theopanov's review against another edition
4.0
И шестата поредна книга за детектива Дейвид Гърни се оказа изключително интересна. Този път Джон Вердън е разгледал с голямо внимание расовите конфликти в САЩ, полицейския произвол, замитането на следи, съпътствани и от политически игри, както и ролята на медиите.
Поредицата убийства, които се случват в градчето Уайт Ривър, преминават през няколко разплитания и смяна на заподозрените, докато се достигне до истинския извършител.
Някои от персонажите от предишните книги се появяват и в тази. Джак Хардуик, неизменният помощник на Дейв Гърни, също и прокурорът Шеридън Клайн, който в тази книга се държи доста нелепо и неадекватно през цялото време.
4.2 звезди – с леки забележки към някои места в сюжета и разкритието накрая, което не успя да ме изненада достатъчно. Вече подозирах кой стои зад всичко, имаше си следи, които се забелязваха и водеха именно към него, много преди разобличаването му.
Поредицата убийства, които се случват в градчето Уайт Ривър, преминават през няколко разплитания и смяна на заподозрените, докато се достигне до истинския извършител.
Някои от персонажите от предишните книги се появяват и в тази. Джак Хардуик, неизменният помощник на Дейв Гърни, също и прокурорът Шеридън Клайн, който в тази книга се държи доста нелепо и неадекватно през цялото време.
4.2 звезди – с леки забележки към някои места в сюжета и разкритието накрая, което не успя да ме изненада достатъчно. Вече подозирах кой стои зад всичко, имаше си следи, които се забелязваха и водеха именно към него, много преди разобличаването му.
mitrusheva's review against another edition
3.0
Май това бе книгата от поредицата за Дейв Гърни, която ми хареса най-малко от прочетените досега. Стори ми се твърде дълга и прекомерно подробна. Същите герои, същият сюжет и същият финал биха били перфектни, ако книгата бе горе - долу два пъти по-кратка.
house_full_of_books's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
breejay's review against another edition
3.0
This book was okay. It took me longer to read than most books, so I wouldn't necessarily say it's a page turner. I also felt like the ending was incredibly rushed. It was all action and then a couple pages and done.
lluvia_'s review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
tuskaisa's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
canada_matt's review against another edition
4.0
Fans of John Verdon’s work are in for a treat with this one, which pulls the series protagonist into the middle of an investigation of a social issue plaguing America yet again. While enjoying his retirement, former NYPD Detective Dave Gurney is approached by the local district attorney to help with an investigation in White River. After a protest by the black community intensifies, a white police officer is shot by a sniper, killed where he stood. Media outlets are going wild and the local authorities are scrambling to get a handle on things before they escalate. Gurney agrees to help investigate and joins the team, but wishes to keep an open mind as he seeks to better understand what’s been going on in this community. Two men are fingered for the shooting, but their bodies turn up, naked and beaten to death in a playground. This only adds fuel to an already volatile fire. When Gurney is approached by the slain officer’s wife with some new information, his narrative changes, even though many have already decided what they will do. It is a racial divide that has no chance to heal, particularly when those in positions of power continue to create walls rather than seek truth. While Gurney seeks answers, questions remain as to whether these deaths were part of a larger plan by a group hoping to create added unrest in White River, or if people in authority could have orchestrated this to rid themselves of weak links. Gurney’s wife sobers him to the realization that this is more than a racial matter, but one in which police officers and their families can never be sure of the degree of safety in the line of duty. As Gurney inches his investigation along, he must realise that he’s stepped on a few toes and crossed a line with his analytical perspective. Will he be able to finger the perpetrators before taking a bullet in the back of his own head? Verdon does a masterful job of illustrating some of the issues splashed across the headlines and ticker tapes today, while entertaining his readers. Strongly recommended for fans of Verdon’s work and those who enjoyed poignant novels that pull no punches!
I have long admired John Verdon and his work, both for its entertainment value and the ability to get me thinking throughout the entire reading process. I find myself wanting more, both because Verdon is able to craft a mystery worth reading and how he is able to make the story more than a simple mystery that needs solving. This story hit home on many levels, as it is more than a psychological thriller. It takes the social issue of the American racial divide and puts it front and centre throughout this piece. Using his well-grounded protagonist, Dave Gurney, Verdon thrusts the former cop into the middle of the issue that has been tearing at the fabric of America long since before its apparent need to ‘be great again’. Gurney uses his methodical way of thinking to posit all the potential avenues of the crime before him, which angers those in his closest proximity. He has always taken this approach, which permits the reader to all but hear the gears turning inside his head. His love for his wife buoys him, particularly when she draws parallels between the officers shot while on duty and how she might have been one of those grieving widows in the past. Sobered by this, Gurney stops at nothing to bring justice home in his chilling story. With a handful of strong secondary characters, Verdon weaves a story together that pokes at all sides of the racial divide, offering insight into the argument that is sure to keep the reader thinking. The story is strong and pulls on the current unrest while also issuing a strong warning of how things have been handled. Be it through the apparent white entitlement, calls of injustice by the black population, the media’s ability to fan the flames, and even those who seek to stir the pot for no reason other than to cause trouble. All these play a role in ripping the societal fabric. Whatever variable the reader uses for ‘x lives matter’, this book will hit home and cause them to think more deeply about what is going on around them and how the news is reported. At least it did for me!
Kudos, Mr. Verdon, for another stellar piece of writing. I could not ask for more, though I am always eager to see when you have something new in the publishing queue.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons
I have long admired John Verdon and his work, both for its entertainment value and the ability to get me thinking throughout the entire reading process. I find myself wanting more, both because Verdon is able to craft a mystery worth reading and how he is able to make the story more than a simple mystery that needs solving. This story hit home on many levels, as it is more than a psychological thriller. It takes the social issue of the American racial divide and puts it front and centre throughout this piece. Using his well-grounded protagonist, Dave Gurney, Verdon thrusts the former cop into the middle of the issue that has been tearing at the fabric of America long since before its apparent need to ‘be great again’. Gurney uses his methodical way of thinking to posit all the potential avenues of the crime before him, which angers those in his closest proximity. He has always taken this approach, which permits the reader to all but hear the gears turning inside his head. His love for his wife buoys him, particularly when she draws parallels between the officers shot while on duty and how she might have been one of those grieving widows in the past. Sobered by this, Gurney stops at nothing to bring justice home in his chilling story. With a handful of strong secondary characters, Verdon weaves a story together that pokes at all sides of the racial divide, offering insight into the argument that is sure to keep the reader thinking. The story is strong and pulls on the current unrest while also issuing a strong warning of how things have been handled. Be it through the apparent white entitlement, calls of injustice by the black population, the media’s ability to fan the flames, and even those who seek to stir the pot for no reason other than to cause trouble. All these play a role in ripping the societal fabric. Whatever variable the reader uses for ‘x lives matter’, this book will hit home and cause them to think more deeply about what is going on around them and how the news is reported. At least it did for me!
Kudos, Mr. Verdon, for another stellar piece of writing. I could not ask for more, though I am always eager to see when you have something new in the publishing queue.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons
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