The best at mystery/suspense
Jack McEvoy is a crime reporter for a Denver newspaper. He is good writer and a skilled investigator. However, the story hits too close to home when his twin brother, Sean apparently commits suicide. Jack refuses to believe it and begins to find evidence that supports his theory. What follows is a page-turning maze of twists and turns that kept me interested right through the ending.
I really enjoyed listening to this book. Toward the middle of the book I started to suspect that it was going in a certain direction. I was really disappointed when it appeared that I was right. Later on though, the story takes a sharp turn that I didn't even suspect. I love it when that happens! It makes me glad that I have more Connelly novels to look forward to!
Thrilling
I started with Black Ice, I've been hooked on Connelly books ever since.
I will say I was hesitant on this book, I don't normally like first person styles, in fact I hate them. But after realizing that good old Harry was somehow involved in a sequel book to The Poet, I knew that I had to read it.
I'm very glad that I purchased it and forced myself to read it. There wasn't so much forcing after the first few chapters.
Anyhow, its a wonderful thrill ride, certainly a book that I would recommend to others.
Sinister read with a twist
This book is the book where the Poet is introduced. It is an intriguing story about murders of policemen and small children, murders most foul. We are soon lead in the right direction, pointing to someone with knowledge of law enforcement. It is also clear that the murderer is a rather evil person with no care for the anger and hurt he is bringing in to peoples lives. As with so many mass murderers, he seems to be charged by them.
As the net draws closer, we get suspicions here and there, and we're drawn in a couple of different directions. The revealing of the murderer is somewhat predictable at that point, but I may be biased, as I had read some of Connelly's later books.
I am a huge fan of Connelly, I am especially fond of the Harry Bosch novels. This is not one of them, although it has connections to Harry Bosch. If you are interested in a good crime story, this is definitely it. Exciting from beginning to end, and it gives you the urge to read more.
Meeting Evil Face-to-Face
Jack McEvoy is a crime-beat reporter in Denver whose twin brother, Sean McEvoy, was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after obsessing over the murder and mutilation of a girl. Jack starts asking the kind of questions that only a journalist would think of, and bingo . . . he finds that there's something strange going on: There have been a lot of so-called suicides of police officers who have been investigating the murders of children and those who teach and tend them. The link seems to be that they all left notes that contain quote from Edgar Allen Poe.
Soon, Jack is on the hunt and his investigation draws the attention of the FBI when he tries to access a data base of police suicides. Can Jack find out what's going on . . . or will the FBI stonewall him?
This story doesn't start off as fast as most books about serial killers do. That's a shame. With a more powerful beginning, this story would be a classic. But be patient; the story speeds up as it goes.
One of the most appealing parts of this book is looking at the challenge of investigating crimes as a journalist rather than as a law enforcement professional. I think you'll find the contrast to be interesting.
The book also features lots of opportunities to get to know the serial killer so character development is excellent for building tension and interest.
Excellent Page Turner
Like another reviewer here, this was my first Connelly novel and I went into it with no preconceptions as I was completely unfamiliar with his work. It grabbed me from the first page and kept me engrossed right up to page 500. I enjoyed the author's writing style: spare, yet sufficiently descriptive. It put me in mind of the show Dragnet, without the over-the-top posturing. Rather than go into too much detail, he gives the reader enough to get a good sense of the place and the people, and then moves the action along. His characters speak as real people would and they are smart and recognizable, without being cliche. The storyline was well plotted, a bit of murder, a bit of mystery, some romance and a few twists along the way.
****Spoilers Ahead****
If I have one criticism, it is the final act of the book with the major plot twist. I found it a bit forced and insufficiently justified. After setting the reader up with red herrings involving the female lead, Connelly seems to have felt the need to throw in a really off the wall surprise ending that was more unbelievable than surprising. It's as though he watched one too many M. Night Shyamalan movies. Though the book was terrific, it would have been even better without that ending, which isn't even a real ending as I learned when I saw there was a sequel! Oh well, guess I'll be reading The Narrows next.
