Customer Reviews

Mission Road

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

One of my personal benchmarks for good writing has to do with the backlot of the story, if you will. If I find, while reading a tale, that the narrative makes me want to jump into the car and drive to the city where the novel is set --- book in hand, of course --- then the author has pushed my buttons.

Accordingly, Rick Riordan is on my list of must-read authors. His novels, featuring San Antonio-based private investigator Tex Navarre, make me yearn for the city of St. Anthony, a place to which I have never been. Riordan sets up a deceptively simple plot and makes the most of every single element, resulting in a riveting, attention-grabbing narrative that once begun is impossible to put down. Most significantly, however, Riordan has created a body of work that subtly paints a mural of words and images, combining the best and worst elements of both cultures. His latest book is no exception.

MISSION ROAD finds Navarre, the ultimate stand-up guy, involved with a childhood friend who is on the run, wanted for a crime he did not commit. Ralph Arguello has a shady past that has cast a long shadow into his present. The owner of a chain of legitimate pawnshops, his underworld connections don't seem to have affected his marriage to a respected San Antonio policewoman. Newly evaluated DNA evidence, however, appears to tie Arguello to a murder committed two decades previously. The victim, Frankie White, an old acquaintance of Navarre's and Arguello's, was rumored to be connected to a series of rapes and murders that terrorized the San Antonio community in the late 1980s. But Arguello is on the run not because of his possible involvement in White's long-unsolved murder, but because of a more immediate problem: Ana, Arguello's wife, has been found shot, perhaps mortally wounded, in their kitchen, and all signs point to Arguello as the murderer.

Navarre literally is the only person who Arguello can trust. Thus, Navarre is drawn into a deadly crossfire between the police and San Antonio's criminal element, which wants Arguello gone for its own reasons. Attorney Maia Lee, Navarre's love interest, also is put into the mix when she reluctantly begins investigating the charges, new and old, against Arguello, if only to keep Navarre safe. Her investigation not only uncovers a web of deception that stretches two decades into the past but also puts her in danger at a time when she and Navarre are approaching a potential crossroads in their relationship.

Riordan's critical acclaim has grown at a pace a bit faster than that of his commercial status, a state of affairs that hopefully will change with MISSION ROAD. Riordan does a masterful job of capturing the flavor and exotica of San Antonio while presenting what at first blush appears to be a simple A-B-C whodunit and transforming it into a complex, well-told drama that does not finish giving up all of its secrets until the very last page. MISSION ROAD demonstrates why Riordan and Navarre are deserving of the marquee status that they undoubtedly will attain one day.

--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

The first time I opened this book, I was fifty pages in before I looked up again. Around page 75, I decided maybe I should get back to work. It was a little past page 100 before I finally did.

The next day -- today -- I finished the book. And what a ride it was.

I haven't decided quite yet whether this is the best Tres Navarre book. But what I'm sure of is that it's much better than "Southtown," which I found unsatisfying. Part of it may be that now I'm more used to Rick Riordan's shift to third-person narration, with only the chapters focusing on Tres' himself told in first person. As a result of this change, this story, like "Southtown," has a lot less Tres in it than the earlier volumes did. And because Tres is such a well-drawn character, I missed that focus on him here like I did in "Southtown."

The difference is that "Mission Road" is a much stronger story than "Southtown," and one that hits even closer to home for our hero. Whereas "Southtown" felt rushed and even a little superficial, "Mission Road" reminded me of "Cold Springs," Riordan's non-Tres novel, in its intensity and (as the professional reviewers would say) blistering pace. Not having to frame everything from Tres' point of view has allowed Riordan to create an especially powerful story -- one that gets right down to business and moves very quickly. No wonder I was so drawn in.

There's one other thing I really like about the Tres Navarre stories. Whereas some mystery series are like episodic TV shows, where once the problem-of-the-day is resolved, everything goes back to the *status quo ante*, these books aren't like that. Each novel has led to changes in Tres' life -- some relatively small, but others (as in "Southtown") quite significant. Without giving anything away, I think I can say the changes that happen in "Mission Road" are some of the biggest yet. While this book would be a good introduction to someone who's never read Rick Riordan before, I think people who have read all the previous books in the series will get a lot more emotional impact out of what happens here.

"Southtown" left me unsatisfied and wanting more. "Mission Road" left me drained -- an unusual response for me -- but satisfied. And, of course, wanting more.

I discovered this author about 6 months ago, have read all of the Tres Navarre series and loved every one. Mission Road is just the latest of winners. I won't rehash the plot nor reveal the ending, but it's one of the reasons I love Riordan's writing -- just when you think you're winding down to the ending of the story . . . BAM!, you're in for a surprise.

The newest installment in the Tres Nevarre series is an exciting page turning experience. The action in the novel takes place in less than two days - the result is that reading the novel is alot like watching 24 episodes of the Fox show "24". The plot is summarized above - so I will not go into any details on that. The writing in the book is electric, and maintains the wry sense of humor that Riordan has developed throughout the series. The characters, all the way down to Tres' cat, are all well developed. The book is hard to put down: I read the final 200 pages in one sitting. Growing up in San Antonio, I am drawn to the book because it is like a slice of home as well. However, that should not discourage those who are not familiar with south Texas to experience this series.

Although his peers, such as Lehane, McGarrity, and Connelly certainly deserve their acclaim, I don't understand why Riordan hasn't appeared to receive the same acknowledgement as an accomplished mystery writer. This guy is good! I agree with a previous reviewer that Riordan stumbled a bit with SOUTHTOWN, but he's recovered very nicely with MISSION ROAD. I sometimes wish Riordan would turn books out at a faster clip---I"m always anxious for his next novel---but I suppose the time he takes in crafting his stories is worth the wait

Rick Riordan can flat out write. I was hooked after reading his first book, "Big Red Tequila." This may be the most "mature" Navarre book to date and will leave you wanting more. I couldn't put this book down and literally flew through it. Now I am left anxiously awaiting his next book. I highly recommend any book by Riordan; keep 'em coming Rick.

This the best Rick Riordan yet. A real page turner with many twists in the plot.

Sustaining momentum in a series is always difficult, and a little strain shows in this sixth Tres Navarre novel. Thankfully, while Tres' act might wear somewhat thin, his girlfriend Maia Lee is around to pick up the slack.

The premise involves the shooting of cop Ana Deleon, and its relation to a cold case from almost 20 years before. Ralph Arguello, Ana's husband and Tres' friend, is an obvious and likely suspect, so it's up to Tres to help keep him free and to prove his innocence. Given that the case also ties into the White family, San Antonio's largest crime family, Tres must also keep Ralph from their grasp.

While Tres' behavior might seem somewhat old hat to those who have read the other books in the series, Maia emerges as a character equal to Tres. Her actions, both physical and otherwise, help the book through some weak spots. Hopefully, this will keep the series going strong for a while.

As I said in the title, this certainly isn't the best effort of the series - I'd put it somewhere in the middle. But I still think Tres, Maia, and the others have room to grow, and I think the series can sustain itself for a few more novels. Riordan is one of our most undervalued contemporary crime/p.i. writers, and it would be great to see this series grow in popularity.

Former criminal Ralph Arguello asks his childhood friend private detective Tres Navarre for help. Apparently, the San Antonio Police Department believe he shot his wife detective Ana Deleon to prevent her from accusing him of killing Franklin White, a crime boss' son, eighteen years ago. Tres believes Ralph who insists he did not kill White or shoot his spouse, because he knows his pal would not shoot the woman he would die for.

While Ana lies comatose and the cops hunt for Ralph, he and Tres begin making inquiries into the White cold case. Tres assumes that Ana had figured out who clubbed the serial killing White to death. That person set up Ralph to take the fall for both crimes especially the present one. Tres knows he must uncover the real culprit before the police catch both of them and throw away the key he as an accessory to Ralph's attempted murder.

In his sixth appearance Tres remains competent and loyal as he works a cold case investigation while eluding a dragnet to arrest his friend for attempted murder and he for an accessory to the crime. The case is intriguing especially the flashbacks to what happened to White, an individual who readers will believe deserved to die and justice was served when he did, but the law sees that differently. Though not quite at the multiple-award winning level of SOUTHTOWN due to several "conveniences" that force Tres and Ralph on the lam. MISSION ROAD is a strong entry that fans will enjoy as the hero must serendipitously investigate two crimes almost two decades apart.

Harriet Klausner

This is my first Rick Riordan novel and it is my intention to read them all. It reminds me of Robert Ferrigno's brilliant "Heartbreaker," dark, edgy.

Mr. Riordan is very successful in jumping tenses, and you get a good feel for the other characters. I am unfamiliar with San Antonio so I felt, like GM Ford in Seattle, he was able to use the city like a character as well.

You know the plot. Beautiful but extremely credible cop falls in love and marries criminal. She rotates her shift to the (now) ever popular 'cold case' section and investigates a murder that has earmarks of her husband's tawdry past. And she's about to finger . . ., when she's shot and in a coma.

What I didn't care for is the wisecracking. It seemed to me, again like Ferrigno and Kyle Mills' alter ego, Michael Crow, that Riordan set out to write a dark novel. These are good. There's a huge place for them. Read James Lee Burke.

Dark novels don't do comedy well. You don't wear a baseball hat to a funeral. Crais and Parker and DeMille do smart aleck retorts well. That's their intention. I think Mr. Riordan should stick with the noir. 4 stars. Larry Scantlebury