Its somewhat offbeat from the usual integrated plot lines sine ...
342952
Its somewhat offbeat from the usual integrated plot lines sine few of the regulars from Three Pines are involved, but its a fascinating story of monks and their lives.
2434751
This came is somewhere between "It was OK" and "I liked it", but I'm giving it 3 stars.

So aspects were genuinely interesting. Some "smart" pieces seemed forced. The overall cast was interesting enough and the plot kept me coming back (though not as often as some other reads lately).

Looking for some "different sci-fi"? Give it a shot. It certainly wasn't a typical sci-fi read to me.
4861881
Doss's style is not for everyone:  it can be verbose, cutesy, and even annoying.  Still, Doss has his moments, can be quite funny at times, and he gives the mystical side of life full credence:  in his world, people - some at least - can communicate with dwarves, crows, and ghosts.

This particular story deals with the strange case of a man who - for reasons he can't quite explain - has foreseen his own death at a particular time and place.  He enlists the aid of Charlie Moon and Police Chief Scott Paris to help him avoid his seemingly pre-determined fate.  The plot takes several twists and turns as the days count down to the fateful day, and this keeps the pages turning.  However, I find the finale somewhat disappointing and confusing, relying as it did on rather arcane metaphysical speculations about the nature of reality.  Furthermore, the story actually had two or three separate climaxes, which made it seem a bit plodding at the end.
3200291
The basic plot is ok and that kept me going, but the dialog often feels forced and over dramatic. I know this is fiction, but some character reactions are just too out there. I am probably done with this series.
4143272
Adam Price, our protagonist, lives his simple white bread life. Everything in life has fallen into place. After one day, being approached by a stranger, and told of a deep secret regarding his wife, his little world begins to crumble. After confronting her; she leaves, needing some space.
The stranger makes himself known to some other characters, also with less than stellar results. It makes for an intriguing plot.
The main crux of mystery still revolves around Adam, his friends and his delving into his wife's disappearance. add to that a few other characters who are cohorts of the stranger and we find the real plot behind the stranger.
I found 3/4 the way through all the characters and their intentions, both personal and antagonists, become somewhat muddled. There's a lot more going on than needs to be. Enter a woman cop from another city, who by the way, has a vested interest of her own and the story winds up with yet another character into the fray.
It all shakes out in the end. Though I found the end quite abrupt and disappointing. The plot was a grabber from the beginning. It had a bit of a different twist to it. Slimmed down, without all the extra cast, it would have been terrific. Sometimes less is more.
3261376
This is one of those book that won't be one for many since the plot of the book was shaky and seemed off Premise/synopsis seemed like it would be a good one but the lack of execution of how the story is told and such. 3 stars
244638
This book has an interesting story line at its heart. On the other hand the book on the whole seems more like a collection of short stories woven together by the big story. Even Virgil seems a bit apathetic and tired. Predictable characters surface, and recite predictable lines. Some new comers are introduced and they spice things up a wee bit.  Not the best in the series in my opinion
4318548
It was a plot that was unexpected however it was pretty predictable too. I had it figured out about 2/3s of the way through the book.
3677809
The story meanders quite a bit, straying from the primary plot line so its protagonist, lawyer Tubby Dubonnet, can handle other matters, both personal and professional. In that regard the novel feels rather padded, not least because the primary plot line could have been handled as a short story or, at most, as a novelette.

I won't dismiss the idea of reading other titles in this series, but CROOKED MAN doesn't have me wanting to plunge in and devour them.
794198
It was o.k.  I wish there was more of a plot and interaction with other characters rather than a lot running.
4003260
LOL Independance day with bits of Alien thrown in.... kinda predictable but not awful.
3009758
The book had a plot that was good, but seemed to have too much in it for the story to flow. I am a fan of Konrath but this just did not seem to measure up to other books. I enjoyed some aspects, but neither characters or the storyline stand out. Maybe it needed an editor to pull together the brilliant aspects and oust the borderline ridiculous ideas. It is okay, but not his best work.
1334516
Okay, there's an overly dramatic subplot that doesn't really add much to the story.  But the lead and her daughters are some of the more interesting than the average mass market romance.  The plot wraps up too quickly and neatly, but for lite reading when you need a mild distraction, it works.
2594453
Strange but the big plot details are casually brushed over. Granted it's a first person narrative, but some detail about big events would have been a bit more fulfilling. More about society and human nature than an exciting sci fi adventure.
4292398
Although this work had some common elements with more successful offerings in the genre (teen romance, aliens, sci-fi premise) I found the plot a little hard to follow and bordering on the unbelievable at times.  For something like this to work, within the confines on the page, you have to find the actions and plot turns realistic.  I struggled at certain points with that and thus ended up a bit disappointed.
904961
It's fun enough with storybook villains but sometimes the plot and writing seems a bit forced.
2327318
I found that this tale tended to wander off the plot a tetch here and there ....and the 'love' aspect was somewhat unrealistic.
STILL - overall....an interesting enough read to keep one flipping pages......