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3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
The gist of it.
It took me ages to finish this book, which is new for me when it comes to Lanyon. Despite my efforts to get emotionally engaged in these characters it simply didn't happen. I find myself eagerly leaving it for something else to amuse myself: Fallout 4, One Punch Man and at one point even to contemplate on the return of Superman's beard.. -_-
Lanyon is one of my favorites, but it seems her books work for me when she's channeling Raymond Chandler- when between action and few laughs, tone sometimes gets morose and romance gets bittersweet, etc. So, as much as I like that Lanyon is challenging herself and pushing in some different directions; this caper, romanticized Europe travelogue with silly situations and try-hard-to-sound-hip characters was not really my cuppa.
Noir Lanyon >>>> NA Lanyon.
*sighs* This book was okay but is not one I'll be re-reading.
For once, I never really warmed to Jefferson. And George... well, no, I didn't like him, either.
Jefferson seemed like a VERY annoying teen, not a 22 years old man. And, gosh! He's travelling for Europe using as a guide a book that was old when he was born? While uploading pics to Instagram??? And there were chat-speak. Out-loud. I... no, really, I don't know what was the meaning of that.
And George comes out as an asshole. Sorry. He kisses Jefferson and then tells him it was because he wanted to be the first. Afterwards, he has sex with him, I guess for the same reason, because he promptly refuses any chance of a relationship between them.
They do that a lot, too. Ending a never begun relationship.
Oh, well, I finished it, didn't I?
For once, I never really warmed to Jefferson. And George... well, no, I didn't like him, either.
Jefferson seemed like a VERY annoying teen, not a 22 years old man. And, gosh! He's travelling for Europe using as a guide a book that was old when he was born? While uploading pics to Instagram??? And there were chat-speak. Out-loud. I... no, really, I don't know what was the meaning of that.
And George comes out as an asshole. Sorry. He kisses Jefferson and then tells him it was because he wanted to be the first. Afterwards, he has sex with him, I guess for the same reason, because he promptly refuses any chance of a relationship between them.
They do that a lot, too. Ending a never begun relationship.
Oh, well, I finished it, didn't I?
Si je suis loin d’avoir chroniqué toutes mes lectures de cet auteure sur le blog, je pense en revanche avoir lu tous ses livres traduits en français.
Autant dire que je n’allais pas passer à côté de celui-là, qui reprend un peu le schéma habituel du jeune homme sans historie qui se retrouve embarqué dans quelque chose qui le dépasse bien vite.
Ici, il s’agit de Jefferson Blythe, un Américain débarqué en Europe pour passer des vacances en suivant le guide de voyage laissé par son grand-père.
L’idée est super fun et le décalage entre ce que Jeff attend et la réalité de pays ayant évolué depuis près de 50 ans participe à la bonne humeur.
il faut ajouter à ça que, suite à un quiproquo, Jefferson se retrouve pris en chasse par des truands à la recherche d’un œuf dont il n’a jamais entendu parler.
Tout ça marche très bien, mais je suis restée sceptique à l’arrivée de la romance.
George est carrément antipathique et, s’il n’a sans doute pas tord sur le fond, je n’ai pas compris son comportement, ses changements incessants d’avis m’ayant complètement sortie d’un personnage que j’étais pourtant prête à aimer.
L’enquête est elle réussie, bien menée et franchement pas si facile que ça à démêler pour un livre qui lorgne vers la romance.
J’ai par contre été un peu agacée par les multiples allers et retours des deux personnages principaux qui doivent sans doute passer la majorité de leur temps dans des trains, et je n’ai pas trouvé d’intérêt à la présence des touristes américains (ni à la plupart des gens rencontrés par Jefferson lors de son périple d’ailleurs), à tel point que j’attendais un dernier retournement de situation avec eux qui n’est jamais venu.
On est donc dans un livre très typique de Josh Lanyon, avec un certain style assez caractéristique. Mais, pour une fois, j’y ai préféré l’enquête aux personnages, ce qui est assez rare.
Autant dire que je n’allais pas passer à côté de celui-là, qui reprend un peu le schéma habituel du jeune homme sans historie qui se retrouve embarqué dans quelque chose qui le dépasse bien vite.
Ici, il s’agit de Jefferson Blythe, un Américain débarqué en Europe pour passer des vacances en suivant le guide de voyage laissé par son grand-père.
L’idée est super fun et le décalage entre ce que Jeff attend et la réalité de pays ayant évolué depuis près de 50 ans participe à la bonne humeur.
il faut ajouter à ça que, suite à un quiproquo, Jefferson se retrouve pris en chasse par des truands à la recherche d’un œuf dont il n’a jamais entendu parler.
Tout ça marche très bien, mais je suis restée sceptique à l’arrivée de la romance.
George est carrément antipathique et, s’il n’a sans doute pas tord sur le fond, je n’ai pas compris son comportement, ses changements incessants d’avis m’ayant complètement sortie d’un personnage que j’étais pourtant prête à aimer.
L’enquête est elle réussie, bien menée et franchement pas si facile que ça à démêler pour un livre qui lorgne vers la romance.
J’ai par contre été un peu agacée par les multiples allers et retours des deux personnages principaux qui doivent sans doute passer la majorité de leur temps dans des trains, et je n’ai pas trouvé d’intérêt à la présence des touristes américains (ni à la plupart des gens rencontrés par Jefferson lors de son périple d’ailleurs), à tel point que j’attendais un dernier retournement de situation avec eux qui n’est jamais venu.
On est donc dans un livre très typique de Josh Lanyon, avec un certain style assez caractéristique. Mais, pour une fois, j’y ai préféré l’enquête aux personnages, ce qui est assez rare.
You can read my full review of “Jefferson Blythe, Esquire” at my web site.
3.5*
Jefferson is embroiled in farce from the moment he steps on British soil, dangerous farce but still amusing.
The bad guys - Bella, Ray and Norman - were classically inept, bringing the Ealing comedies to mind. Hapless hero managing to out smart the bungling badies!
I hope it is not meant to be a serious entanglement with the criminal class but as a darkish comedy I enjoyed the romp.
Not sure I ever warmed to George though, Jeff should definitely trace Colin down! I liked the link back to Grandpa's days and I learned a few things - Egg MacGuffin included!!
Enjoyable, not outstanding as some of Josh Lanyon's can be.
Jefferson is embroiled in farce from the moment he steps on British soil, dangerous farce but still amusing.
The bad guys - Bella, Ray and Norman - were classically inept, bringing the Ealing comedies to mind. Hapless hero managing to out smart the bungling badies!
I hope it is not meant to be a serious entanglement with the criminal class but as a darkish comedy I enjoyed the romp.
Not sure I ever warmed to George though, Jeff should definitely trace Colin down! I liked the link back to Grandpa's days and I learned a few things - Egg MacGuffin included!!
Enjoyable, not outstanding as some of Josh Lanyon's can be.
This isn't your usual Josh Lanyon. Well, at least I didn't think it was her usual kind of story. It took me a bit to warm up to the MC's and even now it's finished I'm not sure how I feel about George... I would have given it a higher rating, but the ending was extremely abrupt in my opinion. I could barely rate that a HFN!
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
- Lao Tzu
You know what you're getting when you pick up a Josh Lanyon book, a well told story with spell-binding writing. And that's what you get with Jefferson Blythe, Esquire.
Walking into the restaurant was like walking into a jewel box. Floor-to-ceiling mirrors, sparkling crystal glasses, vases filled with tall lilies, an enormous glittering chandelier coiling down from the ceiling. The décor was art deco done in ivory and dark wood. The gold-rimmed, green-and-white china looked like something that would be served at the Mad Hatter’s tea party.
Lanyon always paints a descriptive picture, especially when it comes to the suspense element of the story. It's fast paced. When the hero's heart starts to pound yours does too.
I ran past a row of lightless windows, small shops and office buildings closed for the day. No help there... Another corner, another empty road followed by a stretch of cobblestones, a fountain, flowering bushes, stone benches. Where was I? A private courtyard?
The only aspect of this story that fell short for me was the romance. There were times that Jefferson came off as a bit needy and clingy.
“Then why don’t you stay? You’ve got to be tired. Why not spend the rest of the night here and head back home tomorrow?”
“I’ve got to get back now.”
“A couple of hours isn’t going to make a difference.”
...
“George, okay, I understand if you can’t spend the night, but can’t you just…talk to me? I don’t understand what’s happening between us. It seems like we’re drifting farther and farther apart, and it’s the last thing I want.”
Spoiler
I also feel that the ending was too abrupt. It just ended; I felt there was a lot unresolved.I think I would recommend this for the mystery half of the story. For romance standalone Lanyon has a huge back catalogue in particular I loved [b:The Ghost Wore Yellow Socks|6033480|The Ghost Wore Yellow Socks |Josh Lanyon|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1337312025s/6033480.jpg|19427738].
**ARC courtesy of Carina Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
I hated to do it, but I had to just give this two stars- which might even be generous. I'm not as adept at book reviewing as a lot of people here, so I'll just get to the crux of what I didn't like about this book, the romance between Jefferson and George. Normally Lanyon is wonderful at creating chemistry between her characters- Adrien and Jake being the best examples- but in Jefferson Blythe there is just nothing there. I could barely believe they were friends much less lovers. I might have helped if they'd spent more time together, but George often disappears for long stretches and only ever really shows up to scold Jefferson. In the end what you're mostly left with is a not terribly interesting travelogue from a character who's not that sympathetic or that intriguing.
P.S. My experience was not helped by the fact that I bought the Audible narration. The narrator's nasal, breathy voice only highlighted Jefferson's whiny, childish personality.
P.S. My experience was not helped by the fact that I bought the Audible narration. The narrator's nasal, breathy voice only highlighted Jefferson's whiny, childish personality.
