usbsticky's review against another edition
4.0
I'm now at the end of the series so this is a series review as well. This is a police/crime series set in Brazil. The cast of characters are Chief Inspector Silva of the Federal Police and his staff. This is a character driven series where the drama of the characters provide 1/3 of the story. The next 1/3 of the story is Brazil and how it works (mostly corruption, hot weather and bad traffic). The last 3rd of the story is the crime.
I feel that the first 2/3's of the story drives the series. The crime part is usually only so-so but it does get better as the series goes along. The author doesn't know how to create suspense and usually shows the crime from the criminal POV or breaks open the mystery too early. Sometimes he doesn't try at all and just releases the mystery. He also has a problem of giving too much biographical background, like 2 pages for a bit part character who doesn't re-appear ever again. For example, in #6, there's a jeweler who buys a diamond from someone. He only appears one time but the readers got to know how his grandparents immigrated to Brazil.
But I still like the series because the writing is easy to read and follow and most people develop some feelings for the characters. Each book also tells something about Brazil or S. America. The last book it was about Paraguay, one book was about organ transplants, another about illegal immigration, etc.
Spoiler: This last book #7 showcases the terrible plight of the indigenous Amazonian natives. We find out how they are treated and what some Brazilians feel about them. Added to that is some info about illegal logging and mining. This isn't the best of the series but adds on to it.
Despite my somewhat unflattering review I still like the books and I'm sorry to find out that the author passed in 2013.
I feel that the first 2/3's of the story drives the series. The crime part is usually only so-so but it does get better as the series goes along. The author doesn't know how to create suspense and usually shows the crime from the criminal POV or breaks open the mystery too early. Sometimes he doesn't try at all and just releases the mystery. He also has a problem of giving too much biographical background, like 2 pages for a bit part character who doesn't re-appear ever again. For example, in #6, there's a jeweler who buys a diamond from someone. He only appears one time but the readers got to know how his grandparents immigrated to Brazil.
But I still like the series because the writing is easy to read and follow and most people develop some feelings for the characters. Each book also tells something about Brazil or S. America. The last book it was about Paraguay, one book was about organ transplants, another about illegal immigration, etc.
Spoiler: This last book #7 showcases the terrible plight of the indigenous Amazonian natives. We find out how they are treated and what some Brazilians feel about them. Added to that is some info about illegal logging and mining. This isn't the best of the series but adds on to it.
Despite my somewhat unflattering review I still like the books and I'm sorry to find out that the author passed in 2013.
skinnypenguin's review
3.0
Shows how greed and jealousy can corrupt a whole town. The death of a whole village of natives leads to an investigation in the far reaches of Brazil. The cops that come to investigate find a lot of corruption and it makes it tough for them to get to the truth.
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