Customer Reviews

Nowhere to Run

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

 

 

This is an enjoyable thriller by the author of "Prince of the City". The strength of the book lies in the complexity of the plot, but the weakness lies in the characters, which are not all that likable. Notwithstanding that, the storyline kept me turning the pages.

There are basically two stories in the book, which eventually become intertwined. One is about thirty-three year old Jack Hilger, an NYPD detective, who is a bit of a loose cannon and on the outs with the police department. The other is about French police Inspector Madeleine Leclerq, who works in Nice and is having a bit of a tough time competing in what is essentially still a man's world.

Jack is on the trail of a drug dealer who buys expensive artwork by old masters, while Madeleine is fighting political corruption in her back yard, becoming a persona non grata. Neither is able to hoe the road alone. So, when their paths cross on the French Riviera, they will unite forces against a common enemy. Where this union will take them will keep the reader riveted, due to the labyrinthine plot twists.

I have to disagree with almost all the previous reviews. This book is not worth anyone's time - it has no moments - and is flat out boring. Jack is one of the most irresponsible, self serving and clueless characters I've come across to say nothing of being stupid. I can't imagine how he survived as a policeman for all those years.The French female character is slightly more likable and believable, but then going for a loser like Jack drops her I.Q. considerably and ruins whatever empathy one might have for her. I stuck it out to p. 337, but had made up my mind if he did one more stupid thing (which was inevitable) I would toss it, and I did. I realized I didn't care how it ended, but I hope he got what he deserved. This is not my idea of a good police thriller or procedural. I guess I expect too much of my heros.

Read to page 115 and completely lost interest. Not much here to keep you interested. Cop stories are worn so thin. Not a good book for your library.

This book wasn't awful, but not great either. Like another reviewer, I listened to the audio book, and therefore finished it. (Dick Hill's reading improves even the most boring books).

My complaint was the character of the hero. It's hard to care about such a blatantly selfish person. There was no one in this novel to really care about. There was some decent action, though.

This one dwells more on the characters and relationships than most of Daley's work, but is nontheless a good read. It details the nuts and bolts of detective work and political interference in a concise and interesting story. Daley's lead characters are frequently flawed, dislikable people, not unlike many one encounters in real life. It is part of the overall realism which is one of the major strengths of Daley's works.

I was personally disappointed with the ending, but I can't fault the author (I like happy endings!)The good thing about this novel is pace! The author starts out at about 60 miles per hour and gradually increases the pace to the speed limit! He sustains interest and I could hardly put this book down.

If you're interested in the everyday life of a cop, maybe this book will be of interest. But remember, each day in their lives can't be filled with action and adventure. To that end, this book delivered -- there was little action and the "adventure" was ...well, yawn..... The cop, Jack, was a selfish man that was always thinking of himself first, his wife and everyone else, last. There was some action, but not enough to satisfy my taste, and the adventure...well, was there "really" any? If you've got nothing better to do, and I mean nothing, this book may be worth the read. I only finished it because I had paid for the unabridged audio version and it was thus, being read to me. Otherwise, I think I would have given up on it. If you're wondering why I rated the book a "4" instead of lower, it's because the book had it "moments." A few, but they were there nonetheless.

The character development in this novel rates with the best of Daley's works. By the conclusion, one can almost feel the bullets flying at the protagonist and the results are virtually palpable. Daley has the ability to transform what, in many ways, is a rather pedestrian environment into an exciting and adventure packed story, with a heavy dollop of sex and romance thrown in to add to the mix. In this novel, he contrasts the gritty world of the New York street cop with the very different world of the French Finance officer, while showing the real parallels that exist in any law enforcement environment. As an ex-cop himself, he really knows his subject matter, but makes it immensely readable. It is a treat to be both entertained and educated in the workings of the police world. A great read