Customer Reviews

2 in the Hat: A Novel of Suspense

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

In the town where I live, there aren't many unsolved murders. In Boston, however, there are a lot. There are some that were killed in a bathtub, but their bodies were never found. There are some gang bangers, from different cliques that are getting shot by the same gun. And, of course, there are the Prom Night Murders, where couples are found dead, dressed to the nines.

In 2 in the Hat, we follow a couple of detectives who are trying to solve the Prom Night Murders, 10 years after they started. Once again, a couple turns up dead, wired to trees in formal wear. There are too many similarities to make it the work of a copy cat, but they end up needing someone who doesn't know a whole lot about the case to lend them a hand. Turns out though, that hand may also have the answers to the other murders.

I got this book from the Kelley and Hallcompany. I was really impressed with how creative the murders were that Yessayan wrote about. I always feel so morbid when I feel like that, but it's the kind of creative writing every author wants to be able to pull off. I imagine Yessayan's time as an ADA probably helped with this.

There were a couple of things about this book that I had a hard time with. First, each chapter is from the standpoint of a different character. There are a lot of players in this book, including the two detectives, the ADA, two convicted felons who now try to get gang bangers off the street, the Prom Night Killer, you get the point. For the first few chapters, I had a hard time deciphering who all of these guys were. The longer I read with them, the easier it was, but it took a while.

I am always a fan of the murder mystery. It keeps my mind ticking, trying to figure out through the twists and turns who the killers are. I wish in this book, the killer would have been kept under wraps for a little longer. The ADA figures out who the Prom Night Killers is about 2/3 the way through, so the suspense is kind of gone from that portion of the plot. I mean, obviously he could be wrong, but the evidence is pretty tight. There are a couple of twists through the last 1/3, but I like waiting until the last little bit to know who my killer is going to be.

I will definitely keep my eye out for more Yessayan books in the future! I give 2 in the Hat 3 bookmarks.

When former Boston Assistant District Attorney Raffi Yessayan released his first novel "Eight in the Box," he was writing about what he knew. Set in his Massachusetts hometown, "Eight in the Box" explored the police hunt for a serial killer known only as the Blood Bath Killer. The novelty of Yessayan's plot was that no bodies were ever uncovered in the investigation--only tubs of bloody water. With detective Angel Alves and ADA Conrad Darget on the case, however, the trail was never cold. "Eight in the Box" was an entertaining, if improbable, addition to the massive collection of serial killer legal thrillers that overflow popular fiction. It was brisk, if overly familiar, but showed some promise.

When I heard that a sequel called "2 in the Hat" had arrived, I picked it up to see if Yessayan had delivered on that promise. The good news is that if you enjoyed the first book-- Alves, Darget, and many other familiar faces have returned to combat yet another serial killer! Wow--not good for the Boston tourism industry. "Eight in the Box" left the story a bit open-ended, so it is fascinating to see how the loose ends are woven into this tale set several years in the future. "2 in the Hat" interweaves the manhunt for the new murderer (the Prom Night Killer for those of you keeping track of all the nifty nicknames), a reexamination of the Blood Bath Killer case, and a series of street shootings into a messy and somewhat predictable narrative.

My main issue with Yessayan's tales are that they really offer little that is new in an already overstuffed genre. That said, they are readable and enjoyable. They just don't stand out. Hey, I remember today reading Thomas Harris' "Red Dragon" on its initial publication (and yes, I know this severely dates me). There's something magical about a book that can separate itself from the pack! I had a bit of fun with "Eight in the Box" and "2 in the Hat" but I never took them too seriously and they won't stay with me beyond a month. Yessayan, as a writer, still has some issues with exposition as well. Often times, in both books, the characters would explain some legal concept or case that anyone actually in the law enforcement field would already be familiar with. As a casual reader, I didn't think this effort to dumb down the proceedings for the audience was necessary. But again, if you enjoyed "Eight in the Box"--by all means, check this out. If you didn't read that novel, however, I wouldn't recommend "2 in the Hat." Its more successful elements come from the continuation of the prior story. KGHarris, 4/10.

I really enjoyed this book and actually could not figure out who done it until the last few pages. This is extremely well-written story about two homicide detectives and an ADA trying to catch a serial killer. The author's characters are excellently crafted and totally believable. All through the book you get glimpses of Sleep the actual serial killer, but not until the very end is his real identity revealed.

As an aside, the author writes in small chapters, so it makes for an excellent "beside the bed" book for unwinding before attempting sleep. A great story and highly recommended.

Former Boston Assistant District Attorney, Raffi Yessayan, returns for his second novel in what appears to be a new crime series. 2 IN THE HAT follows his highly underwhelming debut novel, 8 IN THE BOX.

Before I begin to sound overly critical, let me focus on what Yessayan does right. He clearly knows the law, the territory and subject matter he is writing about. He gives decent insights into the legal system and challenges the law enforcement community faces in the rough Boston area. That being said, he is clearly lacking as a skilled writer and plotter and needs much fine tuning before he will be ever mentioned in the same breath as other Boston area writers such as Dennis Lehane and Chuck Hogan.

2 IN THE HAT refers to bullets fired into the baseball cap/skull of one of the many murder victims in this tale. We are once again reintroduced to Boston P.D. Detectives Angel Alves and Wayne Mooney who, along with D.A. Connie Darget, are the principle law enforcement characters in Yessayan's novels. In the prior novel, the Blood Bath killer was seemingly brought to justice in a story that started out with promise but then devolved into highly unrealistic melodrama. 2 IN THE HAT focuses on another nickname killer --- the Prom Night Killer --- who murders young couples and poses them in their dresses and tuxedos in various locations while leaving fortune cookie quotes in the victim's mouths.

Sounds simple enough --- but 2 IN THE HAT once again shows Yessayan trying to be too clever for his own good and a decent plot spins wildly out of control only to end in an unbelievable climax. The main issue I have is that, rather than trying to model his writing style after a brilliant plotter like Lehane, he has chosen the James Patterson method of ridiculously short chapters (some as small as one paragraph) that all are meant to keep the pages turning so the reader does not have time to notice the lack of character development and huge plot holes.

Characters are introduced and killed off at record pace in this one. To make matters worse, half-way through the book the idea is tossed out to Detective Alves that they got the wrong guy for the Blood Bath Killer and that he may be the same individual they are currently chasing as the Prom Night Killer. If this is indeed the case (and I don't want to give that away) it totally flies in the face of all the intricate detective work done in the first novel and reduces it a mere plot device used to save this novel.

I'm sure Yessayan will have regional success with 2 IN THE HAT, but if he ever wants true recognition and best-seller status he will have to show us something completely different. I hope he has it in him.

As reviewed in Curled Up With a Good Book

Angel Alves coaches the Mighty Mites football division for seven and eight year olds. Angel sends the Mites to do a quick run before ending practice. Suddenly Angel hears a scream. He goes to investigate and finds a couple dressed for the prom, tied to separate trees. They are dead. Angel has seen this before. This has the makings of the Prom Night Killer written all over it. Angel goes to the one man who is very familiar with the Prom Night Killer...Angel's former partner, Wayne Mooney. District Attorney Conrad Darget wants in on the action and will do anything he can to help.

I had never heard of author, Raffi Yessayan, so I did not know what to expect from reading this book. What I got was a nice surprise. I found the characters to be engaging. The character I really liked was DA Conrad. He was so enthusiastic about riding around with the police, listening to the police scanner and asking questions. Conrad was like a kid in a candy shop. The story line moved quickly. There was a twist that I didn't see coming and it threw me for a curve ball but in a good way.

My only issue I had with this book was that I thought the killer was a bit of a wall flower. I felt the killer's presence when he was picking out his victims but when he did the killing it was subtle. Plus it is a little hard to take a guy with the name Sleeper serious as a serial killer or any killer at that. I plan to go back and read Mr. Yessayan's prior novel, 8 in the Box.

Yessayan introduces a complicated police procedural divided into three parts. He pulls on experience in the district attorney's office in Boston to guide us through the various districts that make up the Emerald District. His characters and story are utterly believable as the passionate dark side of the serial killer is unleashed on the police and the reader.
The story follows the outline of a Pattersonesque thriller; short chapters with occasional inserts to provide clues to the anonymous Prom Night Killer. A very effective method, however the lack of a central protagonist to the story left me a little confused until the third section. The mix of point of views makes it so complex that I had to spend time flipping back to try to recall where the pieces fit to keep the many characters straight.
Just when you think you know who did it I guaranty a new clue will leave your head spinning. Once the story takes off in part three it really finds its pulse and surges ahead to bring a climactic ending that will leave you scrambling to keep up.
2 in the Hat: A Novel of Suspense

Many authors wonder if their follow-up novels will live up to the hype set up by their strong debut. Raffi Yessayan seemed ready for the challenge to keep his readers just as captivated with 2 IN THE HAT as he did with his first crime novel---and it shows. He cleverly weaves together a story that propels the reader from villan to victor, and you find yourself enthralled by not only the plot but his ability to draw you in. I'm a fan of Yessayan, and if you give just the first chapter a chance, you will be as well.

It's amazing how pacing affects different readers in different ways. One of the things that I love about Yessayan's writing that distinguishes him is the fast pace of the chapters. I love that some chapters are one page. It definitely keeps the pace moving. This book pretty much has to be read after Eight in the Box because of lead character Connie Daget. This is truly a book of suspense as the cover indicates and the experience of Raffi Yessayan as a prosecutor and legal expert is clear. His Boston is accurately depicted and comes to life on the pages. He tells a unique and gripping story, where even if you have a fairly good guess at who the killer is before the reveal, the story doesn't slow down or lose your interest and it keeps you turning the pages until the end. The authenticity of not only the Boston streets and neighborhoods, but police and prosecution procedures, is great enough to be required reading for criminal law and criminal procedure classes. I give Two in the Hat five stars with the caveat that if you don't read Eight in the Box first; you will not appreciate why this is a five star story and book. I am not a professional reviewer, but I am someone who enjoys reading great stories. If that sounds like you, you will not go wrong with either Eight in the Box or Two in the Hat.

I found this page turner to be an intriguing cross between the writings of Scott Turow and Stephen King. Yessayan (like Turow who also worked in the Suffolk County D.A.'s Office) has perfect pitch when it comes to describing the complex working life of a gang prosecutor. His scenes authentically evoke the myriad, thorny intricacies involved in dealing with reluctant witnesses, traumatized victims, defense attorneys and cops. He skillfully captures the real neighborhoods of Boston that are far from the tourist magnets of Cheers and Faneuil Hall As a police procedural it was as exciting as it was textbook perfect. While some have wished for more character development, the fast pace of the book kept me completely enthralled and wanting more. If you want Ellery Queen meticulously investigating just one juicy case, this thriller is not for you. If you want to be immersed in the exhilarating life of a prosecutor juggling several cases with each case keeping you glued to your seat, then this book will be a rewarding summer read. Yessayan seems to have been influenced by the bone chilling imagination of Stephen King. While the gang part of the book is true to the street scene, the Prom Night killer is as frightening as The Shining. That part of the story is the hair-raising product of the overactive mind of a former prosecutor/ author's worst nightmare. I would have enjoyed the book if it dealt with just the criminal underbelly of Boston and the gang scene, but this mystery gives us even more. Reading about the Prom night killer makes Two in the Hat a highly recommended twofer!

Awesome serial killer thriller! The author spent over a decade prosecuting scumbags for the DA's office in Boston. His storytelling is vivid and imaginative. My heartbeat was racing in the final scenes. If you want to meet the newest serial killer in Boston, read "2 IN THE HAT!"