Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
My number one requirement for a book is that it must be well-written. I'm old now and retired, so while I can spend as much time out of each day in reading as I choose, I'm increasingly aware that the number of those days for me is limited. Unfortunately, my to-be-read-list appears to be unlimited. As a result I've become very selective in my choice of reading material. I don't have time to waste on books which are poorly written. Since I have disliked book series for quite a number of years, I have no problem giving them a hard pass.
Until I find one as well-written as Dennis Lehane's Kenzie and Gennaro series.
What can I say? The man can write something fierce.
I probably would have been better off if I'd started with the first book in the series. Instead, it was book number 6 which caught my eye. Sadly, the reason it came to my attention was because the Kindle version was on sale for $1.99. Who am I to pass up a bargain? I read the first couple of pages and was so taken with Lehane's writing style and skill that I knew I had to backtrack. So I took out book number 4 from the library in ebook form. (Kindle didn't have that one on sale. I'm cheap, so sue me. Actually, did I mention that I'm retired? I'm on a fixed income now, which means books at full publisher's price aren't in my budget.) And here we are with "Gone, Baby, Gone".
It's excellent. I'm stingy with stars so the fact that this one got a full five from me should tell you how good I think this book is. I love a good mystery/thriller and this one pushes all the buttons. I will say I pegged most of the bad guys within their first appearances in the story but I attribute that to my vast experience reading mysteries, not to any lack of finesse on Lehane's part. Even so, there were a few twists which caught me by surprise. But more than anything, it is Lehane's skill which impressed me. He is one hell of a fine writer and I don't say that about very many writers. Jumping into the middle of a series is usually a bland experience. Most of the character development is done in previous installments, as well as the introduction of various secondary characters and backstories, which makes it a chore to slog through a story while missing half of the exposition. Not so with Lehane. He manages to impart just enough background to keep everything relevant without getting so bogged down in repetition that you lose interest in the current story. His writing is clean and most of the time is nearly invisible, as good prose should be, with the reader so caught up in the story being told that it stops feeling like reading. There is nothing worse than a writer so in love with his own voice that the reader has to stop and think about what they're reading. However, there are a few instances where his prose is nothing short of poetic. Man, can he put together a beautiful string of words when the mood strikes him! But he never does it enough to take the reader out of the story.
I don't do story synopses. If you want to know the plot read the cover. What I review is my impression of a book and tell you whether or not I recommend it. And I do. Recommend it, I mean. If you like a good mystery, it's here. If you like smooth, effortless prose, this book's got it. If you want to read a damn good book, I recommend this one. And yes, I've already taken book number 5 out of the library (again, not on sale, sorry Mr. Lehane) and am seriously considering going back to the beginning when I'm done with number 6. And I will likely read anything else Lehane publishes because he's now on my list of favorite writers.
Until I find one as well-written as Dennis Lehane's Kenzie and Gennaro series.
What can I say? The man can write something fierce.
I probably would have been better off if I'd started with the first book in the series. Instead, it was book number 6 which caught my eye. Sadly, the reason it came to my attention was because the Kindle version was on sale for $1.99. Who am I to pass up a bargain? I read the first couple of pages and was so taken with Lehane's writing style and skill that I knew I had to backtrack. So I took out book number 4 from the library in ebook form. (Kindle didn't have that one on sale. I'm cheap, so sue me. Actually, did I mention that I'm retired? I'm on a fixed income now, which means books at full publisher's price aren't in my budget.) And here we are with "Gone, Baby, Gone".
It's excellent. I'm stingy with stars so the fact that this one got a full five from me should tell you how good I think this book is. I love a good mystery/thriller and this one pushes all the buttons. I will say I pegged most of the bad guys within their first appearances in the story but I attribute that to my vast experience reading mysteries, not to any lack of finesse on Lehane's part. Even so, there were a few twists which caught me by surprise. But more than anything, it is Lehane's skill which impressed me. He is one hell of a fine writer and I don't say that about very many writers. Jumping into the middle of a series is usually a bland experience. Most of the character development is done in previous installments, as well as the introduction of various secondary characters and backstories, which makes it a chore to slog through a story while missing half of the exposition. Not so with Lehane. He manages to impart just enough background to keep everything relevant without getting so bogged down in repetition that you lose interest in the current story. His writing is clean and most of the time is nearly invisible, as good prose should be, with the reader so caught up in the story being told that it stops feeling like reading. There is nothing worse than a writer so in love with his own voice that the reader has to stop and think about what they're reading. However, there are a few instances where his prose is nothing short of poetic. Man, can he put together a beautiful string of words when the mood strikes him! But he never does it enough to take the reader out of the story.
I don't do story synopses. If you want to know the plot read the cover. What I review is my impression of a book and tell you whether or not I recommend it. And I do. Recommend it, I mean. If you like a good mystery, it's here. If you like smooth, effortless prose, this book's got it. If you want to read a damn good book, I recommend this one. And yes, I've already taken book number 5 out of the library (again, not on sale, sorry Mr. Lehane) and am seriously considering going back to the beginning when I'm done with number 6. And I will likely read anything else Lehane publishes because he's now on my list of favorite writers.
Having seen the movie first, I was worried I wouldn't enjoy this book as much as the other Kenzie/Gennaro mysteries. I needn't have worried. Just as dark and captivating without lots of plot left out of the film
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Liked the book, but do prefer the movie version...
Kinda started to get confused as to who was who and who did what and who thought this and who thought that, but that may very well be because this was my first Mystery that I've read.
Anyway, I really enjoyed the reading experience, and Patrick and Angie are hilarious! I'm surprised by how many times I actually lol'd while reading in quiet places :)
Kinda started to get confused as to who was who and who did what and who thought this and who thought that, but that may very well be because this was my first Mystery that I've read.
Anyway, I really enjoyed the reading experience, and Patrick and Angie are hilarious! I'm surprised by how many times I actually lol'd while reading in quiet places :)
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The story starts slow but turns into a real barn burner. It was hard to put down once it got going.
Lehane doesn't spend much prose developing his characters; their motives, their background are exposed slowly over the course of the story, much like the clues Kenzie trips over.
One of the best things about his books is that the Eureka moment when Kenzie finally puts it all together and cracks the case is believable, it's doesn't take a leap of faith on the readers part.
Highly recommended!
Lehane doesn't spend much prose developing his characters; their motives, their background are exposed slowly over the course of the story, much like the clues Kenzie trips over.
One of the best things about his books is that the Eureka moment when Kenzie finally puts it all together and cracks the case is believable, it's doesn't take a leap of faith on the readers part.
Highly recommended!
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Violent.