Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Book Reviews of Detective Fiction: One Hit, One Miss

HEAT LIGHTNING by John Sanford  (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, September 2008)  ISBN 0399 155279/9780399155277 (#2 in Virgil Flowers series)

 

summary from the Goodreads website . . . . .

 

On a hot, humid summer night in Minnesota, Virgil Flowers gets a call from Lucas Davenport. A body has been found near a veterans’ memorial in Stillwater with two shots to the head and a lemon in his mouth—exactly like the body they found two weeks ago.

 

Working the murders, Flowers becomes convinced that someone is keeping a list—with many more names on it. And when he discovers what connects them all, he’s almost sorry. Because if it’s true, then this whole thing leads down a lot more trails than he thought it did—and every one of them is booby-trapped.

 

my review on the Goodreads website (4 stars) . . . . .

 

     John Sanford has created a unique and compelling character in Minnesota BCA agent Virgil Flowers. From his unusual hair (for a lawman) and unusual attire to his mannerisms, attitude, values and principles, as well as hobbies -- he is one for the books. With an eye for the ladies. Just reading about his daily activities and following along with his investigations/assignments provides plenty of entertainment. 

 

     Add a whopping good mystery beginning with a crime/murder in the waning days of the Vietnam war that links to current murders of veterans and it makes for very compelling reading. 

 

     Flowers is an astute investigator, and his ability to communicate with multiple personality types is a real asset. Nice twist that a multi-cultural university professor leaves some clues by way of quotations from Virgil and Flowers recognizes it. However, he's not perfect which is something I appreciate. Even Virgil Flowers can make some wrong assumptions and get fooled. I'll won't spoil it for anyone who hasn't read this. I'm going to try to read as much of this series as I can find.

 

 

BEL-AIR DEAD  by Stuart Woods (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, September 2001) ISBN #0399157360 / 9780399157363  (#20 in Stone Barrington series)  

 

summary from the Goodreads website . . . . .

 

Stone Barrington's latest client is no stranger. Arrington Calder isn't just a former lover, this one-time heartthrob is the mother of Stone's son. 

 

Arrington, it seems, has been recently widowed by her actor husband, leaving her as the custodian of a fortune in Hollywood studio stock. Intent on cashing in, his pretty ex asks Stone to handle the dull paperwork involved in the deal. 

 

There is nothing dull, however, about what Barrington encounters when he arrives on the Bel-Air scene. A sexy action thriller from the author of Strategic Moves and Lucid Intervals.

 

 my review on the Goodreads website (2 stars) . . . . .

 

     I realize that authors creating novel after novel featuring the same series character get formulaic after enough time. But when I can detect the formula or suspect that the writer is just going through the motions, then I get pulled out of the story. 

 

     Too bad, because the main plot points and conflict in Bel-Air Dead are interesting. That's what kept me from closing the book and moving onto something else to read. I wanted to see how this would end.

 

     This is the 20th novel by Woods featuring ex-cop, lawyer detective Stone Barrington. Maybe that's why Woods doesn't dwell on details of his physical description or even hint at his age anywhere in this novel. Bel-Air Dead is extremely heavy on dialogue, and not much else. Action scenes are limited to a few paragraphs, and all too often we learn of the action through a character's dialogue. What happened to show, don't tell? 

 

     Maybe Woods was writing to a page limit and came up with a lazy way to get all the plot developments included. As well as too many scenes that get slowed down by thanking other characters or ordering food or drinks. Maybe that's the reason why the chapters are so short as well.

 

     Main character Stone Barrington rarely gets out of his seat, coordinating actions to his subordinates and associates over his cellphone, or during a dinner or over drinks. Ho hum. Glad I finished it, but disappointed.

 

     Now I'm on the fence again about this author. I read a Stone Barrington novel about ten years ago, and was not impressed. However, my brother-in-law is a fan and loaned me several of his books. I started with Chiefs and loved it. For a first novel it's quite an accomplishment. So, I was excited to give a Stone Barrington novel another chance. I may read some more, hoping to find something to compare with the majesty of Chiefs.

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