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judygold's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A mixed bag - interesting main character and set up but let down by some aspects including the overly descriptive meals that felt forced and had no real point (yes we get it, he likes food in his home town!). So liked but didn't love it, although stuck with it to the end to see what happened
ibz47's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
erine's review against another edition
4.0
Highly entertaining and engaging all through. I loved that the action didn't just take place in Detroit, but ranged the state up to Traverse City. I thought the main detective character was suitably rough and broken, but still a good guy. Or at least trying to be a good guy.
I found the brand-name-dropping to be slightly distracting, but the place names were very satisfying.
I found the brand-name-dropping to be slightly distracting, but the place names were very satisfying.
acherny's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
twellz's review against another edition
3.0
Cool Detroit detective drama with a mix of Die Hard meets Beverly Hills Cop. August Snow (a bad ass name btw) is a very entertaining beach read.
“Engage people with what they expect; it is what they are able to discern and confirms their projections. It settles them into predictable patterns of response, occupying their minds while you wait for the extraordinary moment—that which they cannot anticipate.”
Being from the Detroit area, it was fun to know every little nook & cranny they visited even though it got a little bit “Deee-troit” preachy at times. Stephen Mack Jones did a great job capturing the nostalgia of Mexicantown.
Quotes about Detroit:
“So I returned to a city where happiness is usually a matter of finding contentment in an acceptable level of intangible fear, unfocused loathing and unexplainable ennui.”
“This place—these people—corrupt black politicians and bigoted white business people—it’s Louisiana 1965, only with better lakes and more Starbucks.”
That said, I couldn’t get over the overly simplified writing. So many unnecessary details about outfits & food. Very stereotypical minor characters too. Will not cause a lot of heavy lifting by your mind, but an enjoyable story.
“Engage people with what they expect; it is what they are able to discern and confirms their projections. It settles them into predictable patterns of response, occupying their minds while you wait for the extraordinary moment—that which they cannot anticipate.”
Being from the Detroit area, it was fun to know every little nook & cranny they visited even though it got a little bit “Deee-troit” preachy at times. Stephen Mack Jones did a great job capturing the nostalgia of Mexicantown.
Quotes about Detroit:
“So I returned to a city where happiness is usually a matter of finding contentment in an acceptable level of intangible fear, unfocused loathing and unexplainable ennui.”
“This place—these people—corrupt black politicians and bigoted white business people—it’s Louisiana 1965, only with better lakes and more Starbucks.”
That said, I couldn’t get over the overly simplified writing. So many unnecessary details about outfits & food. Very stereotypical minor characters too. Will not cause a lot of heavy lifting by your mind, but an enjoyable story.
johnthebiker300's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent. Mixture of violence, a good story and some wit.
bookph1le's review against another edition
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed a lot of this book, but I'm not sure about the turn the ending took. More complete review to come.
Full review:
There was so much I loved about this book that it would have been a solid five stars for me if not for my conflicted feelings about the ending. I won't get into details, but I don't see how to address my thoughts on it without spoiling the ending somewhat, so read this review at your own risk.
If you are a Detroit native or a native of the metro Detroit area, so much of this book will resonate with you. Jones captures the spirit of the region with astonishing, laser-like clarity that left me marveling. If you're not a native, you'll learn a lot about the complex relationship between Detroit and its suburbs in Macomb and Oakland counties. I could not get enough of Jones's sharp-eyed observations about how Detroiters and suburbanites feel about one another.
It was also fantastic to read a book that takes a very nuanced view of the city itself. I think Jones does an excellent job of showing that Detroit has many shades, not all of them flattering, but not all of them bad either. And in this era of blaming Detroit for its own problems, this detailed view of the city helps illustrate the challenges Detroiters face, many of which are not of their own making. Jones also illuminates how sad it is that Detroit seems to be losing some of its cultural identity, and how well-meaning entrepreneurs and philanthropists can be prone to making the city's problems worse.
I talk so much about this aspect of the book because Jones has made the city of Detroit and its surrounding areas characters in their own right, and I admittedly have a weakness for books that do this. I love feeling as though I'm being catapulted into a setting, and Jones has a talent for doing just that. Along with the Detroit area, he does a nice job of touching on Traverse City, though it's a brief foray.
However, as good as his characterization of the region is, his characterization of August Snow is flat-out phenomenal. August is one of the most textured, complex, and compelling characters I've read about in a long time. He exists in shades of gray for sure. There is a lot of good in him, but he has a darker side as well. I worried about him even as I enjoyed his flip approach to some of his adversaries, and I found it easy to root for him as he dealt with his problems. As I read, I kept hoping this book would be the first in a series, because August Snow is such a well-done character I'm not apt to forget him.
The book's plot and pacing are both wonderful as well. The central mystery of what happened to Paget is intriguing. Watching August slowly make his way through the labyrinth of conspiracies surrounding Paget's death is harrowing, and Jones keeps the pacing tight. However, he never once sacrifices building his setting and characters in order to keep the plot going, and he does an excellent job of uniting all of these elements into a cohesive, vivid novel.
Now, the one letdown of this book for me was the ending. I could see that August was a man on edge, but I felt like the book took an unexpected turn, and I still can't quite figure out how I feel about it. It's not so much the violence of what happens that bothered me, though that's very vivid as well--although not in what I thought of as a lurid or gratuitous manner. There's no doubt that August is a touch character who's used to his fair share of violence, but the ending did temper my feelings for him somewhat. It also startled me because, although it's clear August is in peril throughout the novel, I didn't expect things to go out on quite such a Wild West note.
Still, there is no denying that Jones is an astonishingly gifted writer, one of those authors who has an uncanny ability to make the world of his book and all the players in it feel so solid and real the reader can almost reach out and touch them, and this book deserves plenty of recognition. I would definitely read more by this author.
Full review:
There was so much I loved about this book that it would have been a solid five stars for me if not for my conflicted feelings about the ending. I won't get into details, but I don't see how to address my thoughts on it without spoiling the ending somewhat, so read this review at your own risk.
If you are a Detroit native or a native of the metro Detroit area, so much of this book will resonate with you. Jones captures the spirit of the region with astonishing, laser-like clarity that left me marveling. If you're not a native, you'll learn a lot about the complex relationship between Detroit and its suburbs in Macomb and Oakland counties. I could not get enough of Jones's sharp-eyed observations about how Detroiters and suburbanites feel about one another.
It was also fantastic to read a book that takes a very nuanced view of the city itself. I think Jones does an excellent job of showing that Detroit has many shades, not all of them flattering, but not all of them bad either. And in this era of blaming Detroit for its own problems, this detailed view of the city helps illustrate the challenges Detroiters face, many of which are not of their own making. Jones also illuminates how sad it is that Detroit seems to be losing some of its cultural identity, and how well-meaning entrepreneurs and philanthropists can be prone to making the city's problems worse.
I talk so much about this aspect of the book because Jones has made the city of Detroit and its surrounding areas characters in their own right, and I admittedly have a weakness for books that do this. I love feeling as though I'm being catapulted into a setting, and Jones has a talent for doing just that. Along with the Detroit area, he does a nice job of touching on Traverse City, though it's a brief foray.
However, as good as his characterization of the region is, his characterization of August Snow is flat-out phenomenal. August is one of the most textured, complex, and compelling characters I've read about in a long time. He exists in shades of gray for sure. There is a lot of good in him, but he has a darker side as well. I worried about him even as I enjoyed his flip approach to some of his adversaries, and I found it easy to root for him as he dealt with his problems. As I read, I kept hoping this book would be the first in a series, because August Snow is such a well-done character I'm not apt to forget him.
The book's plot and pacing are both wonderful as well. The central mystery of what happened to Paget is intriguing. Watching August slowly make his way through the labyrinth of conspiracies surrounding Paget's death is harrowing, and Jones keeps the pacing tight. However, he never once sacrifices building his setting and characters in order to keep the plot going, and he does an excellent job of uniting all of these elements into a cohesive, vivid novel.
Now, the one letdown of this book for me was the ending. I could see that August was a man on edge, but I felt like the book took an unexpected turn, and I still can't quite figure out how I feel about it. It's not so much the violence of what happens that bothered me, though that's very vivid as well--although not in what I thought of as a lurid or gratuitous manner. There's no doubt that August is a touch character who's used to his fair share of violence, but the ending did temper my feelings for him somewhat. It also startled me because, although it's clear August is in peril throughout the novel, I didn't expect things to go out on quite such a Wild West note.
Still, there is no denying that Jones is an astonishingly gifted writer, one of those authors who has an uncanny ability to make the world of his book and all the players in it feel so solid and real the reader can almost reach out and touch them, and this book deserves plenty of recognition. I would definitely read more by this author.
heybalestoo's review against another edition
4.0
Set in Detroit, I liked this look at a city revitalizing itself. I was intrigued by the thriller aspect and, though it may have felt a little out there and full of machismo at times, it was an enjoyable read.
mg_in_md_'s review
4.0
This debut novel was a powerhouse that left me wanting to read more about August Snow! Set in Detroit, Snow is a former detective who wins $12 million in a wrongful termination lawsuit. He was fired for his role in bringing down both the Detroit police department and the mayor in a major corruption scandal. The son of an African-American cop and a Mexican-American painter, Snow returns to Detroit's Mexicantown neighborhood with a plan to help out his hometown with his new-found fortune. After turning down an investigation job, the woman who attempted to hire Snow turns up dead. He suspects foul play and searches for the killer, who may have ties to the enemies he made following the corruption scandal. This modern noir is well-written, well-paced, and fresh. Snow is a character I know I'll enjoy spending more time with, especially if he's matching wits against FBI Special Agent Megan O'Donnell.
jwoodsum's review against another edition
5.0
Great mystery, great setting - super interesting hero. I hope this is the first in a series - would love to spend more time with August Snow and his neighbors in Mexicantown [Detroit]