The Curious Eat Themselves (Gollancz Crime) [Import] [Hardcover]

John Straley (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Orion (June 20, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0575061286
• ISBN-13: 978-0575061286
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Prose, Absorbing Mystery., August 3, 2003

By 

B. Clothier (Tacoma, Wa United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Curious Eat Themselves (Paperback)

Investigator Cecil Younger is called into action to solve the brutal killing of Louise Root in The Curious Eat Themselves. Root, a former client of Youngers, suspected corporate cover-ups at a remote mining camp where she was employed. Before Root could bring her evidence of environmental abuses to light, she is physically assulted, then murdered. Younger, along with a colorful cast of characters, vibrant landscape, and detailed plot line plunges headfirst into uncovering the truth.

Author John Straleys prose simply stated is beautiful. His writing is well researched, intelligent, at times intellectual. His characters are three dimensional and pragmatic. Main character Cecil Younger is a recovering alchoholic, has an autistic roommate, and fights depression. Straley does not pretend to make his protaganist a hero who solves the murder and gets the girl in the end. Instead, Younger is given a life full of serious flaws. For the mystery reader who grows tired of having nothing more than a love interest for the protagonist to attain insight into their private lives, you will find the life of Cecil Younger refreshing.

In addition, Straley is a genius at bringing the landscape and people of Alaska alive. Those elements become essential parts to the mystery. Through the rugged nature of Alaskan geography, and the spirit of the Alaskan, Straley brings high drama and a strong storyline to The Curious Eat Themselves. Unquestionably, his mysteries are unique to their setting, and profit from the elements that are native to Alaska.

The Curious Eat Themselves was strong, well-written novel rounding out this book into one absorbing read. Straley is a real writer with a flare for the English language not often seen in modern mysteries. This Alaskan adventure is a book well worth perusing.

About my grading system: I interpret Amazon.coms five-star ranking system as follows: 1 star = far below standards, 2 stars = below standards, 3 stars = meets standards, 4 stars = exceeds standards, 5 stars = far exceeds standards.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, April 13, 1999

By 

Susan Bumbalo (Camden, Maine USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Curious Eat Themselves (Paperback)

What an excellent story! Cecil is a great, believable character, the mystery is puzzling, and the descriptions of Alaska are evocative. Straley's writing is magical and sometimes stopped me cold. His prose is just as fine as James Lee Burke's.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reading! I live in SE Alaska and loved this book!!, February 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Curious Eat Themselves (Paperback)

Very good mystery. I am impressed with John Straley's writing!! I was born and raised in SE Ak and the attention to area was very well done!! Keep the books coming!