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A Disappointing Opening to a Popular Series

Pietr the Latvian (Inspector Maigret, #1)Pietr the Latvian by Georges Simenon
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This is the first Maigret book I have read, so I started with the first book in the series, which may have been a mistake. I thought that the plot was weak and the writing terrible, which frankly surprised me, given the enormous respect Maigret and Simenon have gathered over the years. It’s possible that some of the problem was a poor translation, because I found a fair number of sentences in improper English. But the plot wasn’t affected by the translation. Some of the action was frankly unrealistic, and the big reveal at the end was meh. I’ll try another of the Maigret books when I get over this one, only because of the author’s reputation.

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Review of Lever Templar, by Matt Gianni

Lever TemplarLever Templar by Matt Gianni
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lever Templar is a tale of two eras – the 1300s during the time of the suppression of the Knights Templar by the King of France and the Vatican, and the present day, when Islamic factions and the West are still at war. The ancient story focuses on the discovery and concealment of an even more ancient scroll that contains information that could be shattering to Christianity, while the modern tale chronicles the search for that scroll by terrorists who would use it to destroy their most potent enemy, opposed by western warriors.
The two stories are told in alternating chapters, and dovetail nicely. The protagonists are noble, likeable and have considerable depth, and the antagonists are also three dimensional. Sometimes the impressive amount of historical detail causes the tension to flag, but there’s also a lot of Tom Clancy-like technical detail, both ancient and modern, for those who like such things.
I enjoyed Levar Templar, even though I thought it was a bit too long. It would have only been made better by judicious editing of some of the more arcane details, and consolidation of the last few chapters into a concise ending after the revelation of the principal mystery. Still if you enjoy historical fiction or modern techno-thirillers, give it a try. You won’t be disappointed.

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Review of Laguna Heat, by T. Jefferson Parker

Laguna HeatLaguna Heat by T. Jefferson Parker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was the author’s debut novel, written many years ago. I picked it up after hearing him speak at Sleuthfest. It’s a fine murder mystery with many layers, very Hitchcockian. But what I found most impressive was the attention to setting – Parker obviously knows this part of California very, very well, and when you finished the book, you will too. I’m sad to say I figured it out about halfway through, but that did not spoil my enjoyment of Parker’s lyrical prose. I’ll be reading his other books soon.

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Book Review: INVIVO by Robert Brown

INVIVOINVIVO by Robert A. Brown
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

INVIVO is part science fiction, part crime fiction and part literary fiction. That mishmash is what’s responsible for the good and the not-so-good qualities of the book.
The science involved is a little farfetched, but possible given today’s molecular genetics technology. The crime involved is horrendous, so it’s far-reaching effects on the characters is eminently plausible. The human reactions that are the ramifications of the events described are also understandable, and the author does a good job of allowing us to feel the emotions of his deep and complicated characters.
However, the story has a lot of moving parts, and the way in which these parts mesh together could have been better thought out. Some things are not well explained, for instance, how one of the characters, a college student, could effortlessly travel from Scotland to Mexico. The author switches between multiple plotlines at the drop of a hat, which can be jarring and disconcerting. I found the ending trivial, almost as if the author really did not want to answer the moral question he posed. I really wish Mr. Brown had taken more time with this book to iron out these flaws. So I give INVIVO five stars for imagination and daring and three stars for plotting and execution, which averages out to four stars overall.

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Book Review: Three Truths and Other Unsettling Tales, by Thomas O.

Three Truths and Other Unsettling TalesThree Truths and Other Unsettling Tales by Thomas O.
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This delightful but unsettling collection of short stories took me back to my boyhood as a scout, sitting around the campfire, seeing who could tell the scariest story. The stories are imaginative and whimsical. It’s a quick read – I was done in about an hour and a half, but I’m a fast reader. You know there’s going to be a twist at the end of each one, and it’s great fun to try and guess what that will be. I hit about 50%. It’s too bad I’m too old to go camping with the scouts anymore, because I’d surely pack this book along if I did.

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Book Review – 365 Marks on the Wall, by Byn Always

***** – Byn Always has written a psychological thriller of the first water – a book that can stand with Robert Bloch’s Psycho or Stephen King’s Gerald’s Game. The story is a simple one – a young woman is kidnapped by a madman and kept prisoner in a basement for a year. The ensuing chain of events is simultaneously predictable, surprising, logical and warped enough to keep the reader enthralled. I read the book in a single sitting, and my hat’s off to anyone who can put it down. The story is eminently dark (how could it be anything else?) but surprisingly, it left me filled with the power of hope, friendship, loyalty and life. It’s a remarkable story that should not be missed.