Customer Reviews

Middle of Nowhere (Gemstar)

5 star:		(58)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

A case of the "blue flu" has struck the Seattle police force, causing a majority of the force to be on an unofficial strike, leaving Detective Lou Boldt to remain (forced actually)on the job.

With the near death of a female officer, and a string of house robberies, Boldt is pushed to the limit to find answers.

Boldt enlists the help of police psychologist Daphne Matthews, and Sergeant John LaMoia to aid in his investigation.

As Boldt struggles with three seemingly seperate situations, he begins to question if they are actually un-related. As things go out of control, resulting in more robberies and "warnings" to Boldt, he refuses to give up, putting his life on line to solve this case.

I will start off by saying...THIS IS AN EXCELLENT NOVEL. I am not going further into detail on the plot, all the fun is finding out the secrets as you go. "Middle Of Nowhere" is a fast-paced, well written novel that entertains as it shocks with new plot twists. Boldt is one of the most interesting and likable hero's in any current fiction series.

Ridley Pearson has written the novel that lives up to his reputation of being the "best thriller writer alive". After the disappointing "The First Victim", fans of the Boldt series get what they expect, a great book. If you are new to the series, start with this book and then go back and read the other Boldt novels, excluding "The First Victim" (not the best entry in the series).

"Middle Of Nowhere" is a great summer read...it's great read in any season.

A MUST read!

Nick Gonnella

A fast paced thriller from page one, "Middle of Nowhere" doesn't let down for a minute. Ridley Pearson has done it again! Be prepared to loose some sleep until you finish.

With tensions high as a result of a "blue flu" epidemic in the Seattle Police Department how do you know who to trust? Fortunately, lieutenant Lou Boldt knows who his friends are.

With the help of psychologist, and now lieutenant, Daphne Matthews, a string of robberies and assaults are sorted out. Are they connected? Are they being misled? Can they sort it out before Boldt pays the ultimate price for persistence?

As always the story could have been taken from the newspaper as it is amazingly current. It has technical depth without becoming boring, carefully balanced with glimpses of Boldt's personal life, making the characters wonderfully human.

If you've read other books in the series you know nothing's ever easy between Boldt and Matthews. When you add the changes his wife, Liz, has gone through dealing with her illness it would be a wonder if Boldt didn't feel conflicted. Boldt is noble enough to always want to do the right thing, yet human enough to not always be sure just what that is.

If you haven't read the other's, don't worry... this one can stand alone.

I've anxiously awaited the release of this book and wanted to read it slowly so I could savor every word.Pearson, however, had other ideas for me! I couldn't put it down! Having already read all of Pearson's books I should have known as much.

I highly recommend "Middle of Nowhere" to anyone willing to give up a little sleep for a lot of excitement!

Pearson transports readers into the inner sanctum of the Seattle Police Department to experience the conflict and drama the "blue flu" unleashes amongst the cops and citizens they protect and serve. Readers are thrust into the psychological and physical aspects of police work as Lt. Lou Boldt and police pyschologist Daphne Matthews attempt to make sense of the scant clues in their case involving brutal assaults on Seattle citizens and a few selected cops. Frustration and pressure envelope them as they struggle to filter out the fraudulent facts being thrown in their paths. They also try to keep the overabundance of sexual tension between them from re-igniting - and creating a threat to his marriage a second time.

Clues that seem obvious one moment, shift to being meaningless the next and little help is being offered by those in the position to do so. The closer Boldt gets to the truth, the more danger he finds himself facing, and those responsible for the string of robberies and brutal attacks plaguing the city have no qualms about permanently ending Boldt's investigating days. Not to be deterred, Boldt choses numerous paths to explore - none of them safe - none of them boring.

A number of writers manage to get an adequate feel for the inner workings of a cop's world, but Pearson hits the bullseye with such precise accuracy, it's tough to believe he's never walked a beat. If he ever decided to quite his day job, I'm willing to bet there's plenty of police departments that would like his name listed on their personnel roster.

Ridley Pearson sets the suspenseful tone for his seventh thriller featuring Seattle Police Lt. Lou Boldt in the prologue when officer Maria Sanchez pulls into her driveway, gets out of her car and is brutally attacked. The realism will make the reader apprehensive about pulling into their driveway and opening their car door for a very long time! As Boldt investigates the assault and officer Sanchez lies in the hospital on the brink of death, a case of "Blue Flu" takes over the police department. Boldt teams up again with police psychologist Daphne Matthews and Sergeant John LaMoia, to hunt down the people responsible for the assault on the officer as well as other victims of such beatings and a recent string of robberies. The investigation progresses, to the annoyance of the officers who have staged the first sickout in the history of the police department, to two brothers, both with extensive criminal histories. A common thread connects the crimes - a telemarketing operation based in a prison, an operation using hardened criminals to call unsuspecting people to tout their wares. Things heat up even more when Boldt is tempted to rekindle the flame of his affair with Daphne. Pearson is one of my favorite thriller-writers. He is a dynamic author, skillfully using real-life stories straight from the newspaper, expounding on them and landing them in the reader's lap. This one will make you sleep with the lights on! If you haven't discovered Ridley Pearson, it's time you did!

There are only 200 fiction writers in the United States who are able to make a living from their writing, and Ridley Pearson surely ranks in the Top 10 of that select group. For those of us who consider Mr. Pearson a favorite author, there is nothing more sastifying then relishing his latest book, especially with old friend Lou Boldt as the main character. Middle of Nowhere has all the elements of a good read: strong characters, fast-pacing, and a story that keeps you reading into the night.

First-time readers of Pearson will be happy to discover enough previous works to keep them happy for a long time to come. The rest of us, Mr. Pearson, anxiously await what comes next. Thanks.

Ridley Pearson does it again, revisiting the life of Seattle cop Lou Bolt. The "Blue Flu" has infected the Seattle Police Department and over half the force sits at home while Bolt, Daphne Matthews and the regular cast work to find the person that brutally attacked a fellow officer.

Bolt is a likeable character, that faces the daily struggles of being a husband, father, friend and cop. Facing division in the force, Pearson's writing forces Bolt to look deep within himself to find answers.

Pearson is a master at weaving several storylines around one another, until they reach the shattering climax together.

"Middle of Nowhere" is a must read this summer! Having lived in Seattle for 8+ years, I feel like I am walking down the streets along with the characters.

Pearson's storytelling dares you to put down the book, a feat not easily accomplished by most of today's writers. You won't be disappointed to find your self in the "Middle of Nowhere". The only disappointment that you will have is waiting for the next book from Mr. Pearson.

Like the other books in the Lou Boldt series, the characters are well developed, drawing you quickly into their concerns. The plot is truly exceptional. From start to finish "Middle of Nowhere" gives an exciting ride. Other experiences pale by comparison to getting involved in this good read! Last Sunday I started reading the book as I waited to board an airplane to start the journey home from a weekend trip. As a flight phobic who is only a few years into recovery, I typically choose the book that I think is most-likely-to-be-engrossing when I plan to fly, hoping not to let any routine turbulence trigger a relapse. Three hours later, circling Atlanta airport for the third time during a thunderstorm, I was 2/3 through the book when the pilot announced we'd be diverting to Augusta to take on more fuel and wait-out the storm. My first thought was "Great, maybe I'll have a chance to finish the book" . . . I'd hardly noticed that it was storming! When we landed 30 minutes later, my husband (a veteran flier who never complains)announced we were getting off immediately and renting a car to drive home. He was a peculiar shade of green, as were numerous other passengers. While we were at the car rental booth, we saw all the other passengers leaving the plane...the pilot had just announced that the plane had lost part of a wing over Atlanta and was not fit to fly!

Thanks, Ridley Pearson, for providing the ultimate in distraction, not to mention the perfect prescription for flying without fear.

I had one problem with this book. The wait I will have until the next Lou Boldt novel. I usually don't like what i consider a serial novelist, someone who brings us the same character and because of that familiarity the story suffers. Ridley Pearson trancends this. It is a great story first and the characters are having true problems which makes them real, therefore making the story ring all the more true. The story of the sickout within the Police force setting "brother against brother" could have made the book itself but Ridley goes beyond that. We get to meet our mysterious Chinese Mafia head and wonder when and what favors are going to be asked. Ridley, and to the buyers out there, this was a great read, I hate cliches but I could not put it down. These characters are friends now and if you don't know them get to know them, buy The First Victim when you pick up this book. This makes for better than just summer reading get ready to be hooked and hopefully soon Ridley will lead us out of the Middle of Nowhere.

All in all, a great read - read it in one day. What I found most interesting, though, is the depiction of police as being far more interested in their paychecks than in adhering to the oath they swear when inducted onto the force. While in the book, the standard line of "a few bad apples" is followed, the discerning reader, especially one who's ever dealt with urban cops, will know that that's a function of fiction. Even so-called "good cops" who don't lie or steal themselves are perfectly willing to cover for their blue brethren - it's practically a job requirement.

As always with Mr. Pearson's novels, the forensic details are the most outstanding feature. His knowledge in this area exceeds any of the other authors I've read, and it adds a certain educational element to reading his books; you learn things about technology and police work you won't readily find elsewhere.

Let's start by saying that I know Lou Boldt and Daphne Matthews from Ridley Pearson's long series of books about their adventures, escapades, and devotion to solving the crime. Now I know them even better and like them even more.

"Middle of Nowhere" is a terrific story and Ridley cannily hid the truth to the very end. He's getting better at direction and misdirection with every book. I started the book on a Wednesday night. Then I blew off all of Thursday to take it to the end. It's that good.

If you're new to the Boldt character, you won't go wrong by reading some of the early books first. If you're a long-standing fan, go for it right now. This one will have you flipping pages and soaking up the start realism as fast as your eyes and brain can handle.

Verdict: It's worth those five stars, and then some.