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A review by rembrandt1881
Fair Warning by Michael Connelly
4.0
I'm going to say first that I think there will be some spoilers for this one but it's more about the nature of the characters than the plot itself. I have gone through the three audio books in this series in about two weeks and I think they are all very solid. They have an energy that maybe is missing from the Bosch and other more police based books of this type. Jack Mcevoy being a reporter is a good aspect but also the most maddening. Of all of Connelly's world of characters, Jack is the one that seems to have the flaws that are actually a hindrance to his ability to get things done.
The story in this one is fine its solid. It might flow a bit better than the two previous volumes with a lot less of the random times where characters have to give exposition to one another that is really for the readers benefit. The perspective from the perps on this are the weaker parts of the story to me and in this case, they don't give a lot. It feels like it's filler for pages.
Now I want to just get into the characters a bit. I think that everyone in this world seems kind of dumb when it comes to Jack. Here we have a reporter who has solved two serial cases no one else thought of who when he comes with a story, gets questioned. I need some other explanation of the gap in time and lack of trust because as far as I can tell he's still always right. It would also help to know if he has blown the money from two best sellers since his car is a decade old again. Is he reckless?
The other issue I have is that it seems to be a statement about reporters which I guess can be true but in this kind of book I expect to start to like him at some point when he puts the greater good above himself. But, it also makes this good. Normally the do it on their own against the system guys are in law enforcement so that when they step out it is still personal yet the greater good. For Jack the idea of these damn stories being first and foremost is both annoying but true to him. I can't get past how many times I'm pissed off as he goes back to the need to break the story first. I honestly an thinking the entire time, here is another book deal regardless and a documentary. It also is how he keeps sabotaging his relationship because he can't just let something little go because he is so worried about his work.
At the end of the day this book has a good cast if characters. Jack's flaws make this him a good character. The only problem I have is it seems that Connelly tries to put too many current topics in at some point. It dates the work in a way but I am looking forward to another Jack adventure.
The story in this one is fine its solid. It might flow a bit better than the two previous volumes with a lot less of the random times where characters have to give exposition to one another that is really for the readers benefit. The perspective from the perps on this are the weaker parts of the story to me and in this case, they don't give a lot. It feels like it's filler for pages.
Now I want to just get into the characters a bit. I think that everyone in this world seems kind of dumb when it comes to Jack. Here we have a reporter who has solved two serial cases no one else thought of who when he comes with a story, gets questioned. I need some other explanation of the gap in time and lack of trust because as far as I can tell he's still always right. It would also help to know if he has blown the money from two best sellers since his car is a decade old again. Is he reckless?
The other issue I have is that it seems to be a statement about reporters which I guess can be true but in this kind of book I expect to start to like him at some point when he puts the greater good above himself. But, it also makes this good. Normally the do it on their own against the system guys are in law enforcement so that when they step out it is still personal yet the greater good. For Jack the idea of these damn stories being first and foremost is both annoying but true to him. I can't get past how many times I'm pissed off as he goes back to the need to break the story first. I honestly an thinking the entire time, here is another book deal regardless and a documentary. It also is how he keeps sabotaging his relationship because he can't just let something little go because he is so worried about his work.
At the end of the day this book has a good cast if characters. Jack's flaws make this him a good character. The only problem I have is it seems that Connelly tries to put too many current topics in at some point. It dates the work in a way but I am looking forward to another Jack adventure.