Customer Reviews

The Big Wake Up (#5 in The August Riordan Series) (The August Riordan Series)

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Another suspenseful and funny mystery from Mark Coggins. The adventure begins when San Francisco private eye August Riordan witnesses a murderous rampage that couldn't happen in any other city. This event draws him into a search for an important body that is coveted by a collection of mysterious (and at times ruthless) South Americans. Along the way, this private eye had me laughing out loud with one sarcastic remark after another. An entertaining page turner, no question about it.

I've read his full series and this book is the best yet. The story is terrific and if you like this gum-shoe detective genre like I do you won't be able to put it down.

I've read all of Coggins' novels, and this is his best yet. Wild, funny, sharp-witted and full of action action action. As usual, Coggins populates his story with clearly-drawn characters you can't forget - from his sarcastic gumshoe hero to a chilling Egyptian embalming expert to a drag queen who appears in drag in a way you've never seen a queen appear in drag before. This is one funny, heartfelt, turbo-charged ride of a book.

I found the story in "The Big Wake-Up" to be intriguing, all the while keeping me on my toes for one twist after the other. I also enjoyed Coggins' good use of comedic timing. Really a great PI novel that will be enjoyed by any fan of the genre.

Riordan definitely wears the gummy shoes of his forbears - Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe among them - but he brings unique humor and sex appeal to his portrayal. And like the stories that Hammett and Chandler are famous for, this one has non-stop action. Guns are drawn; fists fly; no one is who they say they are or wants what they claimed to want.
So many of us have been fascinated with Eva Peron since the musical debuted in 30 years ago, and let's just say that this is Evita as you've never seen her before.
Fans of classic noir detective fiction will appreciate the ways in which *The Big Wake-Up* updates the genre, while remaining an original.

I've read and enjoyed all of the August Riordan series, and this is the best yet. Mark Coggins captures the texture of classic, hard-boiled PI stories brings them into the 21st century.

All of the August Riordan stories have excellent plotting, pacing, and thrills. Chris Duckworth, Riordan's colorful guide to modern technology, is always good for a few laughs. _The Big Wake-Up_ has all of this in spades _plus_ a high-concept plot worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster.

If you read the novels in order, you can see how Coggins has grown as a writer. But _The Big Wake-Up_, the fifth in the series, takes a big step up. It's the type of novel that should break him out of the mid-list and into best-seller territory. It's the best novel I've read in a long time.

Like other reviewers, I've read all of the August Riordan mysteries and found this to be the best yet. "The Big Wake Up" is a fast-paced, engaging read with all of the plot complexity fans of the series have come to expect. Hard-bitten San Francisco private detective August Riordan is true to form as he attempts to solve a very unusual missing persons case. Coggins is particularly good at using familiar Bay Area neighborhoods and attractions as settings for his stories and he doesn't disappoint with his latest work. Devoted fans and newcomers alike will find themselves waiting anxiously for the next in the series.

Another fast paced, imaginative, edge of your seat, Riordan thriller. Looking forward to Coggins' next book.