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henrismum's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Take away: I love these books. Too bad this is the last one available in audio and then there is only one more in text.
Narration: David Colacci - a different narrator than the first four, but still good.
Normal Speed- Accelerated Speed
New - Second - Third - Committed
Series- Non Series - Non-Fiction - Author
Listening to this book was a chore.
I'm glad I listened to this book.
I didn't want this book to end.
I could not wait to be done with this book.
Average, but better than anything I've written.
Narration: David Colacci - a different narrator than the first four, but still good.
Normal Speed
New - Second - Third -
Series
I'm glad I listened to this book.
I could not wait to be done with this book.
Average, but better than anything I've written.
laurapk's review
2.0
I loved the pacing and the writing in this one much more than the previous 2 novels, but the ending was forced and rushed. I predicted who the killer was but their mental state swings were incompatible with logic: they were crazy, but they were composed enough to plan a murder and fool the police? And they went all hallucinating at the end? Yes, the character dynamic was nice, although rushed at the end. Greene's alleged decision to return to homicide is waaay rushed. I appreciated the sense of urgency, and I thought it was interesting Rotenberg opted not to include any court drama, but at the same time, the story ended too quickly. At the end it felt like eating a delicious but not yet ripe apple.
Spoiler
Maxine, the nannyalexandriarosee_'s review against another edition
4.0
It was weird for me to be starting with what is currently the last book in a series, and yet the book was great even without all of the background of the last 4 books. It wasn't hard to follow, and I knew there would be gaps in character chemistry, but I still enjoyed the book.
kailadan's review against another edition
4.0
Robert Rotenberg has written another great detective story, another loving ode to the city of Toronto. The series' characters, including the city itself, are terrific - interesting and complex. The author is very careful and sparse with the text - it's a very quick read with a good plot and some twists. I love the very specific locations and mentions of Toronto's history and the fact that you can actually visit the spots (including a shout out to my home town!) Looking forward to the next in the series. Thank you Simon and Schuster and Net Galley for the advanced copy though I'm going to buy my own copy as well to keep the set complete!
seejanereadbooks's review
4.0
It reads like an old episode of Law and Order in Toronto. Perfect for a 3 hour plane ride or day at the beach. I’d read another.
jilljemmett's review
5.0
Ari Greene was a detective in Toronto until he was charged with murder. When they eventually cleared his name, he went to England and met the daughter he never knew existed. Now he is working at a construction site in Kensington markets. His daughter, Alison, is supposed to be in journalism school, but she dropped out to start the blog, Kensington Confidential. She writes about the controversies in that neighbourhood, including the condos being built by Livingston Fox. When Livingston Fox is murdered, Greene finds his body. Greene goes back to working alongside his former coworker Kennicott so solve this murder.
This story was fast paced and thrilling. I read it in just a couple of hours.
Being from Toronto, I loved all the references to the city. I could picture where everything was happening, including most of the stores that were mentioned. I felt a close connection to this story.
I haven’t read any other books in the series, but it was easy to pick up. Things in their past were explained quickly, so the story could move forward. At the same time, I learned enough about the characters to understand them.
This was a great read, especially for Toronto residents!
This story was fast paced and thrilling. I read it in just a couple of hours.
Being from Toronto, I loved all the references to the city. I could picture where everything was happening, including most of the stores that were mentioned. I felt a close connection to this story.
I haven’t read any other books in the series, but it was easy to pick up. Things in their past were explained quickly, so the story could move forward. At the same time, I learned enough about the characters to understand them.
This was a great read, especially for Toronto residents!
canada_matt's review against another edition
5.0
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Robert Rotenberg, and Simon & Schuster Canada for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
After much anticipation, Robert Rotenberg is back with his fifth novel in the Ari Greene series. Jam-packed with action, this crime thriller will have the reader flying through the pages with ease as the search for another killer commences. Forced to reinvent himself, Ari Greene is back in Toronto and working on a construction site. When he discovers the body of real estate magnate, Livingston Fox, Greene’s former detective senses kick into high gear. Detective Daniel Kennicott now heads up the Homicide team investigating the case and is the first to acknowledge that his former mentor seems unable to shake the skill of discovering dead bodies. As Kennicott begins his investigation, it becomes apparent that Fox was anything but much-loved in the community. Numerous people had motives to see him taken out, including a community activist who had butted heads with the man over many of his recent projects. Lurking behind the scenes is Alison Gilroy, a anonymous blogger and British transplant who is the child that Green never knew he had until his recent trip across the Pond. Alison’s work and sleuthing has put her in a precarious position, one that she is even hiding from her father. While Kennicott peels back the onion to discover the contrasting life Fox had in comparison to the rest of his family, the detective discovers that there might have been a secret in the works for an upcoming low-income housing complex. Could Fox have been turning over a new leaf in order to give back? Might Alison know more than she is telling everyone? Will Ari Greene be able to shed the past skirmishes he had with Kennicott and the Homicide Division too bring a killer to justice? All is revealed in this stunning piece that Rotenberg crafts with precision. Perfect for those who love a good Canadian crime drama set in the heart of the country’s largest metropolis.
I have long been a fan of Rotenberg and his work, so it pained me to wait so long between novels. However, the wait was worth it, as I found myself fully committed to the book and all the developments found therein. Rotenberg was faced with some significant decisions after Ari Greene was railroaded in the last novel. Having him return with Alison allowed for significant character growth, as well as tapping into that strong parent-child bond that is sure to develop. This offshoot, as well as Greene’s new post-Homicide life, fuel the narrative throughout and allow Daniel Kennicott to assume a more independent role, where he can lead the case in his own direction. The supporting cast of characters also present strong avenues to propel the narrative in numerous directions and are varied enough to keep the story interesting. The murder plot itself is intriguing, presenting the contrast between lucrative real estate deals and the needed housing complexes that the ‘common person’ can afford. Rotenberg’s development of this premise keeps the reader hooked and forging ahead in a story that offers little time for rest. Short chapters help to keep the pace alongside a wonderfully crafted Canadian feel to the narrative, while not getting too emotional or syrupy. Rotenberg is a master at his craft and while I understand he is otherwise employed during the day, I can only hope he has more story ideas that he can quickly get to paper for his adoring fans.
Kudos, Mr. Rotenberg for another wonderful piece. I have been keeping an eye out for your work and praying that you’ll show that Canada has a place in the crime thriller genre. You have outdone yourself here!
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
After much anticipation, Robert Rotenberg is back with his fifth novel in the Ari Greene series. Jam-packed with action, this crime thriller will have the reader flying through the pages with ease as the search for another killer commences. Forced to reinvent himself, Ari Greene is back in Toronto and working on a construction site. When he discovers the body of real estate magnate, Livingston Fox, Greene’s former detective senses kick into high gear. Detective Daniel Kennicott now heads up the Homicide team investigating the case and is the first to acknowledge that his former mentor seems unable to shake the skill of discovering dead bodies. As Kennicott begins his investigation, it becomes apparent that Fox was anything but much-loved in the community. Numerous people had motives to see him taken out, including a community activist who had butted heads with the man over many of his recent projects. Lurking behind the scenes is Alison Gilroy, a anonymous blogger and British transplant who is the child that Green never knew he had until his recent trip across the Pond. Alison’s work and sleuthing has put her in a precarious position, one that she is even hiding from her father. While Kennicott peels back the onion to discover the contrasting life Fox had in comparison to the rest of his family, the detective discovers that there might have been a secret in the works for an upcoming low-income housing complex. Could Fox have been turning over a new leaf in order to give back? Might Alison know more than she is telling everyone? Will Ari Greene be able to shed the past skirmishes he had with Kennicott and the Homicide Division too bring a killer to justice? All is revealed in this stunning piece that Rotenberg crafts with precision. Perfect for those who love a good Canadian crime drama set in the heart of the country’s largest metropolis.
I have long been a fan of Rotenberg and his work, so it pained me to wait so long between novels. However, the wait was worth it, as I found myself fully committed to the book and all the developments found therein. Rotenberg was faced with some significant decisions after Ari Greene was railroaded in the last novel. Having him return with Alison allowed for significant character growth, as well as tapping into that strong parent-child bond that is sure to develop. This offshoot, as well as Greene’s new post-Homicide life, fuel the narrative throughout and allow Daniel Kennicott to assume a more independent role, where he can lead the case in his own direction. The supporting cast of characters also present strong avenues to propel the narrative in numerous directions and are varied enough to keep the story interesting. The murder plot itself is intriguing, presenting the contrast between lucrative real estate deals and the needed housing complexes that the ‘common person’ can afford. Rotenberg’s development of this premise keeps the reader hooked and forging ahead in a story that offers little time for rest. Short chapters help to keep the pace alongside a wonderfully crafted Canadian feel to the narrative, while not getting too emotional or syrupy. Rotenberg is a master at his craft and while I understand he is otherwise employed during the day, I can only hope he has more story ideas that he can quickly get to paper for his adoring fans.
Kudos, Mr. Rotenberg for another wonderful piece. I have been keeping an eye out for your work and praying that you’ll show that Canada has a place in the crime thriller genre. You have outdone yourself here!
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
pgchuis's review
3.0
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.
3.5* rounded down. I read the first three instalments of this series a while ago (although I have only vague memories of them), but have not read the fourth book, where Detective Ari Greene is apparently accused but then absolved of murdering his married lover. This is referenced a lot and has led to him quitting the police. Nevertheless, he gets very involved when he discovers the body of a prominent Toronto developer on a construction site.
There were lots of things to like about this story; it was a quick read with vivid characters and the plot moved quickly. There was a nice array of potential suspects with plausible motives, who were gradually eliminated from suspicion.
However, I was thrown off by the opening scene, which failed to convince me - maybe the author has knowledge I lack of immigration procedures, but the balance of power in that exchange seemed wrong. Then there was Ari's involvement with the defence of the prime suspect, despite the fact that he was a witness in the case and also failing to stop himself investigating as if he were still on the police force. Conflict of interest alarms were going off in my head and again, maybe this was all acceptable legally, but it made me mistrust Ari. Allison was a character I could have done without; she was also drawn in a slightly morally ambiguous way and I think we were supposed to feel sympathy for her, but I couldn't really get on board with her blogging ambitions.
Finally there was the ending, with the perpetrator descending into madness before our very eyes. I struggled with the motivation of the murderer and "madness" didn't wholly convince me. I think I'd borrow this one from the library, but not buy it myself.
3.5* rounded down. I read the first three instalments of this series a while ago (although I have only vague memories of them), but have not read the fourth book, where Detective Ari Greene is apparently accused but then absolved of murdering his married lover. This is referenced a lot and has led to him quitting the police. Nevertheless, he gets very involved when he discovers the body of a prominent Toronto developer on a construction site.
There were lots of things to like about this story; it was a quick read with vivid characters and the plot moved quickly. There was a nice array of potential suspects with plausible motives, who were gradually eliminated from suspicion.
However, I was thrown off by the opening scene, which failed to convince me - maybe the author has knowledge I lack of immigration procedures, but the balance of power in that exchange seemed wrong. Then there was Ari's involvement with the defence of the prime suspect, despite the fact that he was a witness in the case and also failing to stop himself investigating as if he were still on the police force. Conflict of interest alarms were going off in my head and again, maybe this was all acceptable legally, but it made me mistrust Ari. Allison was a character I could have done without; she was also drawn in a slightly morally ambiguous way and I think we were supposed to feel sympathy for her, but I couldn't really get on board with her blogging ambitions.
Finally there was the ending, with the perpetrator descending into madness before our very eyes. I struggled with the motivation of the murderer and "madness" didn't wholly convince me. I think I'd borrow this one from the library, but not buy it myself.
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