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A review by caranneis
Binding Ties by Max Allan Collins
4.0
As far as TV tie-in novels go, this stacks up fairly well. I'm different than most people that I don't WANT a tie-in novel to go where the TV show hasn't gone. What I mean is, don't create a backstory or personality traits of characters that hasn't been established already by the show's writers. If an author doesn't stay with the 'canon' it becomes an alternate universe.
Collins does well with staying true to the world & characters that have been established. Dialogue sounds authentic for each; and it's quite easy to picture & hear William Peterson, George Eads, Marg Helgenberger, etc. saying the lines.
The story deviates slightly from the traditional form of the early CSI shows, in that instead of 2 cases, the entire team is working on one. Recent murders resemble decade old murders from an uncaught serial killer. In typical CSI fashion, evidence is collected, analyzed & investigations begin. The evidence appears to lead to one suspect then another & eventually it all falls into place & the killer is caught. I liked having Brass more in the forefront & the serial killer & MO were well crafted. Not that the CSI's never pull their guns in the show, but there was a little too much of that in the book that it felt out of place.
The show always has portrayed CSI's interrogating suspects/witnesses....This DOES NOT HAPPEN...that's the police's job; but the author stays true to the established universe, so it is like reading an episode. That's what I look for in a tie-in novel, good plot, characters that feel & sound like the ones already known & in the end, could I see this played out on screen. The answer is yes. The book hits on most marks. I loved the early years with Grissom & if you liked the show when it first began, would recommend this entertaining, quick read.
Collins does well with staying true to the world & characters that have been established. Dialogue sounds authentic for each; and it's quite easy to picture & hear William Peterson, George Eads, Marg Helgenberger, etc. saying the lines.
The story deviates slightly from the traditional form of the early CSI shows, in that instead of 2 cases, the entire team is working on one. Recent murders resemble decade old murders from an uncaught serial killer. In typical CSI fashion, evidence is collected, analyzed & investigations begin. The evidence appears to lead to one suspect then another & eventually it all falls into place & the killer is caught. I liked having Brass more in the forefront & the serial killer & MO were well crafted. Not that the CSI's never pull their guns in the show, but there was a little too much of that in the book that it felt out of place.
The show always has portrayed CSI's interrogating suspects/witnesses....This DOES NOT HAPPEN...that's the police's job; but the author stays true to the established universe, so it is like reading an episode. That's what I look for in a tie-in novel, good plot, characters that feel & sound like the ones already known & in the end, could I see this played out on screen. The answer is yes. The book hits on most marks. I loved the early years with Grissom & if you liked the show when it first began, would recommend this entertaining, quick read.