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25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
4 1/2 Stars...A Great Debut, April 23, 2006
This review is from: Original Sin (Colton Parker Mystery Series, Book 1) (Paperback)
With "Original Sin," Brandt Dodson doesn't just wander onto the scene of mystery writers, he saunters in with dry humor and panache. His style is no-frills, shoot-from-the-hip, and knock-'em-dead.
Colton Parker is an ex-cop, turned private investigator. He's also the single parent of a teen girl. The death of his wife six months earlier has left him apathetic, distant, and wrestling with God. He is also willing to bend a few rules to accomplish his job.
His first professional challenge draws him into the seemier side of Indianapolis, where he uses his wit, brains, and brawn to delve into the truth behind an older woman's brutal murder. Along the way, he is faced with his own faults as a man, as a private eye, and as a father. He also stumbles upon a few surprises.
"Original Sin" is a tight mystery, filled with great dialogue and interesting characters. A few times, characters seem a little too willing to tell Colton everything he needs to know, and his brief encounters with a well-meaning pastor come across a bit forced and preachy. Nevertheless, Parker's questions and struggles are believable, and I was drawn into his story. This is a great debut to a mystery series. I'll be looking forward to the second installment, "Seventy Times Seven."
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good mystery, May 11, 2006
This review is from: Original Sin (Colton Parker Mystery Series, Book 1) (Paperback)
If you like private eye mysteries, and I do, you'll enjoy this book. Colton Parker, private investigator, used to be with the FBI, until he lost his temper and beat up a suspect. The suspect admitted he had kidnapped a young girl, and because of that confession the bureau was able to save the child, but Colton still lost his job.
Anna, his wife, was killed in an automobile accident, leaving him to raise their thirteen-year old daughter. His new detective agency is going under, and the rent is due when Angie Howe shows up with a job for him. Billy, her boyfriend has been arrested for murder, and everyone, except Angie, thinks he's guilty. The case takes him deep into the porn industry, among other things.
Brandt Dodson comes from a long line of police officers, spanning several generations, and it shows. Original Sin is a fast paced story that will keep you turning those pages.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Intriguing trail to follow!, May 5, 2006
This review is from: Original Sin (Colton Parker Mystery Series, Book 1) (Paperback)
Colton Parker used to have everything: a wife, daughter and job with the FBI. Now things are different. His wife has died, is daughter is living with her grandparents, and he has been fired from the FBI.
In an attempt at a fresh start, Parker has set up a private detective agency, and his first case poses lots of questions. His client is the girlfriend of a man being charged with the murder of a well-respected high school guidance counselor, who also happens to be the victim's nephew. But a paperclip and a missing computer are pointing at some kind of a link to an Internet pornography ring.
This is a classic detective story, with a religious twist. You see Colton's wife had found Christ not long before her death, but Colton is a non-believer. Instead of the typical Christian detective who uses the idea of the greater good as an excuse for bad and/or illegal behavior, Colton simply crosses the line, with no holds barred. It is after this that the consequences become clear, and the Christian perspective can come into play.
Colton feels no love for God, and is instead angry and depressed by the fact that he feels deserted by having his wife taken from him and being unable to connect with his daughter. A pastor tries to show him the "light" so to speak, but unfortunately the great possibility of an exploration of faith is lost amidst the somewhat cliched "death is a part of life" speech.
Overall the story was very enjoyable, with a lifelike and likeable lead character with a great dry sense of humour, but in my opinion the portrayal of the pastor came across as too preachy and cliched.
Armchair Interviews. As a mystery and detective story it was excellent with an intriguing trail of crumbs to follow.
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