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cassidypamela's review against another edition
emotional
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? No
4.0
mattperry25's review against another edition
5.0
This book is much more than a mystery. It really should be labeled literary fiction. Engrossing and thought-provoking. As good as Eskens' first novel, The Life We Bury, or maybe better.
paulataua's review against another edition
2.0
I loved his ‘The Life We Bury’ and ‘The Shadows We Hide’, and was really looking forward to reading this book. I was disappointed. I loved the sentiment, but sentiment by itself is never enough. The plot was predictable, the suspense moments didn’t work, and the characters never came up off the page. They were just characters in a book, characters in a made up story, however much that story might have mirrored some reality. I liked the main character’s growing realization of implicit racism in the self and society, that hidden racism that we need to recognize, but that is about all I liked. I made it to the end but not without a great deal of effort.
cook_memorial_public_library's review against another edition
4.0
A 2020 staff favorite recommended by Ellen. Read her review on the Cook Memorial Public Library blog, Shelf Life: https://shelflife.cooklib.org/2020/02/04/ellens-pick-of-the-week-nothing-more-dangerous-by-allen-eskens/
Check our catalog: https://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Snothing%20more%20dangerous%20eskens__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=def
Check our catalog: https://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Snothing%20more%20dangerous%20eskens__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=def
msseviereads's review against another edition
5.0
So good! Adult read, not for my middle school classroom. Although there is nothing objectionable and middle schoolers would probably enjoy the story. Written for adults.
k5tog's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this book narrated by 15-year-old Boady who lives in the country in Missouri in the 70s. The book is about racial tensions that start before, but are exacerbated by, the arrival of the new black manager of the local factory with his family. Boady, who has a lot to learn about racism, and his friend Thomas are at the center of the story as the drama unfolds.
vigneshjothinarayanan's review against another edition
2.0
Doesn't hit the mark he was aiming at, if the story is not about the leading character but about many people in the town then the author shouldn't have used first person narrative for it. Nobel intentions are not good enough for story telling, the murder plot doesn't affect the main characters in anyway thereby we don't get involved ourselves into the story.
jsawyer126's review against another edition
5.0
I don’t know what it was about this book but it kept my attention from beginning to end. I loved how it intertwined multiple storylines throughout. Overall, a wonderful and relatively quick read!
ellenbarker's review against another edition
5.0
Allen Eskens gives us insight into a teen-aged boy's growing up process in 1976, in a small town where a perceived shift in racial parity brings out the best and worst in people. The story is well-paced, thoughtful, and compelling - a page-turner. Eskens portrays his characters - kids and adults - in a way that doesn't allow us to conclude that this story is a product of its time and place. It's relevant to this time and to in any community in America, large or small.
cnorbury's review against another edition
5.0
An engrossing coming-of-age mystery that is beautifully written and crafted. Eskens creates a nuanced, realistic world in Jessup Missouri circa 1976. Boady Sanden is one of the more likable young protagonists I've ever read. The mystery of the disappearance of Lida Poe is well constructed and developed as Boady and Thomas build their friendship and face down their enemies as they get closer to discovering the truth.
The plot flows perfectly, building step-by-step as new information comes to light. The antagonist--presented mainly in the high school bully Jarvis Halcom, who represents the racist subculture that lives in Jessup--are formidable in the eyes of a 15-year-old boy, especially when he becomes best friends with the black son of the man who's been hired to straighten up the biggest industry and town by getting rid of the deadwood and corrupt employees.
Eskens' writing is lyrical and insightful, and his dialogue is crisp and realistic. He draws the reader into the story and characters as well as the best in the business. Many times in the book I was reminded of similar writing by two of my favorite authors, William Kent Krueger (Ordinary Grace and This Tender Land) and Pat Conroy (Beach Music, Prince of Tides).
Nothing More Dangerous is definitely a candidate for my "Best Book I Read in 2021" award.
The plot flows perfectly, building step-by-step as new information comes to light. The antagonist--presented mainly in the high school bully Jarvis Halcom, who represents the racist subculture that lives in Jessup--are formidable in the eyes of a 15-year-old boy, especially when he becomes best friends with the black son of the man who's been hired to straighten up the biggest industry and town by getting rid of the deadwood and corrupt employees.
Eskens' writing is lyrical and insightful, and his dialogue is crisp and realistic. He draws the reader into the story and characters as well as the best in the business. Many times in the book I was reminded of similar writing by two of my favorite authors, William Kent Krueger (Ordinary Grace and This Tender Land) and Pat Conroy (Beach Music, Prince of Tides).
Nothing More Dangerous is definitely a candidate for my "Best Book I Read in 2021" award.