レビュー要約

• 題材への踏み込みと構成の確かさが評価されている。専門性や分量を重く感じる読者もいるが、対象への愛情と読み応えが支持されている。

レビュー

• 次の作品も楽しみにしています。

  デビュー作から数年経って発表された第二作で、一作目とは趣の違う作品に仕上がっている。 そのため中盤に至るくらいまで馴染めなかったが、それ以降は物語の中へ引き込まれてしまった。 三作目はもっと早く発表してくれることを、強く期待します。

• Engaging mystery, great quirky protagonist

  This breezy mystery kept me entertained due to the engaging character of the opinionated protagonist - despite a plot that really didn't stand up and would not survive detailed analysis. PI John Darvelle has strong views on everything, from the gassy, tasteless beer he prefers to which neighborhoods of Los Angeles are bearable and which are not. He is hired by a famous movie director to find out if a young starlet with whom he had an affair is OK since the aging auteur had not heard from her. Darvelle tracks her down easily enough and even exchanges some words. Case closed. But of course, next day, she turns up dead. Darvelle decides to investigate and soon uncover a spooky prostitution ring called the "Pipe Girls." The participants promise never to divulge anything about their clients. They are very well paid but if they talk, they are killed. The plot allows us to see inside the LA studio world and takes us on a tour of the city which the author clearly knows like the back of his hand. Darvelle keeps up a lively conversation with us,his readers. "You know what I mean? You know what I mean," he says, as he scatters random observations about life at us. Usually, we do know what he means. The book is only mildly marred by the longwinded denouement and the superfluous chapter of pontification with which it concludes.

• Great read!

  I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was a fan of the first novel by M. Craven and was hoping that he had kept some of the same characters. He didn't and that was a good thing in hindsight. His new detective John Darvelle proves to be unique in the genre. He's a quirky, opinionated and very funny lead character who loves his domestic beer and ping pong. Half the fun of this book was hearing Darvelle's takes on wildly random subjects as he's slowly investigating and picking the case apart. I would recommend taking this book to the beach this summer, but bring another, because this one will be finished with days to spare. Are you going to love this novel? You're going to love this novel.

• P.I. character needs adjustment

  This novel is OK but the P.I. is so obnoxious in his way of speaking. At first is is amusing but as it keeps up it becomes annoying. The story is good with twists and turns and a surprise ending. If only the main character wasn't such an annoying person the story would be far better. Occasional "asides" are fine but after every sentence or paragraph...not so much!

• a lovely and fun mystery noir

  I was really surprised at how easy it was to get into the story. The characters are vivid and fun. It has a light funny sense of humor . It brings you back to the feel of old Hollywood and a mix of the new. The plot was hull of surprises and you did not see the end coming. A great enjoyable read for fans of mystery and drama. It would make a wonderful movie.

• A crisp, refreshing read...

  While John Darvelle is a man of specific tastes, he is far from one-dimensional. Michael Craven’s gift for subtlety ensures that all of his characters are well developed and not clichéd caricatures. His authentic (and comical) depiction of L.A. conveys what most die-hard Angelenos fail to articulately express. Craven is also able to tell a complex story in a way that doesn’t lose the reader. This book has moments of sadness, elation, depravity, and triumph. Rarely does entertainment seamlessly integrate that much depth. I look forward to Craven’s next one.

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