Customer Reviews

Burning Rose

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3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

Shirley Kennett (AKA "Morgan Avery") strikes hot again with "Burning Rose"! Kennett's right up there with my other favorites, Patricia Cornwell & James Patterson - if you like them, you'll love her! You've got to read her P J Gray series: "Gray Matter," "Fire Cracker," "Chameleon," & "Act of Betrayal" (the only one written under the name of "Morgan Avery", so don't be confused) - must reads!!! We're anxiously awaiting your next book, Shirley!

A friend recommended this to me after she'd read it. Now, normally, if this friend recommends something, I'll hate it. So I went into this prepared to read a few pages out of courtesy and and hope she wouldn't ask me any detailed questions. I was caught like a fish on a hook, though. I went for the futuristic tweaks, just enough to lift the story out of current time and into a near future inhabited by some of the wildest characters you're ever going to run across. You got to wonder how the author could come up with these characters - I mean, there's some vivid dudes and dudettes here, but in the context of the book they all seem to fit. I won't give away too much, but my favorite was Reggie, a tough-guy bodyguard who knows he has faults and doesn't worry much about them. A journalist named Casey is a good mix of idealism, spunk, and arrogance, and she needs all of those characteristics as things heat up in a story she's working on. She gets caught up in a high stakes adventure that's fresh and thought-provoking. The time slipped by while I was reading because the author pulls you into the world she's created, gives you a push at the small of your back, and away you go until the last page. Highly imaginative and entertaining. Take a big breath before you dive into this book, because you won't have time to come up for air.

Shirley Kennett is the highly successful author of four intricate murder mystery books featuring computer-savvy P.J. Gray, her young son, and her partner Leo Schultz. The manner of this series is highly intelligent, serious and intricate. This book I have just read, BURNING ROSE, is delightfully different. It is as if Ms. Kennett let her hair down and wrote for the sheer joy of writing. The whole concept is novel, exotic and delivered with extreme style and enthusiasm. The writing is informal, not studied like Dr. P.J. Gray, and contrary to the series which is set mainly in the St. Louis area, BURNING ROSE takes place all over the globe. The ideas expressed are in-your-face and the pace is consistently exciting. If you would like to read a totally innovative eco-thriller, this is the book to get!

A new turn for Shirley Kennett, known for her mysteries featuring psychologist-computer expert P.J. Gray. Burning Rose is set just far enough in the future to include computerized secretaries, world domination by megacorporations (or maybe this isn't the future!) and a bizarre assortment of masked outlaws called The Six who are determined to save the planet's ecology from destruction, even if it requires a murder or two. Casey Washington, a freelance reporter assigned to interview tycoon Robert Gunner, is sucked into this battle of giants. This sex-and-action-filled novel moves at breakneck speed, spiced by a tone that's more than a little surreal.

This book is quite a departure from the author's PJ Gray series. I picked it up assuming it was a series book, and kept expecting the familiar characters to come onto the scene. While I did miss PJ and Schultz, this book stands alone - and stands out. A journalist pokes her nose into places where it doesn't belong and gets swept up in events of worldwide significance. It's the near future - or is it? The science in this book isn't far-fetched, and could be happening today out there on the leading edge. Talk about exotic characters! There are some in this book that will be giving me the heebie-jeebies for a long time. Most of the characters have a dark side, so that you can't decide whether they are good guys or bad guys right away. An unlikely romance lightens the mood. Imagination rules the day here. You have to grab on and not let go until the last page. The pace is breakneck and the stakes are high. This is an absorbing, very different read. It's like the author just went on a romp, and if you want to keep up, you'll have to turn the pages fast.

Wow! Shirley Kennett's (Dakota Banks) Burning Rose, an exciting suspense thriller, presented two more kickass women, one you just love to hate! Burning Rose has acted on her own for many years, but has recently been selected to become a member of a group known as The Six. In philosophy, it appears that this group works to ensure that consideration of the planet is more important than profit by large corporations, although each of the individuals had personal concerns, such as saving large jungle animals in danger of extinction.

Burning Rose, no matter what she might say, was interested in only one thing--killing her father over and over. Her latest had been a government official who she had seduced and then killed...with a rose...

Her first assignment for The Six was to take out the head of a CEO, Robert Gunner. At the same time, Casey Washington, a freelance journalist, has gained, through a little subterfuge, an interview with him regarding his plans to build a controversial project in the Amazon rainforest.

The problem for Casey was that everything that she had read and researched showed that Gunner was a bottom-line type of exec and cared little about the environment. Casey had agreed to do the interview for those that supported his planned project; however, when she actually got to the interview, she was conflicted with her own feelings--and it didn't help that she was attracted to him!

But her ideals won out--and she lost the interview! So she tried to salvage the job for which she had already received a $10,000 advancement, but planning a different approach. Needless to say, it was not well received by her employer and was forced to return the money. Not willing to give up, however, she digs into a stash of her own and travels to South America as well.

Readers enjoy meeting each of The Six members and also watch as Robert Gunner plays many high-finance moves to bring about a plan to merge several large corporations under his bailiwick.

Burning Rose has done what she excels at doing; she has seduced Robert Gunner and is now living with him, as they plan to marry. Interestingly, Gunner has been doing some major changes in his business, keeping most of it secret, but some information has leaked out...and has reached The Six who feel that they must now postpone their assignment, pending what happens regarding the rain-forest project.

But Burning Rose doesn't agree...

Enter Casey Washington...

By now readers of Shirley Kennett/Dakota Banks know that they can plan on meeting strong, intelligent women as lead characters--a main reason for her having moved onto my favorite author list! Check out my review on Time of Death soon! Her novels are tightly woven, intricately complex and fascinating to follow the various plots that she has successfully created. The finish of this book is dramatic and wonderfully satisfying. This is an older novel, but is still available. If you enjoy thrillers, Burning Rose as the back cover says, showcases "Shirley Kennett at the top of her game." Unforgettable!

The Burning Rose is a wonderful read. I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend this book. As a matter of fact, I've read all of Shirley's books and they are all very entertaining. The Burning Rose is a taut and breathtaking story. Once again, Ms. Kennett has proved she is a master at telling a great story. Bravo Shirley.

Not bad. A lot a characters that were not tied together as well as I thought they could have been. Author could have streamlined story a little better.

What a waste of time this was (good thing it was a library book) but the author sets this in a future time without giving you any clues as to how far in the future. You need to figure this out on your own. Then the supposed heroine of the book comes up in the first chapter, but you lose her for the next 10. In fact, she doesn't come back in until its almost predictably boring. There is no character development or consistent story line either. The book jumps all over the place. I wouldn't waste my money or time and am not inclined to read any of the author's other books.