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djlang's review against another edition
3.0
The mystery is good, and the main character and his pals are likeable. However, there is way too much detail in some places. We don't need to know how much he paid for an ice cream cone, or what every character in evey scene is wearing.
phlegyas's review against another edition
4.0
I remember enjoying this book - it's funny though how I don't remember too much about the story now, 10 years after reading it. I should revisit. I remember the pace was good though and the whole maths backdrop worked fine!
weaselweader's review against another edition
4.0
Chaos and comedy combine in a great story!
The Fractal Murders is nothing if not unique! Here's a first novel based on a completely fascinating premise that presents interesting, realistic and superbly developed characters; that develops a heart-warming romantic relationship complete with all the bumps, bruises and detours of reality; that avoids prurient sex and violence as completely unnecessary to the advancement of a well-written novel; and does it all with well crafted narrative and descriptive writing as well as positively hilarious dialogue! The fixings are so good that a main dish plot becomes almost secondary but I can tell you that Cohen has done a fine job with that as well! What a treat for a debut novel!
Pepper Keane, a former JAG prosecutor, is hired by University of Colorado mathematics Jane Smyers to investigate the almost simultaneous deaths of three of her professional colleagues - two by murder and one by apparent suicide - people who seem to have had nothing more in common than front-running world class expertise in the rather arcane field of fractal geometry. Smyers's mathematical background convinces her that the probability of the three deaths being unrelated is vanishingly small and some long-standing bad blood between Keane and FBI Special Agent Polk, who conducted the now closed investigation, raises Keane's eyebrows and prompts him into letting himself become involved in re-opening the case.
Pepper Keane is a lovable, laughable character that Cohen has endowed with an anally obsessive nature and a serious overdose of existential angst that he indulges by attempting to plow through some of Heidegger's heaviest writings. Cohen obviously loves a good pun and I nearly fell off my chair laughing when he set up this positively outrageous example. Keane's brother, nicknamed "Two Toe" as a result of a war wound, muses aloud about where they are as he and Pepper drive out of Kansas. Suggesting that he had been waiting a long, long time to say it, Pepper responded "Two Toe, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore"! Ouch! Between you and me, I think it's much more likely that Cohen waited a long time to shoehorn that pre-conceived pun into a novel and I've got no doubt at all that he nicknamed his character Two Toe for the sole purpose of sticking that single line into the novel. It sure gets my unqualified approval! Cohen's sparkling wit shines throughout the novel with a veritable cornucopia of knee-slapping one liners.
As for the mathematics - Mandelbrot and Benoit sets, chaos, fractional dimensions, random walks, discussions of business applications such as fundamental versus technical analysis, weather prediction and crop markets - the basic concepts are presented in a lucid, simple and non-threatening fashion. And, frankly, since the mathematics aren't critical to the plot, the novel can be read and enjoyed even for those who haven't the remotest interest in such ideas!
Readers looking for a refreshingly different approach to a mystery hooked up to a healthy dose of humour should be well pleased with Cohen's first efforts. I'm certainly looking forward to more of his work.
Paul Weiss
The Fractal Murders is nothing if not unique! Here's a first novel based on a completely fascinating premise that presents interesting, realistic and superbly developed characters; that develops a heart-warming romantic relationship complete with all the bumps, bruises and detours of reality; that avoids prurient sex and violence as completely unnecessary to the advancement of a well-written novel; and does it all with well crafted narrative and descriptive writing as well as positively hilarious dialogue! The fixings are so good that a main dish plot becomes almost secondary but I can tell you that Cohen has done a fine job with that as well! What a treat for a debut novel!
Pepper Keane, a former JAG prosecutor, is hired by University of Colorado mathematics Jane Smyers to investigate the almost simultaneous deaths of three of her professional colleagues - two by murder and one by apparent suicide - people who seem to have had nothing more in common than front-running world class expertise in the rather arcane field of fractal geometry. Smyers's mathematical background convinces her that the probability of the three deaths being unrelated is vanishingly small and some long-standing bad blood between Keane and FBI Special Agent Polk, who conducted the now closed investigation, raises Keane's eyebrows and prompts him into letting himself become involved in re-opening the case.
Pepper Keane is a lovable, laughable character that Cohen has endowed with an anally obsessive nature and a serious overdose of existential angst that he indulges by attempting to plow through some of Heidegger's heaviest writings. Cohen obviously loves a good pun and I nearly fell off my chair laughing when he set up this positively outrageous example. Keane's brother, nicknamed "Two Toe" as a result of a war wound, muses aloud about where they are as he and Pepper drive out of Kansas. Suggesting that he had been waiting a long, long time to say it, Pepper responded "Two Toe, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore"! Ouch! Between you and me, I think it's much more likely that Cohen waited a long time to shoehorn that pre-conceived pun into a novel and I've got no doubt at all that he nicknamed his character Two Toe for the sole purpose of sticking that single line into the novel. It sure gets my unqualified approval! Cohen's sparkling wit shines throughout the novel with a veritable cornucopia of knee-slapping one liners.
As for the mathematics - Mandelbrot and Benoit sets, chaos, fractional dimensions, random walks, discussions of business applications such as fundamental versus technical analysis, weather prediction and crop markets - the basic concepts are presented in a lucid, simple and non-threatening fashion. And, frankly, since the mathematics aren't critical to the plot, the novel can be read and enjoyed even for those who haven't the remotest interest in such ideas!
Readers looking for a refreshingly different approach to a mystery hooked up to a healthy dose of humour should be well pleased with Cohen's first efforts. I'm certainly looking forward to more of his work.
Paul Weiss
hasselblad's review
funny
mysterious
fast-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? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence
Moderate: Homophobia and Misogyny
Minor: Fatphobia
jannie_mtl's review
4.0
I wasn't expecting that much from this self-published novel (that subsequently got picked up by a publishing company), but it was quite good. A murder mystery set in Colorado, it's got interesting characters and an intriguing mathematical component. I've added Cohen's second book [b:Bluetick Revenge|1781383|Bluetick Revenge|Mark Cohen|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1344270488s/1781383.jpg|1780209] to my to-read pile.
isovector's review
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? No
4.0
It's a fun murder mystery where nobody gets punched. Not even one time. The DREAM!
bugabusu's review against another edition
5.0
This book was an amazing surprise. I was at the used book store trying to find something I'd enjoy reading that was also a paperback as I was headed for 30 plus days of travel and need lightweight books (no room for any tech but my phone and there ain't no way this girl is reading on that thing). I picked this one up, put it down, and ultimately bought. Boy am I glad. I have always been a logical thinker and even though I try to suppress it I have always love math so the thought of math being involved in a fictional murder mystery got me all excited. Add to it the setting, Colorado and I was completely in. If you're one of those science-y/math people who watch fictional movies and pick it apart this book probably isn't for you. If you're one of those math-y people who just enjoy your topic being covered in fiction pick this book up! It's a good murder story. It's funny. There's even a romance in that film noir detective style. And best of all it has Buck and Wheat, two very cute, lovable dogs. I was super surprised and super happy that I got this and read it. And you will be too!
kat2112's review
4.0
The premise, to the non-mathematical type, may at first sound like a groaner. Lawyer-turned-private eye Pepper Keane of Colorado accepts what seems like an unsolvable case of three murders. His client, the no-nonsense math professor Jayne Smyers, is convinced the deaths of three peers is related to their expertise in fractal geometry, which she goes on to explain in great detail. Even Pepper, it seems, is scratching his head.
Nonetheless, the action that ensues in THE FRACTAL MURDERS is guaranteed to grab the interest of any mystery lover, science-minded or otherwise. Pepper's analytical mind ticks constantly as his research takes him all over the country and unfolds a conspiracy involving much more than fractals and parallelograms.
THE FRACTAL MURDERS is a well-structured procedural supported by a strong cast of recruited apprentices (hippie neighbors, beleaguered FBI agents, and giddy teacher assistants to name a few), and injected with the right amount of humor and romance to lend a sense of realism to the story. An open ending leaves room for a welcome sequel; to leave readers with just one Pepper Keane mystery just wouldn't add up.
Nonetheless, the action that ensues in THE FRACTAL MURDERS is guaranteed to grab the interest of any mystery lover, science-minded or otherwise. Pepper's analytical mind ticks constantly as his research takes him all over the country and unfolds a conspiracy involving much more than fractals and parallelograms.
THE FRACTAL MURDERS is a well-structured procedural supported by a strong cast of recruited apprentices (hippie neighbors, beleaguered FBI agents, and giddy teacher assistants to name a few), and injected with the right amount of humor and romance to lend a sense of realism to the story. An open ending leaves room for a welcome sequel; to leave readers with just one Pepper Keane mystery just wouldn't add up.
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