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jeremyanderberg's review against another edition
4.0
The last time I was this pleasantly surprised by a novel that landed on my doorstep was Seth Greenland’s The Hazards of Good Fortune.
Ford is not a rookie writer, but this is the first book of his that falls into my own reading wheelhouse and is the start of his Jack Dixon series, which revolves around a Philip Marlowe-esque PI who lives on a houseboat in Baltimore.
The modern comparison character is inevitably Jack Reacher — the gruff ex-military man who stars in Lee Child’s never-ending series. But I actually found Jack Dixon to be more likable. Yes, he’s gruff, but in a fun way — he’s a weightlifter who dogs on cardio any chance he can get, he pounds peanut butter by the gallon, enjoys a fine homemade cocktail, and can cook his ass off.
The strength of the novel lies in how different it is from most modern detective/thriller stories. For one, I really appreciated the brevity. At 250 or so pages, it’s half of what Child and James Patterson and Brad Thor are regularly cranking out. And whereas those guys rely heavily on crazy plot twists and violent shootouts, Ford writes superb characters who are solving a case that’s indeed surprising, but not reliant on unbelievable turns in the story.
It’s clear that Ford is a writer rather than just a story plotter. It’s a distinction I really appreciated and made me want to dig into some more classic detective stories.
The Body Broker was a quick, super fun read that’s definitely gritty, but doesn’t rely on the usual tacts of gratuitous violence or sex. Definitely felt like a novel out of the 50s, in the best way possible. I definitely recommend it, and can’t wait for the next title in the series, which comes out in the Spring.
Ford is not a rookie writer, but this is the first book of his that falls into my own reading wheelhouse and is the start of his Jack Dixon series, which revolves around a Philip Marlowe-esque PI who lives on a houseboat in Baltimore.
The modern comparison character is inevitably Jack Reacher — the gruff ex-military man who stars in Lee Child’s never-ending series. But I actually found Jack Dixon to be more likable. Yes, he’s gruff, but in a fun way — he’s a weightlifter who dogs on cardio any chance he can get, he pounds peanut butter by the gallon, enjoys a fine homemade cocktail, and can cook his ass off.
The strength of the novel lies in how different it is from most modern detective/thriller stories. For one, I really appreciated the brevity. At 250 or so pages, it’s half of what Child and James Patterson and Brad Thor are regularly cranking out. And whereas those guys rely heavily on crazy plot twists and violent shootouts, Ford writes superb characters who are solving a case that’s indeed surprising, but not reliant on unbelievable turns in the story.
It’s clear that Ford is a writer rather than just a story plotter. It’s a distinction I really appreciated and made me want to dig into some more classic detective stories.
The Body Broker was a quick, super fun read that’s definitely gritty, but doesn’t rely on the usual tacts of gratuitous violence or sex. Definitely felt like a novel out of the 50s, in the best way possible. I definitely recommend it, and can’t wait for the next title in the series, which comes out in the Spring.
ashleystory's review
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
a_b_lee33's review against another edition
3.0
In a genre filled with trigger-happy private eyes, Jack’s talk first, throw some punches, and shoot never mentality is refreshing. He lives for the puzzles rather than the chase. He’s described as a college dropout, ex-cop, and ex-chef. But Jack is completely fine with being a bit of a loner. He takes solace in his daily routine of waking up, eating a scoop—or two—of almond butter, going to the gym, listening to Orioles games, going to bed, and repeating. And then when he runs out of money he picks up an investigation or some other side hustle. Giving Jack an off-beat personality is a great move on Ford’s part because it allows him to strike a nice balance between character and plot throughout the novel. So although Jack’s character doesn’t significantly develop in this installment, his personality and the relationships he shares with the other characters are well-defined and complex enough to keep readers invested and itching to know where the series will go next.
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