Customer Reviews

THE DEVIL WENT DOWN TO AUSTIN

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Author Rick Riordan is on a roll! In this story, a murder investigation of Tres Navarre's friend, yields Navarre's brother as the #1 suspect. No room for error in Texas--a certain death sentence is looming. Riordan displays quite an aptitude for characterizations, as well as a great grasp of the great state of Texas.

Tres Navarre, San Antonian private investigator with a PhD in English Lit is, as the saying goes, hip deep in alligators. It seems his paraplegic brother, Garrett, a programming phenom and Jimmy Buffet parrothead, has mortgaged the family ranch to help pay his portion of a high-tech start-up, Techsan Security Software, and the lender is about to foreclose. Techsan's software product has run into all kinds of problems and bugs since a corporate takeover offer was refused and now lawsuits are being filed by all their beta-testers. When Garrett's oldest friend and partner, Jimmy Doebler is found murdered and all the evidence points to Garrett, Tres decides to head on down to Austin, wade into this mess, against his brother's wishes, and see if he can sort out what's really going on..... Rick Riordan has outdone himself with his latest unforgettable mystery/thriller, The Devil Went Down to Austin. His compelling, intricate plot comes at you from several different directions and is full of powerful, riveting scenes and his cast of terrific characters are original and well drawn. But it's Mr Riordan's sharp, witty writing and attention to detail that really make this novel stand out. With a stunning climax that ties up all the loose ends and a very satisfying ending, this is an intriguing story that's a "must read" for all mystery/thriller fans. If you're new to the Tres Navarre series, start at the beginning with The Big Red Tequila and read them all. If you're already hooked, you definitely won't be disappointed this time out!

English professor-cum-PI Tres Navarre heads from San Antonio up to Austin just in time to see his brother Garrett arrested for murder. A highly personal case becomes even more personal when attorney Maia Lee, the past love Tres never got over, arrives to defend Garrett and uncover facts about one of her own ex-clients.

I read 'Devil Went Down...', the fourth Tres Navarre title, immediately after finishing the first one, 'Big Red Tequila.' It's clear that author Rick Riordan's style and plotting have improved over time. Not that they were ever bad to start with -- far from it. But though still packed with Riordan's trademark twists and turns, the story in 'Devil Went Down...' was easier for me to follow than the often convoluted plots of earlier titles. Part of the difference may be that there seemed to be fewer characters to keep straight in this story.

There's one element of this book I'm not so sure about. From time to time, Riordan interrupts the narrative to include anonymous email messages. I won't spoil anything by saying what relevance, if any, these have to the story. But for the first time in the series, the reader has information that's not available to our narrator. As I said, I'm still not sure what I think of that.

On the other hand, I want to thank Rick Riordan for not allowing this novel's scuba-diving scenes to become James Bond-movie-style underwater mega-battle parodies. That would have been a tough hurdle for me to overcome.

This story takes place almost entirely in Austin, not Tres' hometown of San Antonio. But the South Texas atmosphere is still strong, Tres is maturing as a person (in his world) and as a fully drawn character (in ours), the other characterizations are solid, and the story itself is powerful. Of the four Navarre titles so far, the third and fourth have been my favorites. Which suggests that even greater things are to come -- he wrote hopefully.

In all fairness, let's set the paradigm. I am a Parrothead, so, any book that even mentions Jimmy Buffett is on my must-read list. That's why I picked up Riordan's book. That is not, however, why I couldn't put it down. His characters are high-definition, his plot is intriguing and very timely, but what I enjoyed most was how he can turn a phrase and/or capture a feeling or a mood. From the "aluminum quality" of sinking beneath water, to Austin's "big-boned sister," his writing is truly superb, and very deserving of his many literary awards. This is a writer to watch. He has the urbane quality of a Burke, he approaches the dialogue ability of a Leonard, and his characters laugh at themselves like Parker, but there is really something special and unique about Riordan, his outstanding ability to trigger the senses with his words, to "show" (not "tell"). There was a time we all looked at Harris for that quality; turn your eyes toward Riordan.

As a mystery writer with my first novel in its initial release, I've been an admirer of Mr. Riordan's work since his first Tres Navarre book appeared in print four novels ago. Tres Navarre is a San Antonio PI and English professor, and this current case involves his brother Garrett as the prime suspect in a homicide. Jimmy Doebler gets murdered a short while after getting divorced from Ruby McBride, one of Garrett's business partners. Garrett has mortgaged the family ranch to start an Internet company. In THE DEVIL WENT DOWN TO AUSTIN, Tres has to solve the murder, clear his brother, and save the homestead. This book is another winner for Rick Riordan. Read it today.

This is a very well-written novel set in Austin, TX, where I live. Admittedly I am a bit biased on that account. However, considering all of the fiction I have read, this novel clearly shows the author's hard work and editing through its consistently descriptive writing, lack of cliches and paragraphs to skim, good story line, interesting characters, and the general flow of the text. I loved it and I believe that Amazon.com should actively promote this writer and his work. Carol Cunningham, attorney on sabbatical and fledgling author

I've read all of Rick Riordan's young adult fiction books -The Lightning Thief, The Sea of Monsters, The Titan's Curse - and so when I recently came across this one I just had to take a look. This is a fast paced whodunit thriller that will keep you guessing until the last chapters, and even though you'll probably figure out the killer before the end, the author still has one or two tricks up his sleeve for the grand finale.

Tres Navarre is a PI who knows his literature and enjoys spending time on the family ranch. When he learns that the ranch is about to become the property of the bank, he finds out that his brother Garrett has joined forces with Jimmy Doebler and Ruby McBride on a computer programming business that has mysteriously developed serious problems. The murder of Doebler, and Ruby's sudden association with the unsavory Matthew Peña add to the intrigue, but there are many more plot twists to bend your brain around. Family feuds and dark secrets abound, old flames resurface and memories lie submerged in the murky waters.

Well, you know I'd never be able to resist recapping this book to the tune of that classic Charlie Daniels song, so here goes:

Tres Navarre went down to Austin; he was looking for a bit of peace
Teach a summer class or watch the growing grass, he was usin' some elbow grease
Then he came across his banker sucking on a cold one and playin' it cool
And the banker shocked him dumb and gave him the news; he said "Boy, you've been made a fool
I bet you didn't know it, but I'm now tellin' this to you
Your brother's in a spot of trouble, and this ranch and you are through
Now he writes a pretty good programme, Tres, so give the man his due
But he bet the ranch and all he's got, `cos it's a thing he's just gotta do"
And Tres said "I know Garrett and if trouble's what he's in
Then I'll check it out and reel him in, `cos that's the way he's always been"

Garrett you jump on your keyboard and check your programme code
`Cos hell's broke loose in Austin and a virus did upload
And if you win you get this billion dollar IT gig
But if you lose, then Peña hits it big

Then Tres tracked down his brother and he said "Let's get this straight
The clock is ticking on the ranch and the bank ain't gonna wait"
And then before he knew the score Jimmy Doebler turned up dead
Then the arm of the law joined in and pinned it all on the parrothead

(Pause for some Jimmy Buffet music)

When the cops asked him, Garrett said: "Well you're pretty good ol' son
But I'm sitting here in this wheelchair here, so you tell me how it's done"

Water's in the orchard, run boys run
The devil's gone crazy and he's got a gun
Sendin' out the e-mails, wreckin' the code
Everybody's after the mother lode

This twisty thrilling book will keep you guessin' `til the end
Riordan plays his characters; you won't know who's a friend
And Tres said: "Devil's leavin' Austin and won't come back here again
I've told you once, I'll tell you twice, I'm the best that's ever been"

There's still water in the orchard, run boys, run
The devil's gone down with the setting sun
Programme's saved and the hacker's through
Time now for Buffet and a brew




Amanda Richards, June 30, 2007

Sometime PI, sometime college professor Tres Navarre thinks he's going to have a calm summer teaching at that the University of Texas in Austin, however even before he gets there he's informed by the family banker that the bank is about to foreclose on the family ranch, where he'd planned on staying with his wheelchair bound brother Garrett. Tres is shocked, he can't believe his brother has borrowed money against the ranch.

But borrow he did, as Garrett, his best pal Jimmy Dobler and Dobler's wife Ruby have started up a computer software company. They think they have the next best thing in encryption software, and Garrett is convinced they are going to make a fortune. So convinced that they turn down an offer by wealthy Matthew Peña to sell. Then Dobbler is murdered and it looks like Garrett did it. On top of that the software starts having problems and now Peña wants the company for less money.

So now Tres' calm summer isn't going to be calm at all. He has to find out who is framing his brother and why. He has ideas. Of course, it won't be easy. Evil is afoot. Danger too. Things aren't always what they seem in this rambling, exciting novel that I really liked. I think you will too. Tres Navarre is the kind of character that you can really sink your teeth into.

Tres Navarre is a private eye and English professor. His legless brother, Garrett, mortgages the family ranch to start up a software company in Austin, Texas. A dastardly take-over jackal tries to buy Garrett out for a mere three million and sabotages his new program when he refuses. Then Garrett is framed for the murder of one of his partners. There are suspense-laden scuba sequences. The real killer interpolates commentary into the text.
It is a well-written and ingeniously plotted page-turner and I feel churlish about denying it the fifth star, but the problem for me was a certain lack of originality. We have so many tough male private eyes. The plot involves adopted children and long-lost relatives like Ross MacDonald. The interpolated killer's voice reminds of Thomas Harris. None of this detracts from readability, so as far as entertainment value is concerned it's irrelevant, but it stops me putting Riordan in my pantheon of the great.

There aren't too many Hispanic PI's, but Tres Nevarre is one of the most interesting and tough minded. San Antonio and Texas sized culture are stirred together by this English teacher who knows how to craft a fun page turner, as evidenced by his Shamus, Anthony, and Edgar awards. A great many characters and situations keep you from accurate guessing, or being bored by the focus. Who did what to whom over the software code? Will the bank reposess the ranch? Are any or all of the deaths connected? which woman will become the love interest? How important is the English literature class? Who are the stupidist relatives? Will the Texas bigshot family have a play? Is Robert Johnson a cat? Is the way San Antonio and Austin really are? Are all the characters in this story related?

There a enough sinister situations, good guys, and victims and suspects to give you a fun read. The atmosphere and color are delightful and really nail the area. I once lived along the water where this story is framed, and the people and places are dead on. Tres is smart and tough. The writing is carefully, thoughtfully pointed at a large number of possible directions so you can never figger it out and are never board.

Those who like quick reads and want all their clues pointed out to them will not like this book. But most mystery readers will love it.