Customer Reviews

Adirondack Detective

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book is a novel of engaging frightening crime adventures. In Private Investigator JASON BLACK,The Author a former State Police member has given us a man at the prime of middle age who works wholeheartedly for his world of small towns,long lakes, and large forests, where honest people care about and reach out to help one another. This book is a tribute to a very special place on earth and a testimony of enduring love for the connected communities that thrive there in The Adirondack Mountains of New York State. The reader will meet some of the people who live and work inside of the "Blue Line." The author, the son of a logger,will introduce you to Wilt, who carves Bears out of logs with chain saws. And, you'll meet Dale, a pilot, who flies a vintage Stinson seaplane, who sometimes takes hunters into remote areas. It is truly a special place on earth. Read it, you'll love it.

I was disappointed in this book. I have never been to the Adirondacks but have always wanted to visit. This book may have captured the surroundings but the people dont seem real. As a 20-year veteran of law enforcement I was expecting a good mystery. What I read was a story where there was too little mystery and far too much detail. It reads like a police report. Short choppy sentences and no mundane details left out. Who wants to read about every time he feeds his dog and a description of every meal he eats? One of the characters is kidnapped and held captive but there is never a motivation for the suspects' actions. Police reports contain facts but not feelings, emotions, opinions or conclusions. This reader was left without emotion at the conclusion of this book. How disappointing!

I just finished Adirondack Detective last night. John Briant weaves an alluring tale of intigue, mystery, romance, honor, and integrity set in NY's own Adirondack beauty. Having traveled through the region yesterday on business myself made reading the last 50 climactic pages last night even more exciting. John's special way of writing made me feel like I had become old friends with all the characters in Adirondack Detective - As I ate lunch yesterday in Old Forge I could imagine these fictional people coming into the diner and taking their places there as well beside me.

John presents his story in a way that honor's the beauty and reverence of the Adirondack region, and it leaves me wanting to come back there again and again. I take my hat off to you John Briant and eagerly await your next book. In the meantime I recommend Adirondack Detective to anyone who admires and respects the nature and beauty of the Adirondacks (or any great park in our nation) and who enjoys a great intrigueing mystery - romance story. The only problem I forsee is settling the arguement between my two teenage daughters as to who gets to read my copy of Adirondack Detective first!

Private Investigator Jason Black makes his appearance in this novel by John H. Briant. Although a work of fiction, the author has woven his own persona into his hero giving Jason real life image. Jason is retired from the NYSP and trying to live the carefree, good life of the mountains,but, it is necessary to supplement his meager retirement income working as a P.I. The author provides a wonderful portrayal of the beauty of the Adirondacks, while spinning the exciting adventures of Jason. A sit in front of the fireplace, feet on the coffee table, relaxing, enjoyable read. (Wayne E. Beyea, author of "Fatal Impeachment.")

Don't read very many books, but really enjoyed this novel. Thought that the plot was well laid out and kept your interest from cover to cover. Character was played out very good also. Not the usual murder mystery story.

"Adirondack Detective" is a great book. If. If you are teaching neophyte writers how not to write a book. Or if you are teaching prospective editors how to edit a manuscript. You will find plenty of examples to show your students what bad writing entails. I could go on and on with some examples, but three should suffice. The author constantly makes geographical mistakes about the Adirondack Park where he has worked and lived for decades. (I lived there for 20 years.) Example: He talks about driving from a lodge in Lake Placid to the Saranac Lake Hospital in 20 minutes. Can't be done. Thirty minutes would be pushing it. The repetition in this book will drive you crazy: Every waitress (and there are dozens of them) are named, although all are fictional. We are told over and over again how much tip he leaves. We are told over and over again about how everybody smiles all the time. We are told how good his very frequent showers feel. We are told every time he leaves or returns home how much food and water is in his dog's dishes. We are told how almost everyone is a real good friend; not once, but several times. We are told over and over again what he cooks to eat and how he cooks it. We are told - opps, sorry, getting as repetitious as the author. And thirdly, there are a lot of time problems in the story structure. For example, we know it's Fall and night is coming earlier each day. Yet, he cooks a turkey dinner for his girlfriend, which they start eating at 3:30. Then they spend an hour cleaning up the place, and then decide to walk up Bald Mountain. They would be caught in the dark! And he compounds the issue by telling about coming back down the Mountain and meeting other climbers on the way up. Okay, here's a fourth example. He keeps forgetting what he has told us. For example, me muses that his mail box at the post office must be getting full. Just a few pages prior, he told us he called the postmaster and was told his mailbox was full. This book is published by Chalet Publishing, a little firm in Old Forge, New York. I suspect it is so small, they don't have editors. And it shows. This may not be the worst book I have ever read, but it's very close.

I thought overall this was a pretty good book. I'm very familiar with the Adirondacks and, if anything, I think that Briant could have spent more of his descriptive ink on the Adirondacks than on his and his dog's food. I can visualize where he's talking about because I've been there but I wonder about someone who hasn't.

The characters are fairly interesting. The story lines are adequate.

I think overall that Briant has done a decent job. I've already ordered the second and third. Perhaps a few of the shortcomings I've noted have been improved?!?

This book is a great read. It flows along nicely, just as if Mr. Briant were telling you the story face-to-face. There is humor and excitement enough to hold any reader's attention. The locale descriptions..the mountains, the lakes, the woods, all seem to come to life on the pages of this book, and the characters are believable. I can't wait for the sequel!! Good work John.

I'm a bit familiar with the settings described, but there is very little "mystery" involved... but a lot of description of what he had for breakfast. The author seems fascinated by waitresses, too. And why doesn't he take his dog with him? The diagogue seems unreal, too... it reads like I would expect a police report to be! No name.. he might sic his law buddies on me!

Although the author is a relative I submit this review from my own perspective. Anyone who is acquainted with the area of the Adirondack Park inside "The Blue Line" will enjoy this book. Jason Black covers the Towns, Villages and Hamlets well, as he served the area and knows the people and where the good food is. He knows the loggers and those fine ordinary people that inhabit this special place. The suspense builds as a local Old Forge waitress comes up missing. Hopefully mankind and the caretakers of these vast forest regions will keep it from being abused. If you like the mountains and you like ordinary people, you will enjoy this book. Personally, I think Jason Black should spend more time chopping wood and feed his dog less. I give the author thumbs up on this book. Fast reading and interesting and brings back memories to the people that were here a long time ago.