A well written, slightly off beat drama/detective story
930262
"The Devil of Nanking", published as "Toyko" in some countries, is not your typical novel.  For a start, the heroine is flawed with some mental and physical scars. Grey, the heroine, is obsessed with finding a film on which horrific footage of the Nanking massacres exist.  As we find out during the course of the book, for Grey this is a particularly personal quest.

During her efforts to find and view the film, we are taken through 1990 Tokyo, with a well written cast.  Jason the weird guy, the Russian girls, the Chinese professor who witnessed the crimes perpetrated in Nanking, and a mysterious Japanese gangster and his "Nurse", although only a couple of these are sketched out in great detail. The author isn't afraid to leave certain elements and characters of the story relatively vague, which makes for a more mysterious and dark feel to the story.

"The Devil of Nanking" is very well written, the author brings to life both the bright lights of 1990 Tokyo (her own experiences of night clubs in Tokyo no doubt proved useful material to draw upon in the writing of this novel) as well as the desperate dark period of December 1937 in Nanking.  At the conclusion of the book, despite the revelation of what is revealed on the film (which I actually thought was fairly well signposted) Grey seeks and ultimately finds, you are left in an almost contemplative mood.  I haven't read many books that have left me like that.

I don't normally read fiction, but I have developed a fascination with East Asia, having lived in Korea and visited both Japan and China, which attracted me to the book.  I was not disappointed.  The Devil of Nanking is defintely worth a read.  Highly recommended, especially if you like more unusual novels and settings.

Postscript: If you are after some historical background information to the Nanking massacre, I recommend "The Rape of Nanking" by Iris Chang for a well written but controversial account (judging from the number of reviews for the book on Amazon) of the horrors that occurred in Nanking December 1937.
91715
An insurance salesman is seduced by a femme fatale into helping murder her husband for the policy pay-off, and plots the "perfect" crime. However, little is as it seems, and things become almost Machiavellian as wheels within wheels are revealed over the course of the crime...

Although this book starts off slow, it quickly builds up speed and tension once things truly get under way re: the murder and (especially) the aftermath. Once I got "into" it, I couldn't put it down.

On the bright side, it's a neat little story (and apparently **loosely** inspired by real events!). The plot is tightly crafted, with new angles continuously  introduced to keep the reader guessing, and is a fast-read.

On the down-beat, there are a few potential plot holes that were left open over the course of the story, though the plot goes on enough weird angles that it's debatable whether they would ever come up. Arguably, this is a story you're supposed to 'turn your mind off' with and let the investigators do the thinking, so maybe that's forgivable.  My major complaint would be the ending: without giving too much away, it just wasn't satisfying or realistic. Again, others would quite likely be more forgiving.

Worth checking out.
1668534
The basic plot is straightforward--a freelance newsman is writing stories about vicious criminals and someone is then killing these same criminals.  The question of course is, who is doing it?

The protagonist is mysterious, handsome, extremely rich, athletically strong, an expert rifleman, a master of karate, of great intelligence, and a master of disguise, among other things.  His past extends back only three years, then ends.  All of the characters are without depth or substance.

One interesting aspect of the story is its handling of the social issue regarding treatment of criminals--should they be punished for their crimes, or are they merely victims of society and in need of help and rehabilitation?  Judging by some of the other reviews, this disturbs many readers.  While the author does draw a conclusion, one is free to disagree.

Overall, the dialogue flows smoothly.  The action is sometimes implausible or downright unbelievable.  But if you can overlook these things, it makes a reasonably good read.
3981154
You would have thought that police series have been done from every conceivable angle over the years, and it is almost an achievement in itself to come up with one which is at all out of the ordinary. However, the script writers have managed to achieve just that with Death in Paradise which is quite an offbeat drama. The series is set on the fictional Caribbean island of Sainte-Marie, but was in fact filmed in Guadeloupe.

Episode 1 sees DI Richard Poole of the UK Metropolitan Police seconded to the exotic island from less than exotic London suburb of Croydon, to assist the local police in investigating the murder of an ex pat detective. We quickly get the Caribbean flavour of the island with an under resourced and often laid back police force - as an example, in the first episode we have a goat wandering around the local police station, presumably to emphasise the informal nature of the operation. Poole is quite unaffected and goes about business in what one presumes is his normal modus operandi whilst constantly mopping his brow. How he survived the climate decked out in a dark lounge suit without going down with heat exhaustion is quite a mystery in itself!

Murders appear to abound in this tropical paradise. However, it is hard to take it all too seriously between the stereotypical locals and the quintessentially British Poole. I think that some of the plots are so convoluted that they are often more humorous than tense which I imagine is intentional and does make for quite reasonable entertainment. Although in a very different time and setting, Poole's style put me in mind of Poirot - carefully taking everything in and then employing the 'little grey cells' to analyse and pronounce his verdict.

This first season consists of eight episodes and we have a second season and hopefully more to come. The final episode finishes with Poole softening his straightlaced outlook somewhat and being reluctantly set to stay on Sainte-Marie.  Its really good news that these are now being produced in Region 1 North American format.
2969649
Well done. The story moves along nicely, the characters are well developed and have depth (except the antagonist characters which are very one dimensional), the mystery is engaging. Some perspective shifts are abrupt and annoying, and the main conflict isn't especially compelling especially since only one of the protagonists is aware of whats going on,
493157
The book could best be described, I suppose as a supernatural mystery. Jason Callahan is a private detective, and his first case (in this story, at least) involves someone selling baseball cards signed by the appropriate great player. The problem is, they were signed after the player died. OK, straightforward fraud, but when Jason confronts Benny, the seller, in the presence of Trina, who claims to be a psychic, Benny signs another card, claiming it is a ghost who is guiding his hands. The argument is, the signature is genuine as far as the player is concerned, but not the hand signing it. Now what? Jason is shown evidence that Trina is not a fraud, and in any case, Benny offers to fully refund if the person wishes. This is the prelude to a crime investigation. Who or what is responsible? Is it a person? Is it a ghost? The story is quite well-written, and it is original. My major criticism is that when Jason is given evidence he cannot refute, the next few scenes did not really gel with me.  When it comes to the crime, there are some seriously original parts there, which I admit I did not see coming, and more to the point, they are obvious, so there was some well-disguised writing.  The story is too slight for me, and there were plenty of opportunities to take this concept further. The author is apparently promising more, so, maybe some was saved up. The book is quite easy to read, and is quite entertaining. Good for a light vacation read.
1512661
An accomplished crime novel set in rural Australia that's reminiscent of The Last Act of Hattie Hoffman and also Sharp Objects. Gemma Woodstock is a promising young detective whose relationship is falling apart and who is haunted by her boyfriend's suicide ten years earlier. When Rosalind Ryan, a glamorous local teacher, is murdered, Gemma and her partner are assigned the case. However Gemma and Rosalind have a history that Gemma has never told anyone about.

I enjoyed this book. The characters are rounded, the setting is atmospheric and the storyline holds plenty of twists. Having said that, it has some flaws: the first half is a little sluggish in pace and there are occasional chapters that step away from Gemma's narration to give us the perspective of someone else in the town. I am not sure what those chapters are meant to accomplish, unless maybe it's the sense that in a small town someone is always watching you? They don't add a lot and they don't give the reader any significant information.

It's still a very good, very readable thriller, albeit one that I will probably have completely forgotten in a month's time.
2812618
THis is a well written book, well researched and executed.  There is sufficient conspiracy theories, references to ancient crimes and interesting clues to keep the reader engrossed and turning the pages.

However, I worked out where everyone fitted into this mystery within moments of them being introduced - and I mean every one.  This doesn't distract from the quality of the writing, or the story itself, but it does take away from its value as a mystery novel, and that's what stops me from giving it 5 stars.

As I have said, it is a very good read - well researched and constructed, but there are not too many real surprises.
4955615
<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Cop-Hater-87th-Precinct/dp/B007MDDD52/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Cop Hater (87th Precinct)</a>&nbsp;is an engaging book that holds up well considering it was written in the 1950s.  It is primarily a police procedural, and even includes facsimiles of police forms throughout the book.  But it is also a crime mystery that tests the reader to figure out who the culprit is before the author reveals it.  In that sense, it can be enjoyed on several levels.

The writing style is very lean.  At times the language is dry and reveals some of the differences from the period it was written.  This is nothing like the tongue in cheek detective novels of Chandler and Gault that are full of laugh out loud moments.

Observations come from different characters as opposed to a central protagonist's inner monologue.  That's because each of the officers in the 87th can be a central character at one point or another.  But several chapters are also written from the villain's perspective.  It can be risky to write this way but McBain ties it together here.

McBain says in his introduction that he did more research on this one than he did for subsequent novels, and it shows.  The follow up, The Mugger, is not nearly as good in my humble opinion.

There is an undercurrent of the symbiotic and adversarial relationship between the police and the press.  I wish that theme was explored more deeply in the book, but it's interesting nonetheless. While some aspects of the plot may seem predictable by today's standards, you have to place this story in historical context.  It breaks a lot of ground and the flaws are not fatal flaws.  When you think about when this was written, a lot of this book is surprisingly relevant today.

CONCLUSION

Not all readers will be wowed by the technical things that McBain does here.  But I can see why this would be recommended reading for any aspiring writer.  There are some things that I wish were done differently, but ultimately I must say that I enjoyed it.  I don't think you have to read this series from the beginning to enjoy it.  But starting at the beginning helps you see how the writer progresses.  And as it turns out, this first book is much better than several that came after it.  So I recommend it.

Enjoy.
4307377
Smooth Writing And Easy Reading.

Bai Jiang (pronounced Bi Chang) is a souxun (pronounced so-soon), a people finder  or tracer of missing persons. Wealthy in her on right, Bais godfather is head of the San Francisco Chinatown triad, and she is the ex wife of a high-ranking enforcer; she is closely connected, though not a part of the criminal organization.

When a young Chinese girl comes to Bai, asking her to find her friend, who has been sold into the flesh market, Bai and her partner, Lee Li take the case. Almost on the heels of their initial investigation, she gets a call from the school where her 12-year old daughter, Dan, has been involved in an assault against two boys. It appears altogether separate from the case shes on, but then other things begin happening that also seems unconnected as well. There is a contract out on her, and an assassin tries to kill her at the airport en route to Vancouver, Canada on the trail of the missing girl. Mysteries pile up on more mysteries, and the case continues to take wild turns.

Her ex husband is ordered to safeguard her, and the triad attempts to protect her, but Bai moves on her own, trying to find the missing girl, and discover who has ordered her death, and why.

The novel never slows down, the writing is smooth and the action is fast. Her partner and martial arts trainer, Lee remains by her side, but she is feisty and quick to act on her own. Good with fist, feet, and weapons  especially knives, she usually acts first, not thinking about the consequences. Her ex husband Jason controls an army of triad soldiers, and demands respect in his circles. He also kills without thought, something that Bai doesnt like, though there is nothing she can do about it. The police and F.B.I. know who she is, and what her status is in Chinatown, and they keep an eye on her. They are really after Jason and the leaders of the triad, but hope to find them through her.

This is a nice complicated plot, but the characters are the driving force of the story. Bai Jiang moves the action along with a nice pace, and each chapter drops a Chinese proverb thats straight to the point. The dialogue is often witty, and the reader becomes attached to each character, though we may not be sure which side they are on at any given moment. The strong characters, fast action, good plot, and excellent writing read like exciting new pulp, but this novel has to be a grade above mere pulp fiction. Still, I found it a wonderful reminder of those thrill-a-minute pulp magazines and paperback tales of a bygone day, and anxious to read more stories about this new tracer of lost persons. Remember Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons? Now meet Bai Jiang, people finder, and Chinese triad princess. Yeah! Highly recommended.
1547825
An enjoyable detective novel. Combines interesting ideas about drone-related killing with a surprising detective story. The characters were well written, though predictable.

I was disappointed that the loose threads were not all tied up, however. Many of the mysteries that the book begins with are only partially solved, and novel ends with a bit of blackmail. Furthermore, many of the insights rely on surprising logical leaps from the main character that turn out to be correct.

This wasn't the best detective novel I have read, but it was an enjoyable and interesting read.
2679107
Michael Connelly is best known for his Detective procedural's revovling arround Harry Bosch and I've enjoyed that series pretty well up to the point I had read so I was interested to see what he could do with a story revolving around a lawyer and I have to say I was pretty pleased for the most part.

I would have probably liked the story even more, in fact, if I had not read the Harry Bosch novels because there are a few too many similarities that makes it lfeel like this is a slight retread of one of those stories from time to time although the overall effect doesn't detract too much from the book.

That being said, I thought the story was strong and the mysteries kept me guessing for the most part and I enjoyed the main character in this story about us much as I did Harry from his other series.

All in all, this has all the strengths (and some of the weaknesses) of Connelly's other books and if you've enjoyed his books before, there's no reason you shouldn't thoroughly enjoy this one.
1930195
I thought I'd made a mistake when I first started the book and thought it was a horror story about wild animals terrorizing towns and villages.  However, it turned out to be a really good detective story.  It winds its way in typical British fashion, which is to say that it might seem slow to people who prefer fast paced, action thrillers.  But, if you like the detecting aspect of detective stories, this is well worth reading.  The history of the British in Kenya was well done - enough to understand why it is relevant to the whole premise of the story, and also make you feel good that you learned something, but not so much, or in such a way, that you start yawning.  This is another book that has an underlying political statement as it is set during the 2003 Iraq war.  If you disagree with the author's apparent viewpoint on that war, it might spoil your overall enjoyment of the book, but, the author does offer facts to support that viewpoint and it's certainly not presented as a diatribe in any way.  It is also a very small part  of the book overall, so I'm not sure it should make the story less enjoyable for anyone.  The story itself is a bit like the region in which it is set, that is to say, dark, moody, and unpredictable at times.  I thought it was a great read, and will look for more by this author.
3615449
A Cold and Broken Hallelujah is a good police procedural novel,the third of the series. I thought that the personal, emotional problems of the hero Detective Beckett took up a bit too much of the story, slowing it.
I realize that the detective who suffers lingering pain from a vicious attack in a previous book, and also the emotional pain of his wife's death in a car wreck, has every reason to brood. In fact, the introspection results in his concern with finding the identity of the immolated murder victim of the story. Yet,  I don't read mystery, noir, detective novels to have my heartstrings tugged at, cynic that I am.
In short, if you are looking for a taut, suspenseful thriller this book may disappoint; if you like to read about sensitive, angst- ridden gumshoes, this will suit you.
2852757
This review originally appeared on my blog at www.gimmethatbook.com.
Thanks to the author for gifting me this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book in a new series by LT Graham (pen name of an undisclosed successful suspense writer). The subtitle is A Detective Anthony Walker novel,  hinting that he will continue to be the main character around which the stories will be structured. Graham has done a good job with this one, and Ill probably look for the second book once it comes out.
The plot is simple: a manipulative woman named Elizabeth Knoebel is murdered, and there is a large cast of characters who are suspects. Her husband is cold and hard to read; her therapist is legally obligated to not disclose anything shes learned through therapy; and it comes out that Elizabeth was vilified by the other members of her therapy group.
There is some salacious content in the form of a journal that Elizabeth was writing, and the plot revolves around these questions: who are the men (and women) that she seduced, and who hated her enough to kill her?
THE BLUE JOURNAL is a basic police procedural, no fancy words, minimal blood and gorebut lots of suspense and red herrings. All the characters look guilty at one point or another in this book which means the solution is not obvious until the end. Walker is an amiable enough guy, and his background gradually becomes revealed to the reader, making him somewhat of a sympathetic character. There are a few other characters who are perhaps destined to be regulars in this burgeoning series as well, such as the police chief, at odds with Walkers detective work; and Walkers sidekick Kovie.
The beleaguered therapist, Randi Conway, seems to have no other patients except her marriage counseling groupthey barge in and out of her office at will, and at times she feels that shes lost control of the therapy. It got annoying to me that she was in such control of her emotions, or perhaps it just seemed that way, compared to Elizabeths lusty and conniving behavior.
Grahams writing style is competent; there are a few loose ends that are not tied up at the end of the book, but that really doesnt detract from the book as a whole. I would have liked to learn more about Elizabeths motivation, why she was writing that journal, why she was playing the games that she did. Her character is killed within the first few pages, and is only mentioned in recollection. The reader mainly gets to know her via her own words, as parts of her journal are included here and there. The x-rated content of the diary seems to be in harsh juxtaposition to the rest of the writing.  I know that the author framed the story this way to give us some insight into Elizabeths character, but after the first few times the action was broken up to switch to a journal entry, it just became repetitious. Thats really the only complaint I have about THE BLUE JOURNAL.
All and all, a solid first outing from this mystery writer. We shall see if Graham can keep the momentum going with the next book.
2577820
While evoking the noir-ish tone of the late Weimar period, this book never really caught fire with me, either in tone nor action.  That said, its a capable detective story, with plot turns a plenty.  Lead character battles his own demons while confronting the reality of  both internal department politics and the looming blackness of the Nazi era. Read on several long plane trips, perhaps this would have benefited from a slightly less concentrated read.
2631530
Charlotte MacLeod is one of my favorite detective story writers. This one is from a series previously unknown to me (previous, that is, to publication on kindle) but it has the same charming, light touch, that marks the other works. Lacks, perhaps, the deeper element which tends to underlie the Bittersohn books, due to the earlier life of the now happily married Sarah, but still are entertaining. This one is set in snowbound Canada (birthplace of the author) where the Mrs. of the central couple runs into major, unexpected difficulties in seeking out an isolated location which a friend has told her has just the thing for the place in which she and Royal Mounted Police husband are enjoying the first months of marriage. Before her eyes, in a minor road through heavy snow and cold, a truck turns over. During the interlude between that event and her rescue, she learns that had she been found she would have been murdered. By sheer coincidence, the author's doing, of course, her husband is assigned a very hush-hush case involving people who also have a relationship to that area. Frankly, the mystery is hardly mysterious, the remaining action, not at all vigorous, yet the appeal of the people involved as characters and the stylishness of the author's prose, engaged me throughout. To be fair, these factors will legitimately deter readers who engage in trying to unravel puzzling crimes, like the action to be vigorous or like a touch of the sexual encounter. There is little of that kind of stimulus to the book. For one for whom the  attraction of an appealing cast coupled with oddly idiosyncratic types, can be engaging, I do recommend this title.