The main character is believable and flawed and you want to root for him because he's trying to do better. It's very rare that y
927097
I read this series first, and then I started collecting it for my daughter. This manga is not filled with all sunshine and flowers. The main character is believable and flawed and you want to root for him because he's trying to do better. It's very rare that you see a character who starts out being so insensitive, realize his mistake and work so hard at trying to make it right. It makes you want to root for him. I will be gathering all of these volumes because this is an intelligent, well written story.
760298
Once upon a time, Joe Oliver King was a cop. A good man with a few vices. One of those got the better of him, led him to be framed. He lost his family and several months of his life in solitary in Rikers. More than a decade past, King is a loner, a private eye whose teenager daughter helps him part time. One day, amidst his depression and brokenness, a letter arrives. In it, he sees a glimpse of hope. At the same time, his daughter has persuaded him to take on a second case: a reporter who's been accused of killing two cops. As King descends into the cases, he discovers a criminal side of himself that wants him to unleash the brutality he once experienced. Will he succumb? Or can a decent man who made a bad mistake find his salvation?

Let's get the flaws out of the way first: DOWN THE RIVER UNTO THE SEA is perhaps two novels in one. It's a little over 300 pages and is probably a hundred pages too long. Also, there's not much in the way of complexity; it's a pretty straight-forward plot, with a couple of small twists that don't really feel like nuclear blasts, perhaps just firecrackers. Okay. We done with that? Because if you've read any Walter Mosley novel, you know that those two things tend to be a common thread, and that they are not really any bother. Those extra hundred pages or so are pure character development. While the crime and mystery may be a draw, Mosley's staying power comes from his ability to wrench nuance and backstory from his characters. It's what helps sets him above his peers. Sure, DOWN THE RIVER may not be a masterwork, but it IS written by a master, and as such should be required reading.
1710290
Playing By the Book is a story about Jake, a teenage boy aspiring to be a journalist, yet living under the thumb of his father, a preacher (The Preacher), who wants Jake to follow in his footsteps. Jake is awarded the opportunity to study a once in a lifetime course for journalism, and after making a deal with his father, he heads off to New York City. While there, not only is Jake struggling with the deal he made to his father, but his own faith, his sexuality, and where the two of them meet.

The writing was a bit shaky at first, but once the story started to build the writing picked up and I think the author really found his place by the end.

Im not much of a religious person, so it was a bit frustrating for me at times while Jake beat himself up, but while the story was religious to the point it needed to be in order to get told, it wasn't in your face. It wasn't preachy.

I really enjoyed the story, actually staying up until 6am this morning to finish it. I like Jake, hes a great character with believable issues. The supporting cast are also enjoyable. I kept waiting for a reason to hate one of them, but even Jakes father was understandable. I might not have liked or agreed with his beliefs, but you know where hes coming from.

There were times where I wish things were a little more fleshed out. Jake is having this identity crisis and he goes from point A to point B in a matter of pages, and while I get what he does and what he does is definitely believable in the situation hes in, its also a bit rushed. I would have liked to have been in his head a little deeper instead of him just telling us and moving on.
4313021
John Ringo creates characters you can really care about and puts them in harms way. His heroes don't suffer fools gladly and I am pretty sure that he doesn't either.
4054980
The main character has a keen sense of justice, and is willing to go to extremes to see that justice is doneeven if that means breaking the law. Thats enough for me. I found myself cheering him on in his mission to rescue the world from a bad situation.
2327892
This author can write! It's difficult to write a protagonist who is so deeply flawed and yet make him someone you are rooting for. The premise, upon first encountering it in the story, seems mundane, but the action within the time frame is anything but. It's a tough read at times. You want to close you eyes (metaphorically) at some of the scenes, but you won't be able to because the author keeps you so involved with the plot, action, great dialogue and character development. The characters are each in their own way unsavory, but winners in their own fashion. Again, a nod to the author's talent. I'll be buying this author's first book, and will look forward to more from him.
1755111
The protagonist is marginally more likable in the second volume but still a whiny, selfish brat. The characters she befriends along the way, and the hilarious situations they find themselves in, really make the story worth reading. The main antagonists get your blood boiling and actually had me rooting for Jess this time round.
3487372
Story makes you root for the main characters, though they're on the wrong side of the law. Definitely interested in reading the next book of the series.
1495002
Michael McLaren is a laborer, a builder and repairer of dry stone walls.  The solitude suits him, and he can see progress at the end of every day.  In every fiber of his being, he is also still a cop  a job he loved, a job that gave him purpose and a reason for being, but also a job he was forced out of after a confrontation with a co-worker who really deserved it, but who emerged from the fight unscathed.  McLaren cant shake the drive for justice, the passion for making things right, the hatred for injustice.

A woman searches him out one day in the middle of an isolated field, and asks for his help in solving a cold case murder.  He turns her away, but the case niggles at him and before he knows it, hes drawn back into the life he thought hed successfully left behind.  Solving the case takes him back to places hed rather not go, and forces him to face things hed just as soon leave alone.

This book dragged for me for about two-thirds of it.  Perfectly fine writing, decent dialogue, but it was just  slow.  There were interesting hints about McLarens backstory  hes a member of a folk band; he plays the guitar; hes got an unresolved relationship with a girlfriend; and that relentless thirst for justice.  Things improved for me at the point McLaren got serious about solving the case and figuring things out about himself.  Ill be reading book 2 in the series, because I want to know whether he worked things out with the girlfriend, and what happens to him next.
1990624
Very enjoyable, characters that you could root for and a truly bad bad guy
2129045
The sensitive, brooding, witty protagonist in an attempt to better his condition falls prey to misfortune. He gains our sympathy and we root for him.  His clever sense of humor helps him survive. A believable character  and plot, set in the 70's brings us back to that period with accuracy. With  pleasure, I look forward to the next in the series.
2513408
I really like the main character and would read other books about him when they are available.
1204283
I understand other comments made about the improbability of the plot and the apparent characterizations associated with political left or right intentions.  However, I just went past this to enjoy the characters themselves.  The main character, Luke Stone, must have a very understanding wife since he's saving the world and his family is in regular danger.  So, OK, this may not be reality but I'm reading the book because I enjoy the good vs. bad aspects of the characters.  Luke has a small team of people he counts on and those folks are the ones who seem to solve problems even when the governmental agencies are against him on a semi-regular basis.  I liked it enough to purchase more of the series.  This was his first book and I am more than half-way through the second.  I will review it when I am done but I keep reading it because the characters are flawed but are fighting the bad guys and so far they appear to be winning!
1053224
I like his characters. They are human--good and bad. He expands the storyline with new interesting characters. He also surprises you with who the villain really is, yet it hangs together well
510643
William Heaney committed an occult transgression in his youth which has been plaguing him for 20 years. He is a very flawed person who despite trying to do his best is his own worst enemy. Heaney deals with the fact that he sees demons by trying to do good in a Robin Hood style with his not so merry band of book forgers. The dialogue is the strongest part of the book with many witty and honest lines.

The demon factor barely comes in and neither the British or American titles seem entirely apt because of it. The story had its slow parts and had little semblance of a plot for the first half, which I found disconcerting as the main character is seemingly traipsing about, but that is only because this isn't treated as your normal modern day Fantasy with a mission in mind from the start as it is more of a general lit story that could fine a home in many bookshelves next to the likes of Nick Hornby. It is all about character growth and human interaction. That said the occult underpinnings are there and very realistic in their approach and tact.

If you have friends who always say Fantasy isn't for them this could act as a good bridge book between more standard Fiction and genre. If you are expecting something Epic look elsewhere, but for an interesting character driven tour of London with some very flawed characters this is definitely worth checking out. The look into book forging was also quite intriguing.

How to Make Friends With Demons was published as Memoirs of a Master Forger in the UK where it also won the British Fantasy Award.
492620
One of the better books he's written recently.  The characters are believable, which I had doubted from the previews.  Why the husband freaked out as he did was explained in due course, in a credible manner.  Bad things happen to good people, some handle, some can't.  The characters are more believable than True Evil or Turning Angle's bad guys.
1024463
Great storytelling with wonderfully flawed characters you can't help liking.