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A review by karentje
A Lethal Love by Max Walker
3.0
I liked this book, but I wasn't blown away by it.
It was very fluently written, with funny references throughout, and some very beautiful and unique imagery, which was a pleasure to read. I also loved the bits of Spanish dialogue and exclamations on the part of Alejandro! However, some of the plot twists were too implausible for me and that spoiled my enjoyment of the book.
The opening scene book was very powerful. There was a level of suspense that unfortunately died down a bit for the rest of the book, picking up only at almost the very end.
The investigation takes up most of the story, but it doesn't have that same edge as the opening scene. We don't have a sense of urgency and there seems to be little threat to Griffin from either the police or the real murderer. Alejandro believes in Griffin's innocence from the get-go, he doesn't even doubt him a little. That seems a bit gullible, even strange for someone in his particular profession. I'd have preferred Alejandro to hesitate a little bit and for the author to have used that bit of doubt to up the tension between both MC's.
I found it a bit difficult to believe that Griffin stopped drinking cold turkey after so many years of alcohol abuse, and without seeking help (AA?) or therapy of any kind. I would have also preferred it if he had made that choice for himself, whereas now it seemed in large part due to his meeting and wanting to impress Alejandro, who at that point was still more or less a stranger to him.
The secondary characters were fun and interesting, they made a very nice addition to the world of the book. They got me curious to know more of their stories.
It was very fluently written, with funny references throughout, and some very beautiful and unique imagery, which was a pleasure to read. I also loved the bits of Spanish dialogue and exclamations on the part of Alejandro! However, some of the plot twists were too implausible for me and that spoiled my enjoyment of the book.
The opening scene book was very powerful. There was a level of suspense that unfortunately died down a bit for the rest of the book, picking up only at almost the very end.
The investigation takes up most of the story, but it doesn't have that same edge as the opening scene. We don't have a sense of urgency and there seems to be little threat to Griffin from either the police or the real murderer. Alejandro believes in Griffin's innocence from the get-go, he doesn't even doubt him a little. That seems a bit gullible, even strange for someone in his particular profession. I'd have preferred Alejandro to hesitate a little bit and for the author to have used that bit of doubt to up the tension between both MC's.
I found it a bit difficult to believe that Griffin stopped drinking cold turkey after so many years of alcohol abuse, and without seeking help (AA?) or therapy of any kind. I would have also preferred it if he had made that choice for himself, whereas now it seemed in large part due to his meeting and wanting to impress Alejandro, who at that point was still more or less a stranger to him.
The secondary characters were fun and interesting, they made a very nice addition to the world of the book. They got me curious to know more of their stories.