Customer Reviews

Killer Storm

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Killer Storm was a great read. Wright's lesbian characters come alive and her descriptions of the north shore of Lake Superior and its surrounds bring you right there to feel the rawness and also the peace and beauty. Jo Spence has a little of all of us in her and Wright does a great job of letting us see her complexities and simple humaness. The sex scenes in this book are super! Can't wait for another book by Wright.

This book is actually probabaly around 2-1/2 stars, but I don't know that it belongs in the same category of my 2-star reviews. Perhaps an average 3 stars. There were a lot of things I liked about it, but it had a lot of weaknesses also.

I enjoyed the interesting insight into the jobs of parole officers and their important role in law enforcement. This book was also full of well-structured sentences, and vivid descriptions of the outdoors and the variety of entertaining activities to be had in said environment, particularly in the winter. The characters are realistic, and act like they could be actual people with lives of their own.

But the prose was curiously unemotional. At first I thought this was deliberate due to the struggles the main character admittedly had with detachment, and waited eagerly for the turn, thinking that was a clever literary trick. But even after Jo opened her life up and took positive steps to ask the hard questions and engage in deep conversations, there really was no more emotion expressed in the character's thinking. It was kind of like reading a very descriptive and well-written grocery list: this happened, then this, so I did this, then said this. For me there was too little description or musing of the emotional or sensory impacts of events. She tells us she's feeling emotion, but doesn't (or rarely) describes it.

This lack of emotional depth was somewhat at odds with the otherwise very sweet and touching descriptions of Jo's fledgling relationship with Zoe, and the realities of her other friendships and relationships both personally and professionally. There's something compelling, and even a sort of art to how the relationships in the book are described and handled with such clean lines.

The framework here is solid, and even inspired: there were bits I really liked and images that will probably stick with me for some time. But the book itself didn't really give this reader anything to latch onto for the creation of an emotional resonance, merely an intellectual one. Enough for a low to average 3 stars.

Jen Wright made me want to move to Duluth, find some good pals and a great job and have a gentle torrid love affair. Hey -- that's what books are for, to carry you away, and Killer Storm did just that. Wright's descriptions of the country, Jo's beloved dogs, her friends, the courts and cops -- even the food -- are all pitch-perfect.

Unless I'm mistaken, this is Jen Wright's first book. It's published by a small printing house and doesn't - outwardly - have the pizzazz of an offering from the likes of Bold Strokes or Bella Books. The characters are likable, but aren't very well developed. The story is enjoyable, but predictable. The author describes the beautiful setting very well. All that said, the book is forgettable. Almost as soon as I finished the back page I forgot what it was about.

Bottom Line - It's worth a weekend afternoon on a snowy day, especially if you like mysteries, but don't expect an instant classic.

This is an OK book. The story isn't fully developed and the characters need work, but it has the basis of a good story. A good editor and an rewrite would have helped, but, if you're looking for a quick, easy read that will distract you for a couple of hours, then this fits the bill. Hopefully, the author will show growth in her next book.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery. Jen's book is suspenseful and sultry. Being a Duluth native, I really enjoyed being able to connect with and relate to the mention of the local places.

This book was an OK read. I thought the writing was well thought out but like reading a grocery list. I would have liked to see the thought process not so spelled out but more of an emotive quality to the narrative. The descriptions and characters were believable though. The editing was good and it was nice to have a lesbian story without it being a coming out story or major pain involved. I wish I could write as well as the author.

First the negative: The language in this book serves its purpose and doesn't get in the way, but it's nothing special. Some books are full of beautiful sentences you remember long after having read them, this is not one of them, but it is well written and has some funny moments. Now the positive: Killer Storm is an entertaining and well thought out murder mystery. It feels kind of old-fashioned but in the best of ways. The setting around Lake Superior in winter is nice and really comes to life, it's like being there. There is romance in this book and it's great, it feels real. I love the long section in the middle of the book when Jo and Zoey are snowed in and get to know each other, it's very sweet. Jo sometimes reminded me of Kate Delafield. I will definitely buy the next book in the series.

Kindle formatting: OK. The chapter marks are missing, but the table of contents and cover are there and the text is carefully formatted. There's an unusual gap between paragraphs, but it's no big deal.

Editing: Very good, did notice only one typo. (enternity)

I was born and raised in Duluth and Killer Storm brought back wonderful memories of my hometown. The book is accurately descriptive, an excellent read, and i am looking forward to her future books.

I love this book!! I could not put it down. The mystery grabbed me and held me to the very end. Each character was fully developed, and I felt I knew and could visualize most of them.

Relating to the emotions and deep introspection regarding the romance, was easy. The interaction between the characters in law enforcement was truly amazing.

There was obviously great experience and/or research into the workings of law enforcement. Such a beautiful description of the Northland community. It made me want to go there and see it all for myself.

Recommendations have been given to everyone I know. I can not wait for the next Jo Spence series novel.