Customer Reviews

Body Copy: A Novel

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I read this book in 2 sittings. As a huge fan of murder mysteries in general and Robert Parker's "Spenser Series" specifically I found Craven's 1st effort to be right on the money and very promising. Craven's P.I. character, Donald Tremaine, is a likeable loner, well-crafted and brimming with personality and character. Craven hits all the necessary beats of an effective crime novel but his book stands out through his ability pepper the story with a ton of wit while simultaneously weaving in heartfelt emotion and psychological intrigue. I was fully engaged throughout and am craving some more.

I loved this book and could not put it down. I highly recommend it. Whether or not you like mystery/PI novels or not, this is a page turner with cool characters and great settings. I find it hard to believe that this is Craven's freshman effort - it reads like one of the greats. Buy it asap - you will not be disappointed.

I haven't enjoyed a book this much in ages. LOVED IT! Funny as hell and yet peppered with some genuinely moving insights into human nature. Oh yes, it's also a `whodunit' that draws you into the world of the upscale advertising scene when a titan of the industry is found murdered at his desk. The book follows former surfing champion turned detective, Donald Tremaine, who has been living the laid-back life in a Malibu trailer park. Catching waves and deciphering the Daily Jumble are the hallmarks of his day. That all changes when a good lookin' dame comes a-knockin' on his trailer for some assistance with a murder, and he finds himself pulled back into a life of crime solving. Get ready to ride shotgun with Donald as a fly on the wall on a fun ride through every nook and cranny of L.A., from the privileged world of old-money country clubs to the grittier environments of the city and everything in between. The people that Tremaine meets along the way are a real patchwork quilt of characters, and Craven has a gift for injecting a deep sense of reality into the story -- you feel that you are living it every step of the way. Underneath the humor and gumshoe narrative is a very astute depiction of human nature in all of its nuances. It's a fast ride that you won't want to miss. I read this book in two evenings and did not want it to end. Here's hoping there's a sequel in the works and that Donald Tremaine has many more cases to solve and we all get to go along for the ride.

This is very well done for the author's first body of work. It's a classic PI story. The main character, Donald Tremaine is, an ex-pro surfer. He's turned into a PI. His character is very laid back & likable, as are his dog & eccentric next door neighbor.
Tremaine is approached by a beautiful woman, Nina Aldeen, who hires him to find out who murdered her uncle. The police never found out & deemed it a cold case.
The story unfolds well. It's characters are all believable. Tremaine carries his laid back personality into the case, along with his dry sense of humor. Tough when he needs to be, he finds another unsolved murder along the way. Could they be connected? He needs to find out.
The book keeps moving at a good pace & is very enjoyable. Tremaine's character is someone whom many can identify with. I'd like to see Mr. Craven build this character into a series of books.

Mr. Craven's first effort is solid. I genuinely had a great time reading this detective thriller. Mr. Craven's observations on life range from insightful to hilarious. He doesn't "over do" either type and they are dead on. The characters compel you to read on and his sense of humor comes through over and over. And he IS funny. Looking forward to the next offering from Michael Craven.

I really liked this book. The story is woven well,written exceptionally well, and kept me engaged the whole time. The cleverness of the book is a testament to the author's creativity and his wit. Loved the detective. Had such a great combination of self-reflection and action. When is the next one?

I've read hundreds if not thousands of books in this genre and Craven's rookie effort is as solid as they come. The protagonist is extremly likeable and mixes a bit of the everyman with a bit of the man you want to be. The characters are textured and the plot pulls you in quickly. More than anything though this book is downright funny! Well done.

This book is both a smart read and a page turner. The author makes astute, witty observations while the reader is constantly propelled forward by the great plot twists. Tremaine, the P.I., is a perfect new character for the mystery genre. I am already looking forward to Craven's next book!

The mix of characters & the story make this one that was an enjoyable read & easy to take in all in one sitting. The pro-surfer turned PI Tremaine is a great character & I look forward to more from Michael Craven & this character. You will find that you get caught up in the story as a great detective model. Craven captures the classic PI genre just right & his ability to use his ad agency experience to incorporate that into the story line makes this all the better.

This rarely happens, but I immediately went back for a reread. The reason? Protagonist Donald Tremaine. He's smart, but not stuffy. Confident, but never pompous. He takes you all over LA like you wish a good host would. Body Copy has a compelling story line, engaging characters, and vivid scenes that link up masterfully. The overall style of the book is that nuanced kind of cool that most writers (and people in real life) wish they could so effortlessly achieve. Craven's writing is tight and poetic in its aptly clipped way. I anxiously await his next book.