Scan barcode
A review by pgchuis
Heart of the City by Robert Rotenberg
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.