Amazon.com: Briarpatch (9780241115374): Ross Writing as Bleeck, Oliver Thomas: Books

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Customer Reviews

12 Reviews

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

4.2 out of 5 stars (12 customer reviews)

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38 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Edgar Award Winning Mystery, January 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Briarpatch (Crime, Penguin) (Mass Market Paperback)

Ross Thomas is a vastly underappreciated writer who sucessfully blends fast-paced dialog, humor and suspense with unique characters and totally original plot twists. If you're unfamiliar with Thomas, this book is the perfect introduction. If you're already a fan and haven't read this one, you've been missing out. The plot doesn't exactly defy description, but a short synopsis hardly does it justice. Like most of Thomas's novels, Briarpatch tells the tale of murder, politics and corruption. Ben Dill, the likeable-loner hero, comes back to his hometown searching for his sister's killer. The town itself becomes an integral character in the story, and if you are able to guess the identity of the locale, you've solved the OTHER mystery of the book. If you're not already a Thomas fan, you will be after this highly entertaining book.

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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great storytelling., December 19, 2006

By

Michael G. "mikefromrochester" (Rochester, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)

This review is from: Briarpatch (Paperback)

Benjamin Dill of Washington, D.C. makes his living as an investigator for an obscure Senate subcommittee. His investigative powers are put to the test when his own sister, a policewoman, is murdered.
Briarpatch is an extremely well written mystery told as a third person narrative. Most of the action unfolds in Dill's hometown, an unnamed city in the southwestern United States.

Just as in all Ross Thomas novels, there is plenty of urbane humor. However, unlike most Ross Thomas novels, the story itself is a fairly mainstream, straightforward one. Missing are the way over-the-top characters and situations Thomas fans are used to encountering.

Briarpatch is a well crafted mystery novel noteworthy for having a very smooth narrative flow, an appealing cast of characters, clever dialogue and an engaging plot. This is a book all mystery fans will enjoy.

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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful writing, so-so plot, September 12, 2005

By

Eric Van Der Walde (ann arbor, michigan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Briarpatch (Paperback)

This was my first Ross Thomas novel. I had heard from friends what a wonderful writer he was and was eager to give him a shot. The writing is truly outstanding. His desciptions left me alternately laughing and shaking my head in amazement that someone could describe things so perfectly.

The plot however leaves a bit to be desired. It is a rather conventional whodunit. It was a bit too straightforward for my tastes and most readers will figure out the ending well before getting there. Having said that it was entertaining and the language Thomas uses makes it well worth taking the time to read.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Original Publication Date?
It seems to me that the fact that this book was originally published in 1984 should be included in the book's description. Read more

Published 2 months ago by Gary W

5.0 out of 5 stars Briarpatch
Another brilliant book. Carefully intense & intelligent.
Great story, never predictable. Thrilling to follow, well plotted & easy to stay in pace with. Read more

Published 14 months ago by Medina Ba

4.0 out of 5 stars Is this a roman a clef?
I picked this up because I was on a quest to read some Edgar Award winners. I thought it well-written and fun. Read more

Published 16 months ago by S. E. Thompson

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful storyteller
This was the first of his books that I read and I was hooked. I could not believe that he would be able to tie all the disparate story lines together in a way that would not seem... Read more

Published 21 months ago by Domingo A. Rocha MD

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding style that is soooooo comfortable to read.
After only a few pages, I knew that this author was a great writer. There's something very comfortable about reading a Thomas book. Read more

Published on February 15, 2009 by Reads Thrillers

5.0 out of 5 stars A Better Whodunnit
Let's face it, we live in a YOUTUBE/A-D-D world where attention spans last about as long as...hey, is that a shiny quarter? Where was I? Read more

Published on December 3, 2008 by Kregg Jorgenson

5.0 out of 5 stars truely great american literature
I studied English in Europe in college and I don't understand why Ross Thomas was not on the menue... Read more

Published on March 21, 2007 by M. Kaltwasser

2.0 out of 5 stars WAS THERE REALLY NOTHING ELSE TO GIVE THE EDGAR TO?
Ross Thomas isn't exactly one of my favourite authors, but I liked some of his other books, so I didn't miss the occasion to read his Edgar-winning novel (his second, because he... Read more

Published on December 14, 2001 by X.L.

5.0 out of 5 stars Unknown Treasure
A fellow book lover tipped me off to the great books authored by Mr. Ross Thomas last summer. Since then, I have read nine of his books and Briarpatch is one of the best. Read more

Published on October 15, 2001

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Inside This Book (learn more)
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Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
yellow brick duplex, fudge ripple, funeral suit

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Anna Maude Singe, Jake Spivey, Harry the Waiter, Harold Snow, Clyde Brattle, Captain Colder, Daphne Owens, Ace Dawson, Clay Corcoran, Tim Dolan, Hawkins Hotel, Felicity Dill, New York, Senator Ramirez, Betty Mae Marker, First National Bank, Press Club, After Dill, Hartshorne Junior, Kansas City, Benjamin Dill, The Mexican, Miss Singe, Ben Dill, Child Senator

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