Customer Reviews

Eyeshot (A Sonora Blair Investigation)

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

 

 

Have you ever been in a car with someone who is learning how to drive a stick shift? If not, let me assure you, you will be bounced around without warning and it will be quite unpleasant until you get used to it or until the driver gets better.

In the case of 'Eyeshot', you'd better get used to it.

Hightower has created a wonderful concept for a police novel - how do you get the criminal when the suspect is a high profile prosecutor? Her characters work the outside edges of the system until they can finally make their move and it is an interesting concept and quite the challenge.

Unfortunately, it is made even more challenging by Hightower's choppy plot lines. Oftentimes, I felt like I was coming in to the middle of a scene or a conversation - the characters were meeting people I did not know - nor did I get clued in until much later on. Conversations were started and spoken almost completely in the shorthand that characterizes friendships - but I'm not friends with these people so I have no idea what they're talking about! It is not a good thing to make the reader feel like the third wheel!

So, I gave the book 3 stars, which means I do recommend it. Let me explain my reasoning. The underlying plot is so strong that the annoying habits of the writer do not overcome it. Or, to put it another way (and to return to my first analogy...) - I just got used to her poor use of the stick shift!

Succinctly and beautifully written, with a flawed lead character who immediately drew me in and had me cheering for her all the way through. Quite different from the rest of the current crop of female-detective-crime-murder-mystery heroines. I can imagine spending time with Sonora Blair and really enjoying myself! Looking forward to reading Hightower's other Blair offerings.

I saw Ms Hightower's first Blair novel at my local library and needing something quick and easy to read that week picked it up. The dialogue and plot make her works quick and easy. One can easily finish them off in one sitting. BUT, I agree with another reviewer here - for someone living in Lexington, KY I wish she would try to get her details a little straighter. Of course for anyone not from this neck of the woods, her errors are not apparent. But, to those of us in the KY/OH area it is annoying to say the least. I have read several of Hightower's other early novels and will likely read a few more. While she is no Cornwell, she does have characters and a writing method that makes her mysteries/detective novels easy to take and does not require one to think to much about the plot or story. I would recommend her early novels to anyone just to allow them the opportunity to see if her books appeal to them. Worth the minimal investment!

Now instead of waiting for a new book by a favourite author I can continue reading about Sonora Blair, and I think I'll enjoy it. Eyeshot was a great introduction, although not the first book to feature the rather-more human-than-most female detective. Sure, she didn't always get things right, and her mothering skills left a little to be desired at times, but why are so many women in this genre portrayed as super functional? No textbook forensics featured either, which was a welcome change. I didn't get much feel for the dynamics between Sonora and her partner Sam, but that's the beauty of being fresh to a series, I can look forward to learning a lot more about them. The story of Julia, the missing wife and mother, evolves into the tale of the killer and his family, and although I didn't find the plot wholly satisfactory I was soon caught up in the race to stop the killer. There's a liberal sprinkling of good, bad but never indifferent morals amongst the characters, and it all builds up at a cracking pace. My only question is this: What happened to Detective Baylor? He was mentioned several times, but Sonora and Sam never even got to speak to him. We all could have learned a great deal more about the case!

Julia Winchell is missing but she has left behind enough clues to solve her own disappearance as well as the death of another woman more than eight years before. Cincinnati police specialist Sonora Blair, short on both personality and brains, is merely along for the ride. Following the trail Julia Winchell has already blazed, she bungles the investigation on more than one occasion. The killer seems to be toying with her, he is understandably unimpressed with her sleuthing. In fact it looks like he is planning another murder right under the detective's nose.

Not as gritty and well plotted as a Cornwall thriller and without the excellent character development of a Laura King mystery, this book just limps along dogedly from start to finish.

Cincinnati homicide investigator Sonora Blair, widowed with two children, has lost some credibility with the department since she mishandled the case of a female-stalking serial killer (see Flashpoint). The last thing she needs is a new high profile case, but that is what she ends up with when Butch Winchell files a missing person's report. Butch's spouse Julia was last seen attending a conference in Cincinnati with her lover. At first Sonora and her partner, Sam Delarosa, think that if the woman turns up dead, either the husband or the lover killed her.

Evidence proves that Julia was murdered in cold blood. Her body was cut into small pieces and spread along the road between Cincinnati and her Tennessee residence to make identifying the body near impossible. Lady luck helps them prove that the body parts are Julia. The investigation turns in a direction neither law enforcement officer wants. Eight years ago, Julia witnessed an assailant drowning a pregnant woman in a college toilet, but was unable to prove anything because the culprit and the victim disappeared. While reading the local paper, she recognizes that killer is now a prominent local DA and media darling, and the victim was his spouse.

Julia leaves behind a tape that points the finger at the guilty party. However, Sonora and Sam know that it will not be easy to prove that such a law abiding citizen is a cold-blooded killer. The politico is aware of the duo's suspicions, but is arrogant enough to believe he can get away with a game of cat and mouse with his two suspicions, but is arrogant enough to believe he can get away with a game of cat and mouse with his two favorite cops. Sonora and Sam think the clock is running out because the DA's second spouse is pregnant and he makes it clear that he is unhappy with that situation. Sonora expects this person feels he can get away with the removal of a second spouse unless she can act quick enough to stop him.

Lynn S. Hightower is one of this reviewer's favorite authors due in part to the realistic picture she draws of her characters. She creates real people who have personal problems outside the job. The individuals have to wrestle with deep moral issues and personal demons every time they go out the door. Eyeshot is fast paced, believable, and totally enthralling. It is not a who-done-it but a how do we catch him (similar to Hitchcock's Frenzy) within the confines of the law.

Harriet Klausner

I read this book in one sitting, could not put it down! Other than the fact that the main charactor, Sonora, seems to be drawn either to emotionally deficient men, men that she can't have, or men that are so sensitive-they make you want to gag, she seems like a person with alot of depth. Several times I caught myself looking at the book jacket to make sure that this wasn't a sequel to another Sonora Blair thriller, because it really seemed like there was another story in there somewhere that I had missed out on. The plotline was good, the female serial killer was scary, and the pace was excellent. OK, I admit, I wanted her to end up with the guy in the end

Ms Hightower needs a new editor. I was hoping that after the first Sonora Blair book, her facts would get straighter. I know she's been to "an autopsy" to make sure her facts are straight, etc. etc. etc., but seriously folks. For someone that lives in the Lexington/Cincy area, she does NOT know the world around her.

As per the usual, here are some comments to MS. Hightower:

1) When a cop is speeding from Cincinnati to London, KY, it is fine to warn the KY State Troopers. Even the Ohio ones if you want, but not really any need for that; Kentucky is right across the river, and you probably won't see any Ohio State Troopers within the city limits. BUT WARNING THE TENNESSEE STATE TROOPERS? You're not GOING through Tennessee.

I'm forgiving the rest in this book, since this is most likely the best one of your four; but PLEASE please please get your local geography straight. I know this is merely "picking" for those readers that don't live in the area; but for those who do live in the KY/OH/TN areas, it's insulting.