Customer Reviews

Capital Crimes

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

 

 

This book appears to me to be an almost exact copy of the story of Rasputin. He came from a religious background, faith healer, heavy drinker, seducer of women. Helped the Czar's son who had the same blood disease. Was poisoned, shot then drowned by a close associate of the Czar. This author took the Rasputin story and moved it from Russia to the United States and moved the time frame from the early 1900's to the late 1900's. My rating is low because it appears to me that the author did not give credit for his source of the plot.

Having read 18 of Sanders' books to date, I enjoyed "Capital Crimes" more than most of his works and as much as the "Deadly Sins" series. It moved quickly and was difficult to put down. "Caper" reads in a similar fashion to "Capital Crimes" and I would recommend either book.

I'll admit, this is the only book of Sanders that I've read other than the McNally Series (which I love), but I was very dissapointed with this book. The story was dull and the characters lacked wit and personality. Although I'm sure one day I will, this novel has made me disinterested in reading any of his other books.

I believe this is one of Sanders best books, I have read ALL of his work and really like this novel, it fills the gap between the Deadly Sins and the McNally Saga.

The book, if read ironically, would be a weak satire, but I don't think this is what Sanders intended. Coming at it as a Christian potboiler (if that's even a genre), it starts pretty bad and proceeds to fall flat on its bottom. The (laughable) descriptions of the sex act were just plain creepy, and those inclined to religion will hate the way Brother Kristos fulfills every stereotype of the preacher who is a money-hungry, hypocritical zealot. I'm not a Christian, and even I found it to be uncalled for.

Basically, the book is a whole list of failures. Put every category out there- narrative, characterization, dialogue, language- and all are found to be lacking. This was my first and last venture into the world of Lawrence Sanders, and if you're smart you'll never pick up his fiction to begin with. Zero stars.