A review by marco5599
The Poet by Michael Connelly
2.0
Sleeping with the FBI agent who works with you trying to solve the murder of your twin brother? Oh, Jack.. An agent who happens to have an ex-husband working for the FBI as well? Oh, Michael.. And on the same case?! Oh, puh-lease. Next to the highly unprofessional nature of it all; I don't care how this fits into the plot, I simply don't want to read about romance and everything that comes with it, while kids and cops have been and are being targeted. Stop fucking around!
So, Jack McEvoy. He ain't no Harry Bosch, is he? I geared up for a bout in a Popeye Doyle-universe, but this guy gave me Professor Langdon-vibes. Initially anyway. A lightweight compared to the heavyweight Harry is. Can't say I liked him either. Twin brother murdered and all Jack can think of is scooping the story of the Poet and how to get inside Rachel's pants. I'm sorry, but what an ass. Not the only selfish bastard here. Almost every major ('good') character is at some point. And not in a fun way. More like annoying. Very annoying.
It's the antagonist I enjoyed most. Loved Gladden's aggression. Pretty good bad guy. Also pretty good; when it solely -solely!- focused on the investigation. Kept me from DNFing it, but just when I thought it might actually save the book, to a certain degree anyway, the plot derails. And not once, but twice. Didn't think Connelly was the kind of writer to come up with such silliness to wrap things up. Embarrassing really. And, for me, there's way too much of that in this book.
So, Jack McEvoy. He ain't no Harry Bosch, is he? I geared up for a bout in a Popeye Doyle-universe, but this guy gave me Professor Langdon-vibes. Initially anyway. A lightweight compared to the heavyweight Harry is. Can't say I liked him either. Twin brother murdered and all Jack can think of is scooping the story of the Poet and how to get inside Rachel's pants. I'm sorry, but what an ass. Not the only selfish bastard here. Almost every major ('good') character is at some point. And not in a fun way. More like annoying. Very annoying.
It's the antagonist I enjoyed most. Loved Gladden's aggression. Pretty good bad guy. Also pretty good; when it solely -solely!- focused on the investigation. Kept me from DNFing it, but just when I thought it might actually save the book, to a certain degree anyway, the plot derails. And not once, but twice. Didn't think Connelly was the kind of writer to come up with such silliness to wrap things up. Embarrassing really. And, for me, there's way too much of that in this book.