Customer Reviews

The Horse Latitudes

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

 

 

I was hooked on this book about the third paragraph when the main characters frustration about his divorce is described as feeling like throwing a fat man through a plate glass window...just to hear the noise

The perspective of Southern California's sub-culture as viewed by an ex drug dealer (pot only, thank-you) is fascinating as are some of the compelling characters who include:

- the outwardly glamorous, successful ex-wife, whose true nature could make Charles Manson appear compassionate - the vietnam vet brother-in-law, formerly an alligator-sweater-wearing preppie college golf star, now enjoying a hermit-like high tech existence in the ground zero environment of an abandoned oil plant - Cubanito, a refugee from Castro's most horrifying prison camps, who now combines the lifestyle of a Rolex wearing Ferrari driving drug dealer with a Dale Carnegie type entrepenurial attidude that could only happen in America.

The plot does become hard to both follow and believe, but the author's talent for character development as well as dialogue and observations that stick in a reader's mind more than compensate.

After reading the mostly excellent "Flinch," I turned to Robert Ferrigno's heralded debut novel and was very disappointed. Unlike "Flinch," the plot is sometimes unclear, he relies on clumsy stereotypes, and motivation is not always believable.

Ferrigno throws in so many contrived oddball situations that it's almost like he doesn't really believe in the strength of the story itself. While humorous exaggeration is common to mysteries, Ferrigno doesn't balance this with enough realism to make this a credible story, and this lessens our involvement.

There are some good scenes (especially with the jocular but intimidating "Cubanito"), clever dialogue, and genuine suspense (along with his usual graphic violence), but the book does not compare to his later efforts. Recommended only for completists who want to read all of his work.

Engaging, clever, witty

Even the cliches are good

Read this novel when it was first published, recommended it to everyone I knew and still do so.

Sigh...I've tried several times to finish this book but failed. Didn't know what this book was all about, just like "Slow Motion Riot", the other book I really didn't know how to read on and get a grip, both are so pretentious, trying so hard to deliver something out of nothing. This book was so abstract, so bored and focusless that made my eyes cross, like trying to get a grip from those framed 3D pictures sold in the mall stores, you have to look at it and not look at the same time, then you might get something figured out. The book is still on the shelf to torture me continuously.

The unlikely protagonist in The Horse Latitudes is a former drug dealer by the name of Danny DiMedici. Danny is an avid swimmer and, curiously, is also an authority on the civilization of the ancient Mayans.

His smart, stunningly beautiful wife, Lauren, has left him and he has yet to get over the hurt he feels. But now he learns that Lauren has gone missing and her stylish beachfront home is a grisly crime scene. As Danny wends his way through Southern California's not so hidden subculture of drugs and sex, searching for Lauren, the narrative takes on a surreal, otherwordly quality. And author Robert Ferrigno's frequent use of flashback sequences serves to enhance the surrealism.

Add in a mad scientist searching for the fountain of youth and a matched pair of pea brained, muscle bound hitmen and you have a novel which is genuinely bizarre.

Ferrigno's writing is quite skillful at times. I particularly liked the supporting characters, Karl Steiner and Jane Holt, the odd couple detective team assigned to the case.

But ultimately, I found myself less than fully satisfied because of the way the plot unfolded. The storyline resolves itself in the latter third of the book in a lame and seemingly random fashion.

The Horse Latitudes is an interesting and, at times, engaging work of fiction. But the disappointing, unsatisfying ending spoiled it for me.

There were times when I thought this LA-set noir murder mystery was trying to be a parody of the genre, but then the ripe, yet hard-boiled dialogue suggested only that the author wanted it to be a movie. People don't talk; they quip. Nobody can just say "yes" or no." They have spout some one-liner that hopes to be memorable. We have an ex-drug dealer whose wife is missing from a very bloody room. We've got the tough-talkin' cops. We've got lots of minor characters who have so many quirks that their characters seem to be hoping whoever plays them in the movie will get a supporting actor nomination. The Hispanic drug dealer is an especially offensive stereotype. The twin bodybuilders are not even complicated enough to be cartoon figures. Everybody wisecracks. You've got the atmospheric diner run by the heart-of-gold German frau. There seem to be a couple of mad scientists. The old cop who chain-eats doughnuts and who is about to retire. Plus the very troubled Vietnam vet. As well as the femme fatale. The only saving grace is that it's a very fast read. And since there's nothing really new, it doesn't tax your brain to rush through it.

I think it's his first. It made quite a splash when it first came out. I didn't like it at the time but have just reread and revised my opinion. My hardback has praise from Elmore Leonard and Amy Tan. Quite a combo. It has all the trademarks of a Robert Ferrigno crime novel. Wry dialogue, cartoonish but engaging situations, oddball bad guys - McFestus enjoyed. There's really alot going on and Ferrigno keeps things moving (physically and emotionally).

In order to keep track of this novel vs the other Ferrigno novels - this one has the recurring characters Det Jane Holt, soon to be retired Det Karl Steiner, the hyperkinetic drug dealer Cubanito and some wired teen with computer skills. Retired drug dealer Danny De something or other gets involved in the case of a mutilated dead body found hanging at his ex-wife's apartment. Danny stirs the interest of the detectives as he tries to re-enter the small time marijuana dealer world he swore to leave. Many affecting moments.

A powerful debut which portrays the colorful life of a South L.A. retired drug dealer who when accused of the murder of his disappeared ex-wife, sets off to find the truth; a journey through Newport's vile underworld.

Danny DeMedici's life is entangled in his ex-wife's web of sex and industrial politics with a dash of manufactured drugs. A story line that draws you on to the damaged end as Danny seeks to understand the messages left for him in ancient South American rituals. This character provides the basis for more fiction around Danny's skills. A great read

In helping his ex-wife steer clear of a murder rap, he becomes involved with a few detectives, his bizarre ex brother in-law, a couple of muscle bound freaks (Baby Hueys!), a "mad" scientist and other assorted characters. Not entirely predictable and fast paced enough to keep me reading!!

I like the way Ferrigno pieces a story together. It wasn't difficult to recall characters, great descriptive work and good storytelling.