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haneysolo's review against another edition
The descriptive writing of the genders. - why does it matter how handsome people are?!?
Class roles (chauffeur vs employer)
So many guys (all handsome) introduced in opening scene discussing/scheming to take over the leadership of this shoe company.
Class roles (chauffeur vs employer)
So many guys (all handsome) introduced in opening scene discussing/scheming to take over the leadership of this shoe company.
b0hemian_graham's review against another edition
3.0
Bit of a disappointment. Douglas King was an asshole. much preferred the Kurosawa adaptation, as the characters were far more sympathetic. everyone just seemed so inhuman and cold.
posies23's review against another edition
4.0
Another strong installment in the long-running 87th Precinct series. As usual, this is a strong police procedural, following the policemen as they track down the kidnappers of a young boy.
What's really interesting about these novels is how strong the writing is. McBain is no hack, and he works hard to keep the reader not only entertained, but caught up in the various moods of the locales and the traits of the characters.
This one is well worth your time, just like any of the books in the series.
What's really interesting about these novels is how strong the writing is. McBain is no hack, and he works hard to keep the reader not only entertained, but caught up in the various moods of the locales and the traits of the characters.
This one is well worth your time, just like any of the books in the series.
chillcox15's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars. McBain is a self-evident master of the hard-nosed quip, able to turn a basic observation of life into a cynical masterpiece of a sentence. The set-up of this novel rules, and its objective to portray the wealthy as fundamentally inhumane is appreciated.
sandin954's review against another edition
3.0
Steve and Meyer Meyer are called in on a kidnapping. Good story. I also watched the movie High and Low a Japanese film directed by Akira Kurosawa, that used this book as its source material which was a very good flick.
ring01's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
hypotheticalotter's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
jmarryott23's review against another edition
medium-paced
3.5
3.5 stars…I read this because it was the inspiration for Kurosawa’s High and Low. The film is highly regarded but still underrated and one of my favorites from Kurosawa (that is saying something). It was also likely an inspiration for Joon-Ho’s Parasite (also excellent). So what did I think of the book? It was good but Kurosawa improves on the story in numerous ways. The setup is surprisingly similar between adaptions, but the film eventually veers off and expresses it’s separate themes in a stronger way.
The book is much more of a police procedural through and through with a theme of individual greed. The book shows the perspective of the kidnappers (which is interesting) and the kidnapping is not resolved until the very end. The movie ponders much larger questions of social status, the morality of man, and corporate greed, among others. Crucially, the kidnapping part of the story is concluded much earlier in the movie, and while it turns into a detective story to find the kidnappers, it still explores the main character and the decisions he faced and made.
Spoilers: I thought the detectives tracking the kidnappers down was much more interesting in the movie. In the book they don’t really follow any leads and basically stumble upon the kid. Also, the main character is adamant that he won’t pay the ransom. He loses his family over it and never changes his mind. But they still catch the kidnapper and his family crawls back to him anyway. If someone ever asks you to name just one movie adaption that is better than the book, this could be Exhibit A in your rebuttal. The book is worth reading but won’t blow you away.
The book is much more of a police procedural through and through with a theme of individual greed. The book shows the perspective of the kidnappers (which is interesting) and the kidnapping is not resolved until the very end. The movie ponders much larger questions of social status, the morality of man, and corporate greed, among others. Crucially, the kidnapping part of the story is concluded much earlier in the movie, and while it turns into a detective story to find the kidnappers, it still explores the main character and the decisions he faced and made.
Spoilers: I thought the detectives tracking the kidnappers down was much more interesting in the movie. In the book they don’t really follow any leads and basically stumble upon the kid. Also, the main character is adamant that he won’t pay the ransom. He loses his family over it and never changes his mind. But they still catch the kidnapper and his family crawls back to him anyway. If someone ever asks you to name just one movie adaption that is better than the book, this could be Exhibit A in your rebuttal. The book is worth reading but won’t blow you away.
tarana's review against another edition
3.0
The audiobook is great read by either reader. This is a good story about a kidnapping. I'd give it a 3.5 (not quite enough to round it up to 4). McBain (pen name for Evan Hunter) uses a lot of repetition to show someone dithering. People do that in real life, but it's annoying to read/listen to.
lou1sb's review against another edition
4.0
The continuing adventures of my aim to read every book written in 1959.