entertained, check out Whiskey Sour.

I ran across one of the books in this series and decided that if I was going to read the series I should start from the top. I certainly wasn't disappointed. This book was more graphic than most movies I've seen when it comes to violent crimes, but I appreciated that the gore was there to push the story along - not to be super-sensational. I really enjoyed reading about the main character and her vulnerability was definitely refreshing.

I think that the hardest thing to do when you have a book where you know that the hero lives in the end is to keep the reader's interest, that was done superbly in my opinion. The book has the right mix (no pun intended) of action, suspense, character development, humor and story telling and its all done in a quick-reading form.

Definitely a fan of the book and I hope to be a fan of the series if the next book is as good as this one!

If you enjoy the characters of Myron Bolitar, Stephanie Plum, and Andy Carpenter...you will love this series.

Whiskey Sour is another 5* addition to the Jack Daniels series. A must read.

On a rainy Chicago night, a mutilated female corpse is discovered in a garbage can outside a 7-Eleven. And this pretty much sets the tone for J.A. Konrath's grisly police procedural, Whiskey Sour.

I've often wondered if there's a handbook for creating fictional psycho-killers. If so, lots of writers are using it. Many times I've come across smug egotistical villains who are convinced they're smarter than everyone else. Also, they're greatly amused by their power over life and death. The Gingerbread Man, as this villain calls himself, fits the stereotype so well that he's far more annoying than frightening. Maybe he would have been more threatening if the author hadn't put us in the killer's head so often, but he did. Too bad.

Less annoying is Lieutenant Jacqueline (Jack) Daniels, a tough, smart insomniac with an abysmal love life. Daniels might be another stereotype, but at least plenty of readers can relate to her sleep and relationship issues. Another stereotype is her partner who never met a donut, or a meal, he didn't like.

Two inept FBI agents assigned to create the killer's profile provide lighter moments, as does an old P.I. nemesis of Daniels. But these characters are such blatant stereotypes that they become caricatures. Maybe this was Konrath's intention - humor through caricature. If so, it didn't quite work for me.

On the upside, the clever dialogue and pacing are great. Konrath does a good job of depicting the methodical and exhausting job of hunting down lead after lead to catch a killer. The last seventy pages are exciting and the ending satisfying. If you don't mind graphic violence and a delusional cocky villain, make yourself a Whiskey Sour and spend some time with Jack.

There are enough reviews here telling you about the plot etc. I will keep this brief and to the point. J.A Konrath's books are similar to cocaine, once you get a taste you can't get enough. Pure and simple. A great series to get hooked on! You won't be disappointed. Happy Reading!

The characters are colorful, very human and so fresh! I really had a great time reading it, diving into the mysterious story and the great ideas of the author. Fred Vargas's style is definitely unique and I love it. I'm going through her other books, this particular one "the three evangelists" is very good.
Recommending it!

Tired of reading mystery books with the hackneyed Inspector/Sergeant couples mooching around? Here's the cure: fresh characters, humour, plot - all wonderful! From the opening pages where, in Paris, a protagonist finds a handy pebble to kick along ahead of him on his route, these are people you like immensely.

If you enjoy "Monk" on USA, "Bones" on Fox, or "Cold case" on CBS, this is the book for you: quirky but lovable characters, a weird crime that digs deep, games and winks and humor even in darkness, a realistic plot, and a very unique universe you can't bear to leave. Little bonus: it's not ghoulish or gross, it contains no sex, and it's overall quite "clean" (unlike many mysteries these days.)
Plus how often do you find unemployed history majors/grad students as sleuths?

I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend this mystery - such a wonderfully entertaining group of sleuths. I really like the way the author mixes a bit of history into her plots and I think this is her best book yet.

From the opening few pages, this mystery hooks you quickly. The characters are some of the most fascinating I've ever read - in many ways, I wish the author would write more stories involving them. So original.

The mystery itself is very well set up, the story flows at a good pace, and at the end, you will be amazed that you saw all the same pieces but still didn't "get it right."

Certainly this is Vargas' best work to date. Can't wait for her next book to be translated.

Killer Clown is an intense, well- written true-crime story. Filled with shocking details of the John Wayne Gacy murders, it was difficult to put this book down. The book starts with the abduction and murder of his final victim and the discovery of some 29 bodies in Gacy's crawl space, and then works backwards to look in detail at how such an atrocity could have happened.

This book would have been very well written, if it were a work of fiction. I really didn't sense that the events depicted in this book actually occurred.

But I will say that the author went into great detail in all aspects, including the investigation leading up to the arrest of John Gacy, the search of his property (the most shocking and vividly described part of the book), right down to the nitty-gritty details of the jury selection, defense, and prosecution.

I have read Killer Clown and some other books on the John Wayne Gacy serial murders, and can unequivocally tell you that the book by Terry Sullivan is the most accurate. I should know. I was the Assistant State's Attorney to whom John Wayne Gacy made several confessions, and I testified for the State of Illinois in the trial. Additionally, I spent several hours with the authors as the book was being prepared. If you are looking for a true chronicle of the events leading up to the arrest, trial and conviction of that animal, this book is what you want.

I read (and still have!) the very first paperback version of this book way back in the autumn of 1985. I am old enough to have watched the initial TV news broadcasts of this case from back in December of 1978! This book is a very interesting and entertaining read about the subtle (and sometimes NOT so subtle)surveillance,tracking, taunting and eventual arrest of this man who had been raping,murdering (and sodomizing AFTER they were dead) boys throughout the seventies. While the book does NOT go into very much detail at all about Gacy's private life (other than a few brief glimpses into his marriage and some scattered observations from a neighbor, co-worker, employee and such)it is still a very good book on Gacy, the man and the monster. I am an AVID collector of all things Gacy and will be putting some of my very valuable collection on display up on YOUTUBE very soon.

Very informative, thorough, factual, and fast-paced. Covers the period from Gacy's last victim through his trial, written from the law enforcement perspective in engrossing detail.

An intriguing page-turner -- Mr. Jevons has commenced a new genre: An Academic Thriller ! : )
Who knew learning could be so much fun. Thank you for this great series.

If Milton Friedman liked it then hey - gotta argue with him right? :)

This is a great book. Its interesting and provides a lot of thought behind it. At the same time, its not challenging in any way. Thankfully, the book is explained well, the concepts are explained even better. Even if you don't understand basic economics concepts (which you should), the book will explain to you quite well in a very fun context.

It will leave you a bit curious and wanting a bit more at the end, yet the writer has weaven a great story with an economics setting. A bit dark and gloomy at times though.

I do wish there was more mystery at the end, but the novel is a very short read. I believe the writer didn't want to neccesarily bore the readers with too much economics. If you like mysteries, read this book! It'll give you a little thought and a lot of fun.

I read this book as part of a study on how detective fiction mirrors society. The class was taught by Prof. William Breit at Trinity University, one of the co-authors of the book. Being an Econ major myself, I found this book's novel approach to blending economic concepts with a murder mystery to be unique and entertaining. Not your typical mystery novel, but one worth checking out.

Marshall Jevons collaborates both a great mystery novel while presenting economic applications that people face in the world. Henry's explanation on the ecnomics of love and romance can be seen as strange, interesting, but most of all, comical. I truly recommend this book for those who plan on taking economics in college or are interested in the field of study. My economics class at the University of Chicago read this book which many enjoyed. After completing the book, we were asked to analyze the economics this book contains at a "deeper" level. Humanities clashed with economics without causing any type of argument among literature and economics majors.

Fatal Equilibrium reminded me of early science fiction (written by scientists about scientists for an audience of other scientists). This book is definitely written by an economist about economists. If you're part of that clique, it's a great book.

Not everyone will consider it light reading, though. If you don't have at least one econ class somewhere in your background, some significant parts of the book (and the plot) will go over your head. There were sections that felt like they were cut-and-pasted right from the author's lecture notes. I kept hoping that the book would be more like Larry Niven's work - grounded in theory, but first and foremost, a gripping story with compelling characters. I'd rather absorb my knowledge along the way than be lectured to.

I enjoyed it and I'll read it again.

...but it is worth resetting your mind to the "old way" of doing things. The language isn't old-school but getting around some of the terms to describe things can be difficult. Otherwise a good read.

I've read several of this author's--actually these authors`--works and have enjoyed the characters and the settings very much. Since I have a Master's Degree in history, I find their attention to detail and the information they share about the actual historical figures they include in their story very enjoyable.

This book includes a delightful personality, that of Beatrix Potter, with whose actual life story I only recently became acquainted with through a film based on her early life. It was interesting to learn of her other pursuits, particularly her interest in mushrooms and other fungi, and the significant part that they played in her overall development as a person, particularly as a female person in Victorian England.

The story is a marvelous development of the story of Peter Rabbit, and I enjoyed the characters of the people involved and of the supposed use to which Ms Potter put them in her stories.

The plight of the little girl was very well developed, and reminded me of Martha Grimes at her best in the Inspector Jury Mysteries.

Another good addition to the Kate Sheridan series of mysteries.

Although I heartily enjoyed the series debut (Death at Bishop's Keep), I found this one rather slow going at times. I opened the book expecting a mystery; instead I found myself trapped in Mr. McGregor's garden.

Now, I had no objection to the character of Beatrix Potter appearing in the book. In fact, I found the endnote about her real life interesting and informative. The problem was that the entire book seemed to be an homage to Beatrix Potter's stories, complete with Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddleduck, Hunca Munca, Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle and Mr. Tod. It was sort of cute at first, but as it went on page after page, it became an annoyance.

Having said that, this is not a horrible book. It is well written, with descriptions that create a wonderful sense of Victorian England. The characters are likable, believable people that you want to spend time with. The mystery, while hardly complex, does keep one's attention, especially as the villains are brought to justice.

Kathryn Ardleigh is a pretty interesting compilation - secret author of mystery "penny dreadfuls" written under the pseudonym "Beryl Bardwell"; heiress and now mistress of Bishop's Keep, the Ardleigh estate, after the death of her Aunts; a rather independent, outspoken, (dare I say?) feminist American who has oftentimes attracted the disdainful, scandalized sniffs of the local elderly dowagers with her free-wheeling dress and behaviour; and an attractive, intelligent, very feminine young lady who has turned the eye of her acquaintance, Sir Charles Sheridan, a devotee of the burgeoning science of forensic criminology and a skilled amateur photographer.

When Sergeant Arthur Oliver is murdered and the body is discovered in the field of a local gameskeeper, all the evidence points towards Oliver's involvement in a nefarious poaching ring. But the local constable, Edward Laken, (who holds an unrequited fondness for Oliver's widow in his heart) and Sheridan (Oliver's long time friend) feel the evidence points elsewhere. Ardleigh, of course, manages to involve herself in the investigation up to her proverbial bloomers and the hunt for the killer is on.

Paige succeeds with this novel on any number of different fronts!

Let's label "Death at Gallows Green" as a cozy mystery in which "cozy" means "cozy" - that is to say, the nature of the mystery is entirely local in nature, completely credible, realistic to the time, somewhat narrow and low key in scope and interest and all of the characters stay well within themselves and their abilities. Ardleigh, for instance, despite her obvious sleuthing skills and deductive ability retains a firmly rooted understanding of the fact that she is, after all is said and done, a Victorian lady. The warm fuzzies seem natural and ... well, warm and fuzzy ... Sheridan's hesitant romantic overtures towards Ardleigh and her cautious, measured response in light of her desire to retain a degree of feminine independence; Laken's head-over-heels love for Oliver's widow and the realization that Oliver's death has given him a second opportunity at the love that he lost out on as a younger man; and the compelling, stomach churning urgency of the manhunt for Oliver's daughter, Betsy, who has been kidnapped and potentially drowned. Beatrix Potter's amazingly realistic introduction into the novel as Kathryn Ardleigh's close friend has a charm all its own and serves as an interesting historical biographical sidebar of Potter's intensely sheltered real life.

The flavour of this novel definitely leans toward Agatha Christie but there is also a strong hint of the realism of Anne Perry's or Bruce Alexander's somewhat grittier mysteries. Paige has provided us with a most interesting look at the local politics of the constabulary and a glimpse into that day's use of the as yet unproven tools of forensics and photography.

No doubt about it ... I'd happily recommend "Death at Gallows Green" to other readers as I step out the door to seek out my copy of "Death at Daisy's Folly".

Paul Weiss

DEATH AT GALLOWS GREEN is the second book in this Victorian Mystery series that feature Kathryn Ardleigh and Sir Charles Sheridan. The authors are a husband and wife team who do a lot of research to fit the Victorian time period. They also introduce some real historic characters into this series.

Kate is now comfortably settled in her new life as mistress of Bishop's Keep, but she still maintains her independent American ways. On a visit to a house party, she meets Beatrix (Bea) Potter and the two instantly bond. Bea and Kate find a lot in common, both are in their late twenties and both are writers. Kate invites Bea back to Bishop's Keep and the two women become real friends. Bea, a shy and very sheltered woman, sees how self-secure that Kate is and thinks that she must gain her own personal freedom from her very domineering parents.

The title, DEATH AT GALLOWS GREEN is a reference to the death of Inspector Oliver, a well-liked local policeman who has been murdered. The Inspector, known for his honesty, has left behind a wife and precocious daughter named Betsy. When evidence shows that the Inspector may have had his hand in smuggling, Kate, Bea, and their friend Charles Sheridan hope to solve the mystery and insure that the man is cleared of any suspicion of wrong doing. The welfare of Inspector Oliver's wife and daughter depend on his pension.

Kate and Charles are keenly attracted to each other, and to the dismay of Charles, there may be other suitors interested in the high spirited Kate; however, their romance appears to be blooming.

For fans of Beatrix Potter's books, the authors have included some of Potter's animal characters in this story. The animals add a very whimsical and cozy touch.

Let me put it this way: I started reading this book around 4 PM when we were evacuated to Huntsville, AL from Hurricane Gustav. I read all night and finished it the next morning! Although it is fiction, with it relating to 9/11, you think: This could have happened! And the biblical truths that were revealed in the character's lives (and deaths) touched my heart. Read it! You will be glad you did.

I love Karen Kingsbury and I enjoyed this book. It's not one of her best, but it is a great story. I have to say I had the ending figured out about half way through, but I was still interested enough to finish the book. Kingsbury did a great job of bringing the day of September 11th back to life. Everyone has a different story about that day and I think we can all relate to the pain and fear that you feel reading this story.

I couldn't put this book down and I have two small children to care for! I was able to stop only towards the end because I was crying so hard and couldn't see the pages. After a short break, I went back to it. The book showed how one person's life can have a huge impact on other people. It was inspiring!

Kingsbury handles a very difficult story line with grace, offering testimony of God's amazing love even through horrible times. The author says the story was given to her during the 911 attacks, and this book will help us all heal. Difficult to put down, this beautiful story lifts spirits out of the ashes of that dreadful day and its aftermath and into hope for times to come.

Excellent 10 out of 10! This author is fabulous! I have read many of her books and have not read 1 I did not like.

Victor Carl's ex-fiance comes back into his life, soon after her husband is murdered. Victor tries to help Julia and winds up putting himself in danger, and becoming the number 1 suspect. The usual snappy dialogue and twists and turns are all here. Unfortunately William Lashner says this will be the last Carl novel for several years. We will miss him.

I awoke at 12:30 AM and decide to read a few more pages of "A Killer's Kiss" until I felt sleepy again. I finished it just before my alarm went off at 5:00 AM. I've enjoyed everyone of the Victor Carl books and this may be my favorite of all of them. The only regret I have is that Lashner is going to "shelve" Victor for the time being so he can create other story lines After all ... Patterson leaves Cross for awhile; Deaver leaves Rhyme someimes; Lippman writes of someone other than Tess occasionally ... so here's hoping that Victor will return soon, and I am looking forward to his new characters. "A Killer's Kiss" ... a great story ... highly recommended!!!!

This is my fourth Lashner book featuring Victor Carl and it's my favourite. Love the characters, the plot, the suspense, but most of all I love the writing style. For this particular genre, Lashner can out-write just about anyone. Nice, original, lyrical prose with some genuine laugh-out-loud moments. My only complaint is the cheesy title. It made me slightly hesitant and embarrassed to recommend it to my more literary friends.

I hope Mr. Lashner's break from Victor Carl isn't a long one and look forward to whatever he writes next.

I have loved every Victor Carl book by William Lashner, but can no longer say that without lying. This latest entry in the series is lacking the high intelligence and wit and introspection that the other entries possess in droves.

The book gets off to a promising start, as the first 75 pages are vintage work by Lashner. There's a clever courtroom scene, a murder, some suspect police/criminal intrusion in Victor's life, and, the coup de grace, a scintillating femme fatale. However, the book then becomes a murder-by-number, and and where Lashner used to avoid the commonalities that other legal thrillers share, here the book becomes awash in them. The last 50 pages of the book manage to get the traditional Victor Carl spirit back, but the middle of the book isn't up to par.

As a long-time fan of Lashner's writing, I recommend this book. It is the last we'll be seeing of Victor Carl for awhile, and the trip is worth taking. If this were written by another author I might have given it four-stars, but it falls short of Lashner's usually crisp and original prose.

This is a great book. If you read this you will be hooked on Lashner.