It's A Mystery
Oh Boy Turns to Oh, No – Favorite Authors Go Off-Series
By Ed Barrett
Nothing brings me greater joy than finding a new book by a favorite author. Joy, however, quickly turns to trepidation when I realize that the author is writing off series. Three recent examples illustrate both the joy and dismay that result.
Dana Stabenow, best known for her Kate Shugak and (not quite as good) Liam Campbell series, enters the thriller genre in Blindfold Game. As noted in Stabenow’s acknowledgments at the end of the book, her agent has been after her to write a thriller – and now, she notes, maybe he’ll leave her alone. While it’s not Tom Clancy (the book is only 258 pages long and has few subplots), this is an enjoyable and fast paced read. Set in Alaskan waters, it tells the story of the Coast Guard Cutter, Sojourner Truth, and its Executive Officer Sara Lange. The novel focuses on a terrorist plot to drop a dirty bomb on an Alaskan city, a plot discounted by the C.I.A. which is focused only on Moslem extremists. C.I.A. agent Hugh Rincon, an Alaskan Native and the semi-estranged husband of Sara Lange, steps forward to investigate, with Sara’s help. The terrorist threat is real, and only the Sojourner Truth stands in its way. The story’s climax will keep you on the edge of your seat (or up late at night). Highly recommended.
Among my favorite characters, few take second place to Reginald Hill’s Andy Dalziel and John Pascoe. If you aren’t familiar with this series, I urge you to try it. Hill is among the most literate of mystery writers, relying frequently on classical references and mythology. In The Stranger House, Hill continues his literate tradition, as he brings two strangers together in the remote British village of Illthwaite – one a young Australian girl in search of her roots, the second a semi-mystical Spaniard seeking to solve a mystery involving his family and the persecution of priests in Reformation England. The two quickly learn that the residents of Illthwaite have much to hide. Untangling the secrets takes some time and some unexpected, and perhaps unlikely, turns. As a result, the book is a bit on the long side, at 470 pages, and some parts of the story are a bit forced. Nevertheless, and recognizing that Andy isn’t here, it’s not a bad read. Samantha Flood, the Australian, is an interesting and engaging character. Miguel Madero, the mystical Spaniard, somewhat less so. In all, this is a solid, but perhaps slightly below average, performance. If you have an interest in the persecution of priests in Reformation England and Old Norse Mythology (another sub-plot), you may find this work of interest.
Perhaps Sharon McCone is getting a little long in the tooth, an occupational hazard after twenty plus novels. Such a fate has certainly befallen Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Malone, where half of the alphabet may have sufficed. In her recent Cape Perdido, Muller goes off series with a story set in the Pacific Northwest. An East Coast company is after the rights to harvest water from the Perdido River for transport to water hungry Southern California. Both local and national environmental groups are opposed, an opposition that brings together three friends from the area who have seen little of each other for several decades. They form common cause with Jessie Domingo, a young staffer with a national environmental organization. The first half of the book explores the relationships between the three Cape Perdido natives, all set within the context of a secret hidden in the past, one that isn’t revealed to the reader for over 200 pages. The last half of the book moves more quickly through various acts of violence and sabotage. The plot comes together at the end and is tied up rather neatly, but unconvincingly. All in all, I found this an irritating book. The first half leaves the reader out of the picture. The three local characters are all obviously interacting the way they are because of a past secret that the author chooses not to reveal until much later. In fact, with the exception of Steph Pace, one of the three locals, and Timothy McNear, owner of a closed mill and the local “villain” of the story, most of the characters lack depth and dimension and are not particularly likable. A combination of irritation at being kept in the dark, weak characters, and an unbelievable plot makes Cape Perdido a must miss.
By Ed Barrett
Nothing brings me greater joy than finding a new book by a favorite author. Joy, however, quickly turns to trepidation when I realize that the author is writing off series. Three recent examples illustrate both the joy and dismay that result.
Dana Stabenow, best known for her Kate Shugak and (not quite as good) Liam Campbell series, enters the thriller genre in Blindfold Game. As noted in Stabenow’s acknowledgments at the end of the book, her agent has been after her to write a thriller – and now, she notes, maybe he’ll leave her alone. While it’s not Tom Clancy (the book is only 258 pages long and has few subplots), this is an enjoyable and fast paced read. Set in Alaskan waters, it tells the story of the Coast Guard Cutter, Sojourner Truth, and its Executive Officer Sara Lange. The novel focuses on a terrorist plot to drop a dirty bomb on an Alaskan city, a plot discounted by the C.I.A. which is focused only on Moslem extremists. C.I.A. agent Hugh Rincon, an Alaskan Native and the semi-estranged husband of Sara Lange, steps forward to investigate, with Sara’s help. The terrorist threat is real, and only the Sojourner Truth stands in its way. The story’s climax will keep you on the edge of your seat (or up late at night). Highly recommended.
Among my favorite characters, few take second place to Reginald Hill’s Andy Dalziel and John Pascoe. If you aren’t familiar with this series, I urge you to try it. Hill is among the most literate of mystery writers, relying frequently on classical references and mythology. In The Stranger House, Hill continues his literate tradition, as he brings two strangers together in the remote British village of Illthwaite – one a young Australian girl in search of her roots, the second a semi-mystical Spaniard seeking to solve a mystery involving his family and the persecution of priests in Reformation England. The two quickly learn that the residents of Illthwaite have much to hide. Untangling the secrets takes some time and some unexpected, and perhaps unlikely, turns. As a result, the book is a bit on the long side, at 470 pages, and some parts of the story are a bit forced. Nevertheless, and recognizing that Andy isn’t here, it’s not a bad read. Samantha Flood, the Australian, is an interesting and engaging character. Miguel Madero, the mystical Spaniard, somewhat less so. In all, this is a solid, but perhaps slightly below average, performance. If you have an interest in the persecution of priests in Reformation England and Old Norse Mythology (another sub-plot), you may find this work of interest.
Perhaps Sharon McCone is getting a little long in the tooth, an occupational hazard after twenty plus novels. Such a fate has certainly befallen Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Malone, where half of the alphabet may have sufficed. In her recent Cape Perdido, Muller goes off series with a story set in the Pacific Northwest. An East Coast company is after the rights to harvest water from the Perdido River for transport to water hungry Southern California. Both local and national environmental groups are opposed, an opposition that brings together three friends from the area who have seen little of each other for several decades. They form common cause with Jessie Domingo, a young staffer with a national environmental organization. The first half of the book explores the relationships between the three Cape Perdido natives, all set within the context of a secret hidden in the past, one that isn’t revealed to the reader for over 200 pages. The last half of the book moves more quickly through various acts of violence and sabotage. The plot comes together at the end and is tied up rather neatly, but unconvincingly. All in all, I found this an irritating book. The first half leaves the reader out of the picture. The three local characters are all obviously interacting the way they are because of a past secret that the author chooses not to reveal until much later. In fact, with the exception of Steph Pace, one of the three locals, and Timothy McNear, owner of a closed mill and the local “villain” of the story, most of the characters lack depth and dimension and are not particularly likable. A combination of irritation at being kept in the dark, weak characters, and an unbelievable plot makes Cape Perdido a must miss.
posted by BookMarc's at 2:24 PM
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