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book_concierge's review
4.0
Jackson Navarre III (a/k/a “Tres” Nevarre) has returned to San Antonio after 10 years in California. He had left in the wake of his father’s murder, and now he wants answers, but mostly gets trouble.
Riordan’s book is populated with colorful characters. In addition to Tres, there’s Lillian Cambridge, a talented photographer and Tres’s high-school love. Ralph Arguello made his fortune with a series of pawn shops and is completely loyal to Tres. Beau Karnau is a fading artist who has been Lillian’s mentor and business partner in a small gallery. Guy White is a reputed mob boss, who insists he is just a businessman and philanthropist. Jay Rivas is a cop with secrets to protect and a seeming vendetta against Navarre. Dan Sheff is the scion of an old family, heir to their construction business, and was recently engaged to Lillian (until she gave the ring back and then phoned Tres and asked him to come back from California). Garrett – Tres’s half-brother – is a paraplegic who is a computer whiz and drives a van decorated with plastic fruit and paintings of Carmen Miranda on its sides. And let’s not forget Robert Johnson, Tres’s enchilada-eating coffee-drinking cat.
The plot is appropriately intricate, involving old vendettas, past loves, unfaithful spouses, greedy politicians, and crooked cops. But Tres has a stubborn desire to get to the truth, and his old friends (and his father’s) are still willing to help him.
Riordan’s writing gives just the right flavor of San Antonio (and made me hungry for GOOD Mexican food). In all, entertaining and engaging. I’ll read more.
Riordan’s book is populated with colorful characters. In addition to Tres, there’s Lillian Cambridge, a talented photographer and Tres’s high-school love. Ralph Arguello made his fortune with a series of pawn shops and is completely loyal to Tres. Beau Karnau is a fading artist who has been Lillian’s mentor and business partner in a small gallery. Guy White is a reputed mob boss, who insists he is just a businessman and philanthropist. Jay Rivas is a cop with secrets to protect and a seeming vendetta against Navarre. Dan Sheff is the scion of an old family, heir to their construction business, and was recently engaged to Lillian (until she gave the ring back and then phoned Tres and asked him to come back from California). Garrett – Tres’s half-brother – is a paraplegic who is a computer whiz and drives a van decorated with plastic fruit and paintings of Carmen Miranda on its sides. And let’s not forget Robert Johnson, Tres’s enchilada-eating coffee-drinking cat.
The plot is appropriately intricate, involving old vendettas, past loves, unfaithful spouses, greedy politicians, and crooked cops. But Tres has a stubborn desire to get to the truth, and his old friends (and his father’s) are still willing to help him.
Riordan’s writing gives just the right flavor of San Antonio (and made me hungry for GOOD Mexican food). In all, entertaining and engaging. I’ll read more.
plusrich's review
3.0
2.5 stars, with potential for the series to improve.
This drug on and seemed like it could have been tightened up without losing anything. There was too much repetition. I'm tired of hearing about the martial art already, for example.
As a central Texan, I enjoyed the setting.
I might have to to try the oft-mentioned brand of tequila... but I'd have to already be drunk to want to try it mixed with Big Red.
This drug on and seemed like it could have been tightened up without losing anything. There was too much repetition. I'm tired of hearing about the martial art already, for example.
As a central Texan, I enjoyed the setting.
I might have to to try the oft-mentioned brand of tequila... but I'd have to already be drunk to want to try it mixed with Big Red.
genderqueer_hiker's review
3.0
Pretty nondescript and blah. I had a hard time keeping track of who was who, and why I should care. Sadly, this book was like a greyscale mystery
git_r_read's review
5.0
I was listening to THE LIGHTNING THIEF: Percy Jackson and the Olympians (my review) at the same time as part of this one. It's so amazing how talented an author can be to write two completely different genres and both of them be so highly enjoyable.
Tres Navarre is a well written character and, gosh, do I want to be his buddy. He's got a nice dry sense of humor, takes a hit and keeps on quippin', and has human foibles. And has an enchilada eating cat named Robert Johnson.
He comes back to town after ten years away in San Francisco after the shooting death of his father in their driveway. Ostensibly, he feels the need to solve the murder of his father, but he's there, also, to help his ex-girlfriend solve some problems with her business partner.
There are some possible ties to the Mafia and corrupt politicians. The possibility of all of this being tied with the murder of his father sucks Tres (and the reader...) in.
Five big ol' Texas beans....and maybe some bottles of Herradura...Tres' tequila of choice...
Tres Navarre is a well written character and, gosh, do I want to be his buddy. He's got a nice dry sense of humor, takes a hit and keeps on quippin', and has human foibles. And has an enchilada eating cat named Robert Johnson.
He comes back to town after ten years away in San Francisco after the shooting death of his father in their driveway. Ostensibly, he feels the need to solve the murder of his father, but he's there, also, to help his ex-girlfriend solve some problems with her business partner.
There are some possible ties to the Mafia and corrupt politicians. The possibility of all of this being tied with the murder of his father sucks Tres (and the reader...) in.
Five big ol' Texas beans....and maybe some bottles of Herradura...Tres' tequila of choice...
rebekahology's review
3.0
This book was a little disappointing. It's too long and frankly has too many characters to keep up with. Not a bad read, but I think I had higher expectations.
harvestlockwood's review
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? It's complicated
3.5
C: 4
A: 3
W: 4
P: 3
I: 3.5
L/R: 3.5
E: 4
3.6 = 4
A: 3
W: 4
P: 3
I: 3.5
L/R: 3.5
E: 4
3.6 = 4
barmatron's review
3.0
Solid mystery, interesting characters. A little dated in some of the attitudes (nothing unexpected for 1997) but plenty of Rick Riordan’s usual protagonist snark and delightful similes. He makes me chuckle.
lorimichelekelley's review
3.0
I was looking for something a bit grittier than my normal read, and I wanted something funny. This was supposed to fit the bill. It was okay. There were a lot of people to keep track of, and I didn't really care about either mystery and how they got solved. And Riordan describes every move in the fights, which is pretty boring. However, I did sort of like Tres and his mom. So, maybe I'll move on to the 2nd in the series. I haven't yet decided. Just got the new Liane Moriarty book, so that's first, of course!
terrrrrrr's review
2.0
Rick Riordan is a FANTASTIC writer, so writing-wise this book was awesome, but story-wise it was pretty terrible; everything was so generic that I didn't care much for the characters and just saw this as a waste of my valuable reading time. This book deserves one star, but I'm only giving it two because of how much I love Rick's writing style. If you want to read something that lets Rick's writing talent truly shine, I suggest you read the Percy Jackson series of books.