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jdcorley's reviews
184 reviews
Might as Well Be Dead by Rex Stout
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
One of the all time best Wolfe capers - melding more gags, jokes and wisecracks with more extremely gruesome corpses and a killer that's fanatically ruthless. Only the inexcusable withholding of a critical clue from the audience keeps us reading, though.
Pietr the Latvian by Georges Simenon
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
In the first Maigret novel Maigret himself is a very modest presence. But the tone, the feeling of the Maigret series at its best. A mysterious set of events, the police think they know what it is, but the reader and Maigret both know it doesn't quite fit. Critical events took place long before the events of the novel; the criminals know them intimately and the police only catch them in the sidelong shadows of old photographs and the uncertain recollection of those who never knew the whole story. In the end the crime is always emotional, and Maigret succeeds through listening as much ws anything else. The ending is a bit much to swallow perhaps, but all the seeds of greatness are here. Everything you could want in a debut.
Pleasure Ground by Orrie Hitt
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is essentially the same story that Hitt used so many times - a young wife, a tyrannical farmer, a meatheaded protagonist drawn into her web. However this time around Hitt seems to have hit a little more on some actual characterization and a climax that goes beyond "and then traditional heteronormativity won again". Although it wraps up just as suddenly as usual, there actually is a denouement, a woman takes actual action - and not just one woman! A real shocker for someone who is used to Hitt's parade of sex dolls and madonnas. Honestly it may be the work of his I like the best.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
Killer's Choice by Ed McBain
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This novel establishes the structure of most of the 87th precinct novels going forward: two crimes, at least one a murder, as two teams of 87th guys try to work it out. What makes this one really work is the standout description of the victim. The police get many different angles on her from many different people and it's clear over time that she had many facets to her, and put on many identities with others Then you can work backwards to see how she felt about them. Her relationship with her ex-husband especially resonates. He's in love with her but both of them felt inadequate for each other. A tragic end, and a coincidental statement from a random citizen makes the case. Our guys from the 87th may not be geniuses but we feel like they're ready for the opportunities that come their way.
Black Helicopters by Caitlín R. Kiernan
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This second, slightly more focused, installment in Kiernan's attempt to meld cosmic horror and paranoid spy thriller, seems to find its feet much more quickly and go much further and faster than the initial installment. A critical theme, in my view, is that the post-Vietnam thriller is always ultimately not about the enemy but is really about the perfidy, cowardice and crawling ass-covering of the allies. I saw the twist coming a mile away - so obvious that it barely qualifies as one, but for the same reason its much more deeply satisfying than the more common potboiler twists coming out of left field. Instead it felt thematic, felt like it was again and again drawing attention back to the same crimes, screwups and cover-ups, in an endless spiral. What a pleasure.
Too Hot to Handle by Orrie Hitt
dark
emotional
fast-paced
3.0
If you're reading an Orrie Hitt book and you're five percent from the end and thinking "this is just getting good" then prepare yourself for the most unbelievable Return To Midcentury Heteronormativity that you've ever been bored by. He even kills the lesbian lover! Cmon man. You can give us a happy ending without the husband just popping back in and forgiving everything.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Trafficking, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Sexual harassment, and Classism
The Inugami Curse by Seishi Yokomizo
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The Kindaichi novels have fully hit their stride; a series of bizarre murders seems impossible, though technically any might work the questions of motive and of method remain. But the book plays fair and when Kindaichi writes down everything he knows in a bullet point list, everything you need to prevail is right there. I myself solved several elements of the mystery but couldn't get all the way to picking the killer. A great classic style mystery - a hateful will from a deranged patriarch, multiple branches of seething family members, and of course gruesome killings. What mystery fan could ask for more?
The Hole by Pyun Hye-young
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A marvel of psychological misdirection and obliqueness. A thriller, sort of, but a thriller that's already over. The characters don't yet know it, but it's over.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Creeping Waves by Matthew M. Bartlett, Nathan Ballingrud
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Bartlett is finally embracing the rat-a-tat ultra - short style that makes for a gruesome, fun but ultimately shallow read.
Dead Game by Michael Avallone
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Although Noon is in fine form and the crime is a particularly pulp caper, there's a gruesomeness and cruelty at work here that keeps you from really having fun. It can't escape notice how the women act and are portrayed either. Not Avallones finest moment.