Posts Tagged ‘Michael Connelly’
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Doin' the Man Thing (a guest review)
Friday, March 19th, 2010
This is the fabulous Jeanette Morris: busy editor, writer, and goddess of her kitchen (always a bonus find in a friend), and a partner-in-crime in our four-lady writing group (worddivas.com). Plus she’s a little weird (in the “she makes me laugh at unexpected times–like when I’m reading through her editorial notes on my novel” kind of way). I like her. And you shall too. This is Part Uno in her series of three reviews which I’ll post at random over the next few months. Enjoy
.A few weeks back my husband and I were vacationing in Las Vegas, and I found myself stuck indoors with nothing to read. Before the panic attack set in, I asked my DH if he had any books with him. He is also an avid reader, but not “my kind” of reader. Nevertheless, my desperation overcame my hesitation, and I began reading whatever one calls the opposite of “chick lit.” Guy stuff . . . you know . . . mass-market thrillers, crime fiction, etc. Ironically, my little dunk into the man thing became a channel crossing, and I read three of his generous (but odd) offerings. Knowing Mary would probably never include reviews of any such testosterone-laced novels on her blog, I offer the following for those of you who just might be interested in something other than Twi-fiction and literary classics.
The Scarecrow (2010) – (sequel to bestseller The Poet) by Michael Connelly is a pointed commentary on the demise of print journalism and a fast-paced thriller featuring L. A. Times crime reporter Jack McEvoy. When Jack is laid off with 14 days’ notice to tie up loose ends, he decides to go out with one last big byline. What starts as a story about the wrongful arrest of a young gang banger for murder of an exotic dancer (yes, a bit cliché) turns into a much bigger and far more complex mystery that takes McEvoy into Las Vegas high rises and to a high-tech data-hosting facility in Arizona. FBI agent Rachel Walling, a femme fatale with whom he worked on the serial killer case in 1996′s The Poet, joins the hunt for another serial killer who always seems to be one step ahead of the star-crossed duo. As the pair uncovers more about the killer and his unsettling predilections, they realize that they too are being hunted. Jack’s close encounters with death allow him to unravel the mystery but, unfortunately, lose the byline. He gets the girl instead–not a bad exit from reporting. Unfortunately, the plot becomes a bit predictable as it unfolds. Connelly switches voices between Jack and the killer, which in one sense ratchets up the tension, and in another sense reveals the inevitable outcome much too soon. And although I could appreciate the one strong female character, Connelly’s inability to communicate her feminine side is probably one of the reasons he’s on the list of crime-thriller authors to which men are drawn.
So, (Mary’s) question for the audience: Which is better–chick, chunk, Twi, or man thriller lit?
Jeanette Morris is a freelance writer and editor who has helped over 30 clients achieve their publishing dreams. You can find her at any of these places: www.firstimpressionswriting.com www.worddivas.com www.ministryofwords.wordpress.comAnnnnnnd here’s the book trailer for it (the end being the best part).
Tags: book review, Editor Jeanette Morris, guest review, Las Vegas story, Michael Connelly, The Scarecrow
Posted in Book Reviews, Book Trailers | 13 Comments »
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