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paul_cornelius's review
5.0
Another engaging crime thriller from James Carlos Blake. This one is set in Mexico City and once again brings the Wolfe clan in Texas to Mexico, where they work with the Mexican branch of the family. This time it's to rescue a young member of the family, Jessie, who has been caught up in a kidnapping.
The usual harried pace that Blake seems to incorporate in all his novels reaches a zenith, here. Also present is his spinning out of moments in time. Through adapting the technique of multiple perspectives, Blake is working the tradition of literary modernism. But rarely do you see this sort of perspectivism employed over such a spread of characters as with Blake. Like the work preceding this, The Rules of Wolfe, events take place over a long weekend. Yet somehow it all seems much more epic and grand than that. Even the squalid setting of Mexico City's slums and poisonous landfill take on gargantuan meaning that a lesser writer would allow to lapse into mere atmosphere.
Working in genre fiction that is much more than genre, Blake doesn't seem to get his due with these works. The fact is he seems to be one of the greater writers of contemporary American fiction. His stories are full of "binary bleeding," where hard borders dissolve into blurry psychology and motivations.
Finally, as I read through this series of Wolfe family novels, including In the Rogue Blood, I'm struck with how in an earlier era, with the likes of James Michener and James Clavell (lot of Jameses, here), the series would fit into one large multi-generational saga, such as Michener's Hawaii or Centennial or Clavell's Tai-Pan, Noble House, and Gai-Jin.
The usual harried pace that Blake seems to incorporate in all his novels reaches a zenith, here. Also present is his spinning out of moments in time. Through adapting the technique of multiple perspectives, Blake is working the tradition of literary modernism. But rarely do you see this sort of perspectivism employed over such a spread of characters as with Blake. Like the work preceding this, The Rules of Wolfe, events take place over a long weekend. Yet somehow it all seems much more epic and grand than that. Even the squalid setting of Mexico City's slums and poisonous landfill take on gargantuan meaning that a lesser writer would allow to lapse into mere atmosphere.
Working in genre fiction that is much more than genre, Blake doesn't seem to get his due with these works. The fact is he seems to be one of the greater writers of contemporary American fiction. His stories are full of "binary bleeding," where hard borders dissolve into blurry psychology and motivations.
Finally, as I read through this series of Wolfe family novels, including In the Rogue Blood, I'm struck with how in an earlier era, with the likes of James Michener and James Clavell (lot of Jameses, here), the series would fit into one large multi-generational saga, such as Michener's Hawaii or Centennial or Clavell's Tai-Pan, Noble House, and Gai-Jin.
billmorrow's review against another edition
1.0
The synopsis looked good. A kidnapping of a wedding party in Mexico City included one related to a family of criminals (except she wasn't kidnapped.) The cover says the book is a "border noir." The book starts with a great mood-setting scene in a bar that didn't end well for the would-be robbers. So far so good then the main story starts.
The author has unnecessary backstories for everyone from the main characters to a pick-pocket street kid. None of the extraneous details move the plot or add to the story. Did learning that someone had the high school broad jump record help the plot or explain an amazing jump in an action scene? No. Did the unnecessary rape scene get a satisfying vindication? Nope. Was the detailed description of nipples relevant to the scene in which they were described. Not in the least. The book could have been trimmed down drastically without all of these sidetracks nowhere and action would have been faster paced. The opening scene was unrelated to the plot. It was nice but why include it? Deus ex machina makes appearances as well.
As for the "noir" aspect. The book may have had some dark and gritty spots but it didn't fit what I'd consider noir. The family of criminals was more of a crime family with all the means and connections to get what they want when they want it. They didn't appear to struggle finding, catching, or fighting who they wanted.
With all the praise and high reviews, I was hoping for a big payoff at the end. But just like for the kidnappers, the payoff didn't happen.
The author has unnecessary backstories for everyone from the main characters to a pick-pocket street kid. None of the extraneous details move the plot or add to the story. Did learning that someone had the high school broad jump record help the plot or explain an amazing jump in an action scene? No. Did the unnecessary rape scene get a satisfying vindication? Nope. Was the detailed description of nipples relevant to the scene in which they were described. Not in the least. The book could have been trimmed down drastically without all of these sidetracks nowhere and action would have been faster paced. The opening scene was unrelated to the plot. It was nice but why include it? Deus ex machina makes appearances as well.
As for the "noir" aspect. The book may have had some dark and gritty spots but it didn't fit what I'd consider noir. The family of criminals was more of a crime family with all the means and connections to get what they want when they want it. They didn't appear to struggle finding, catching, or fighting who they wanted.
With all the praise and high reviews, I was hoping for a big payoff at the end. But just like for the kidnappers, the payoff didn't happen.
james7634's review
I should’ve realize this was the third in a series. Coming from Dennis Lehane and McCormick I was looking for a fun crime noir book in a modern setting. I did not like the style of writing. Being the third book I clearly missed out on some characterization so I’m not going to attack the plot. But overall the style of writing was really unattractive to me and I found myself dredging through the pages. I couldn’t even get to 25% which is my normal cut off.
clambook's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent boys-only bloodfest. Great predrool bedtime reading.
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