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 [Larger view] | Absolute Certainty: A Crime Novel
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Average user rating:  | |
 Don't Waste Your Time | |
| There are lots of great legal mysteries and thrillers, but this isn't one of them. The characters (especially Marty and Geraldine) are one-dimensional stereotypes, and their situations are trite and boring (for example, Marty's trouble with her ex-husband over their kid is not exactly an original subplot). The prose is dull and unimaginative, and I had to force myself to finish this book. At the end, I felt cheated because certain things had not been sufficiently emphasized to give the reader a fair chance to guess the ending. There are a few insights into the legal system, but others (notably Grisham) do it way better. The setting will be a draw for some readers, but there are many other more interesting and creative novels with the Cape Cod locale. Final verdict: don't waste your time with this book. | |
 Am I expecting too much? | |
| I purchased this book based on the positive reviews published here, but after having read it, I have to strongly disagree with them. This book is largely filled with completely irrelevant information. Most of the writing is incidental to the plot and does not develop the story in any meaningful way. I found myself speed reading page after page of verbiage that seemed primarily intended to fill enough space to create a book of adequtate length. The entire meat of the story could have been significantly condensed, but then it would have been a short story rather than a novel. This type of writing is common - the author will go into (seemingly) endless detail about place descriptions or character relationships that are in no way central (or even peripheral) to the story. In the hands of a more talented writer, this information would be artfully woven into the fabric of the story to make it essential. Unfortunately, in the case of this book (as in many others), it just sits there like a dead weight taking up space. Additionally, the denouement comes completely out of nowhere. The culprit is utterly undeveloped throughout the novel, and barely even merits a mention until the end. I really didn't care enough about any of the characters to try to determine who the killer might be; nevertheless, I have to say I was shocked by the killer's eventual revelation simply because he was almost a nonentity in the novel. I guess this is the deus ex machina of suspense writing - make the killer unguessable by never mentioning him until the end! | |
 WOW!!!!!!Well - done! | |
| Interestingly, I met Rose Connors at a mystery author booksigning at a little bookstore in Brewster, MA. She was there with Philip Craig whose work I have read and enjoyed. He strongly suggested Ms. Connors work so I picked it up and looked it over. On the cover is a brief review by Perri O'Shuaghnessy whose latest book was my beach read at the time! I happen to love mystery stories. Well, let me tell you, this book is GREAT! It is so well written, the characters come to life. the story is fast paced - a real page turner!! I was actually reading the book while the RED SOX game was on and I am a huge Red Sox fan!! I just could not put this book down! I cannot wait to read Ms. Connors latest work. |
