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octothorpetopus's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
henrismum's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Audiobook (All of my entries on The Story Graph are audiobooks.)
#10 in series (I started reading this series on 4/6/22 and I have been committed to this series since 8/4/22. )
Comparison to others in series: Not as goodAbout the same Better
If I had a nickel for every time the main character complained about his age, I would have earned a few dollars by reading this book. It wasn't a bad story, but not as griping as the last one. Alas, there are two more left in the series.
The narrator was Keith Szarabajka. Mr. Szarabajka only did a bit of the annoying voice he uses for women characters. Otherwise, I love his interpretation of Brandstetter.
#10 in series (I started reading this series on 4/6/22 and I have been committed to this series since 8/4/22. )
Comparison to others in series: Not as good
If I had a nickel for every time the main character complained about his age, I would have earned a few dollars by reading this book. It wasn't a bad story, but not as griping as the last one. Alas, there are two more left in the series.
The narrator was Keith Szarabajka. Mr. Szarabajka only did a bit of the annoying voice he uses for women characters. Otherwise, I love his interpretation of Brandstetter.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Violence
Minor: Suicide attempt, Alcohol, and Kidnapping
claudia_is_reading's review
5.0
In this book, Dave retires... for about 20 hours. That must have set a record :P
But, when a young public defender comes to him, wanting to hire him to clear her half-brother from the accusation of murdering a local and well-liked Vietnamese businessman, he can't resist the mystery.
But, when a young public defender comes to him, wanting to hire him to clear her half-brother from the accusation of murdering a local and well-liked Vietnamese businessman, he can't resist the mystery.
(...) "Andy is all mouth. He wouldn’t kill anybody. At bottom he’s a coward.”
So, he accepts the case (there is also a lovely reference to Sherlock Holmes!) and we find ourselves immersed in a tale in which family secrets, Vietnamese traditional culture, and organized crime all have a place and complicated the investigation.
We see here a Dave who is very aware of getting old, and the way in which this affects his abilities and mental process. He gets tired, he makes mistakes, he is more vulnerable than he used to be. He knows that retirement is the option he must take, but, at the end of the book, it very explicitly told that he is afraid of taking it.
(...)...“And thanks for saving my life.”
Barker stood on the uneven, leaf-strewn bricks, looking up at the big, old spreading oak, the sky growing light beyond it, and breathing in the fresh morning air. He didn’t turn to Dave to say it, but he said, “I wish I didn’t think you were deliberately trying to throw it away.”
“Am I?” Dave frowned to himself. “Jesus, maybe I am.
At least, his relationship with Cecil seems to be going wonderfully :D
Let's see what is waiting for us in the last two books...
kaje_harper's review against another edition
4.0
One of the most notable things about this series is that, unlike many series MCs, Dave is aging. He's not as fast on his feet, and he tires more easily. He's real and human and he makes mistakes.
His reputation is growing though - in this case he's asked in by the relative of a suspect, to investigate a murder of a Vietnamese businessman. Racism has always been a thread through these stories. In this one Dave takes a few nice jabs at it, although the language of the era sometimes reads a little oddly to the modern ear. Cecil becomes more of a full partner, but Dave is stubborn in his pursuit of the truth, and doesn't always listen to his partner.
His reputation is growing though - in this case he's asked in by the relative of a suspect, to investigate a murder of a Vietnamese businessman. Racism has always been a thread through these stories. In this one Dave takes a few nice jabs at it, although the language of the era sometimes reads a little oddly to the modern ear. Cecil becomes more of a full partner, but Dave is stubborn in his pursuit of the truth, and doesn't always listen to his partner.
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