Customer Reviews

False Conception (John Marshall Tanner Mysteries)

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

 

 

Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler and Ross Macdonald have not only found their peer in Stephen Greenleaf, they've found their superior. As an unabashed fan of Chandler's, I must concede, however reluctantly, that Greenleaf is not merely the successor to the hardboiled detective tradition established by Chandler and the others, but the finest practitioner the field has seen yet. The John Marshall Tanner mysteries are marked by the kind of crisp, literate, and often poetic prose usually associated with "mainstream" literary works; fully-fleshed characterizations; acute observations; topical issues; and complex, plausible plots.

Another stellar entry in the series, FALSE CONCEPTION finds Tanner embroiled professionally and emotionally in the lives of a wealthy couple unable to have a child except through surrogacy. When the surrogate mother he's approved for his clients disappears, and he sets out to find her, he unearths some wrenching secrets about all of them--including himself.

This is the kind of great read whose overtones will resonate within you long after you've finished it

The writing style of this book was so stilted and awkward that I almost abandoned the effort of reading it after the first chapter. As an example, here's the first sentence:

"What do you know about surrogate parenthood?" he asked, his lush black brows raised in elaborate innocence, as if the question were as offhand as a query about oat bran or Coxey's Army.

The plot is standard who's-the-father twisted family mystery fare, nothing original, but at least complicated enough to maintain interest. But I could have done without the overlong explanation of what surrogate parenting entails. And did I mention the bad writing?

Life is too short to read mediocre books like this. I would recommend Dennis Lehane or Robert Crais instead.

Wow! What a great find for me! This book is exciting, fast-paced, and realistic with a P.I. I truly like. The writing is crisp....the plot believable... and the mystery unravels page by page. I would highly recommend this to all true mystery lovers.

This is another excellent tome in the Marsh Tanner series. Greenleaf never fails us with his combination of acute observations on the human condition and cheery talk. I am sorry that he seems to have stopped writing. Maybe buying through the Kindle format gives him a penny or two of profit?

I love Steven Greenleaf's writing. It harkens back and requires some attention; little nuances that keep me interested besides the plots, which are always good. He has what used to be called "a turn of phrase." I'm always finding some phrases I want to put down in my quote book, because he's expressed something so well. If you want a little more than your average mystery novel, you'll love Greenleaf's work. They'll full of delightful little surprises!

This story started off really good. It was witty and there was definately a great storyline to follow - it was exactly what i was looking for after a few heavy crime novels. But 3/4 of the way, it started to introduce too many characters who were involved in the plot and I really couldn't be bothered with it anymore. I really didn't care why Clara had run away or where she had gone.

I have read much better crime novels and I don't think that I will be reading another by Stephen Greenleaf..I think I'd rather stick to Dennis Lehane.

As a mystery author with my debut novel in its initial release, I enjoy Stephen Greenleaf's John Marshall Tanner mysteries. FALSE CONCEPTION is one of my favorites. In this book, Tanner finds himself entangled in a case involving surrogate parenthood. A wealthy couple, unable to have children in the traditional manner, decide to take the surrogate route. Their surrogate mother, who seemed to have checked out solidly in advance, disappears early in her pregnancy. Tanner finds himself searching for the missing woman and uncovering secrets about everyone involved in the situation. FALSE CONCEPTION is a well-plotted topical book with vividly drawn characters. I recommend it highly.