Scan barcode
A review by lhart2222
The Axeman's Jazz by Ray Celestin
2.0
Going into this book I was extremely excited. Already familiar with the true story of the Axeman, the use of this crime and the added details sounded right up my street. Unfortunately, I was let down by the book for multiple reasons.
Giving us three main perspectives, with others littered throughout, all doing their own investigations into the Axeman’s killings. Chopping and changing to each person all on different trails made each thread seem less and less important.
Making these three the primary focus of the book, it lacked any real excitement. Not allowing the reader enough time with one character before switching again. It was hard to care about any of them or their stories.
An unknown person who would slay New Orleanians in the night with an axe, while remaining unnoticed. Taking the real and terrifying case of the Axeman. The author did his best job of making an already tailor-made villain shrouded in mystery secondary. Making him feel more like a prop in the story of these other people.
I found myself lacking enjoyment throughout. Every time I’d put the book down, I felt there was little reason for me to pick it back up. Plodding for most of the plot, it was boring. The only thing exciting was the Axeman, who faded into the background, in favour of less interesting characters.
With improper build-up and too much going on elsewhere, the “big” moments in this book just felt flat. Which I think is this book's biggest downside. At no point was I made to care enough about anyone for their fate to impact me.
Away from the plot the book was well written and flowed nicely. The setting was immense and great to immerse into, but the plot made it hard to stay engaged for the full 420 pages.
Overall, the use of the Axeman could have been done so much better. This killer could have been any ordinary serial killer and the book would have been no different. Reimagining an unsolved crime and making it take a back seat made zero sense. The best part of the book was the last five sentences.
Giving us three main perspectives, with others littered throughout, all doing their own investigations into the Axeman’s killings. Chopping and changing to each person all on different trails made each thread seem less and less important.
Making these three the primary focus of the book, it lacked any real excitement. Not allowing the reader enough time with one character before switching again. It was hard to care about any of them or their stories.
An unknown person who would slay New Orleanians in the night with an axe, while remaining unnoticed. Taking the real and terrifying case of the Axeman. The author did his best job of making an already tailor-made villain shrouded in mystery secondary. Making him feel more like a prop in the story of these other people.
I found myself lacking enjoyment throughout. Every time I’d put the book down, I felt there was little reason for me to pick it back up. Plodding for most of the plot, it was boring. The only thing exciting was the Axeman, who faded into the background, in favour of less interesting characters.
With improper build-up and too much going on elsewhere, the “big” moments in this book just felt flat. Which I think is this book's biggest downside. At no point was I made to care enough about anyone for their fate to impact me.
Away from the plot the book was well written and flowed nicely. The setting was immense and great to immerse into, but the plot made it hard to stay engaged for the full 420 pages.
Overall, the use of the Axeman could have been done so much better. This killer could have been any ordinary serial killer and the book would have been no different. Reimagining an unsolved crime and making it take a back seat made zero sense. The best part of the book was the last five sentences.