7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
My favorite book of the decade, March 29, 2001
This review is from: The Magician's Tale (Paperback)
Georgeous, fog-enshrouded prose, well-paced, homo-erotic, sensuous and colorful (in a monochromatic way). I just loved this book, turned about ten of my book-reading friends on to it, and never got a complaint. The author is so familiar with the bay area that I feel like I am there, in the text. Give this book a chance: it is stark, raw and nasty, and tells a tale that is so convoluted and poignant that I defy anyone to put it down after the first 100 pages.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An imaginative story, skillfully told., July 8, 2004
The Magician's Tale is a very well constructed murder mystery that does not disappoint. The captivating plot unfolds in such a way that I'm sure most readers will have trouble putting the book down. I know I did.
But this novel has a number of great things going for it besides its very strong plot. Photojournalist Kay Farrow is the protagonist and narrator. Her character is extremely well fleshed out and quite believable. And her voice is a remarkably convincing one. So much so, it's hard to believe The Magician's Tale is the work of a male author.
Another very positive aspect is the attention to detail. Be it the ins and outs of the photographer's craft or the sights and sounds of San Francisco, an abundance of nicely detailed description is provided.
There is a fair amount of sexual content, much of it on the kinky side. However, since it is presented in an inoffensive, nonexploitative manner, it serves to enhance rather than detract from the overall storyline.
Written with imagination and skill, The Magician's Tale is a fascinating, page turner of a novel.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Haunting......, August 25, 1999
By A Customer
I have led a bookgroup about Robert Ludlum online for some time. I read authors works until completion. I've read DeMille, Forsyth, Sanders, Follet, O'Shaughnessy, Gruenfeld and am completing Cornwall.
I've lived in the South Bay for 15 years. I'm a Mom, and a RE Developer. I also hang out in bars w/ my friends in Los Gatos. I'm originally from NY/NJ with a stint in Boulder, CO.
I adore "the city" (San Francisco). I have lingered in all parts of the city, from the "Haight" to the "Castro" to the "Wharf" to "North Beach" and to "SOMA".
My gay friend Daryl has slepped me thru the Polk area as well.
I've mingled with financiers, as well as hustlers.
There is absolutely no comparision to Hunt's vision of the City. He brings an "other-worldly-ness to San Francisco. Wrapped in fog and mystery, like a skillful lover bringing you to the edge of desire...showing you worlds unseen, David Hunt has crafted a beautiful book.
As a "mystery" I was drawn in enough to stay up all night to read it. Clearly his work in this genre compares to other writers, some mentioned above.
I made my friend Daryl read it. A Masters Degree from Berkeley,...no slouch he. After argueing over the "precise authenticity" of the gay world, he agreed that it was a "haunting" read....maybe even prose.
I would reccomend this book not only to "mystery" readers, but perhaps venture to place it into to the "Travel" area. My "East Coast" friends loved the book, moreso for this vision of the city. "Wow!, is it really like that?"
Dark, beautiful, surrounded by the sound of the sea, encased in fog.....Hunt's monochromatic pictue of San Francisco is a compelling and haunting read!
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