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kaisersozee's review against another edition
5.0
Another author recommended by Lee Child, for very good reason.
Patrick Bowers is an expert homicide detective and the cat and mouse nature of the books make for suspense filled and thrilling reading material. Another great series!!
Patrick Bowers is an expert homicide detective and the cat and mouse nature of the books make for suspense filled and thrilling reading material. Another great series!!
bookobsessed1987's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
logancarrr's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jdsutter's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
steven_v's review against another edition
4.0
This is another solid offering in the Bowers series by Steven James. In previous books, we have been reading about Bowers in approximately the present day (2008-2013). In those novels, Bowers is an FBI agent with a specialization in Geographic profiling. There are references to him starting out as a detective, and to his first and most important arrests in the other books, but we only get glimpses. Opening Moves fills in this backstory, telling the tale of how Bowers first became interested in geographic profiling -- as well as how he met Ralph, the burly FBI agent who is one of his best friends in the other books. It tells the story of how he came to crack a case that had a very formative impact on him, one that is referenced several times in the other books.
This book is a 'prequel' -- it takes place before the other chess-novel stories, but was written after the fifth novel in the series (Queen). I read it in publication order -- after I had read all the previously-published books. I personally think this is the best way to do it, since it is the order in which the books were actually written, but there isn't any particular reason other than personal taste to do so. If you want to read it first, it won't spoil anything for you in the other books, nor will they spoil anything in this one. You do know what is going to happen in the warehouse ahead of time if you read it in publication order, but as this is not the main mystery, it's not a big deal.
If you like a good suspense novel, or especially if you enjoy the Bowers books, this is definitely worth taking a look at. It's enjoyable and like James' other books, very hard to put down.
This book is a 'prequel' -- it takes place before the other chess-novel stories, but was written after the fifth novel in the series (Queen). I read it in publication order -- after I had read all the previously-published books. I personally think this is the best way to do it, since it is the order in which the books were actually written, but there isn't any particular reason other than personal taste to do so. If you want to read it first, it won't spoil anything for you in the other books, nor will they spoil anything in this one. You do know what is going to happen in the warehouse ahead of time if you read it in publication order, but as this is not the main mystery, it's not a big deal.
If you like a good suspense novel, or especially if you enjoy the Bowers books, this is definitely worth taking a look at. It's enjoyable and like James' other books, very hard to put down.
josiahdegraaf's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fast-paced, engaging read that kept me on the edge of my seat. It was fun to get a prequel to the series and it avoided many of the mistakes prequels can stumble into.
As a word of warning, though, while the Patrick Bowers Files has been dark as a whole, the twisted nature of the crimes in this book made me deeply uncomfortable when reading it. While the worst offenders weren't vividly depicted, they were described enough to bother me. Crimes of this nature should bother the reader, so this isn't necessarily a problem with the book, but readers should be forewarned what they're getting into, even if they're already familiar with the series.
The book's thematic questions weren't delved into as much as they could have, but major themes were present and do set up other books in the series. At the end of the day, I didn't think Opening Moves was as strong as other books in the series, but it was still engaging and a good way to spend several hours, even if the book bothered me at times.
Rating: 3.5 Stars (Good).
As a word of warning, though, while the Patrick Bowers Files has been dark as a whole, the twisted nature of the crimes in this book made me deeply uncomfortable when reading it. While the worst offenders weren't vividly depicted, they were described enough to bother me. Crimes of this nature should bother the reader, so this isn't necessarily a problem with the book, but readers should be forewarned what they're getting into, even if they're already familiar with the series.
The book's thematic questions weren't delved into as much as they could have, but major themes were present and do set up other books in the series. At the end of the day, I didn't think Opening Moves was as strong as other books in the series, but it was still engaging and a good way to spend several hours, even if the book bothered me at times.
Rating: 3.5 Stars (Good).
imzadirose's review against another edition
4.0
Another great Patrick Bowers. This was a prequel but was really good. I really enjoy this series.
kons's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I've finished this book a few times. I always enjoy it. It seems to be an easy one to come back to over and over again.
As I read through it this time I realized that there is so much going on, and at times it can be challenging to follow, but overall this is a great book.
As I read through it this time I realized that there is so much going on, and at times it can be challenging to follow, but overall this is a great book.
kovi's review against another edition
5.0
I loved it. Violent, but not graphic. Complex, but not confusing. A page turner
itselse's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0