Over Tumbled Graves [Paperback]

Jess Walter (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: ReganBooks (2001)
• ASIN: B000OEP9O4
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,075,235 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jess Walter is the author of five novels, most recently 'The Financial Lives of the Poets' -- Time Magazine's #2 novel of 2009. He was a 2006 National Book Award Finalist for 'The Zero' and won the Edgar Allen Poe Award for best novel in 2005 for 'Citizen Vince.' His work has been translated into 20 languages. He lives with his family in Spokane, Washington.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great character-driven story, February 5, 2001

By 

Jim Kershner (Spokane, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Over Tumbled Graves (Hardcover)

Jess Walter understands something that escapes many thriller writers: Character comes first. This first novel has a gritty and credible plot about a series of murders in Spokane, Wash., but Walter goes beyond the usual cliches of the genre by building his characters carefully and believably. Det. Caroline Mabry is an intriguing, complicated and wholly sympathetic escort into the world that Walters evokes, a dangerous world of prostitutes, johns and seedy bars. Because we care about her, and about her sometimes partner Alan Dupree, we care even more deeply about the case that consumes her. Walter also does an exceptional job of capturing the flavor of Spokane, a mid-sized Northwest city with a super-sized inferiority complex. The plot may invite comparisons to Spokane's real-life serial killer story, but Walter's story veers off in unexpected ways. An assured first effort by a fine writer.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This one is different, May 20, 2001

By 

Barbara Hayes (Deerfield Beach, FL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Over Tumbled Graves (Hardcover)

Just finished reading Over Tumbled Graves by Jess Walter. He's written before as a reporter but this is his first novel. The lead character is a female detective and she's trying to catch a serial killer. Even though it sounds like the same old stuff, this one is different.

I get tired of reading books where the detective sifts through tons of evidence and only follows the good leads, as if they know in advance "who done it". This book has just enough bad leads, wrong conclusions and less than perfect cops to make it interesting.

I'm not sure who recommended I read this one, but I enjoyed it and am glad I gave it a try.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!, March 27, 2001

By 

Diana Dawson (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Over Tumbled Graves (Hardcover)

If you're looking for incredible writing, great character development and a plot that'll make you awaken at 3 a.m., wanting to crawl out of bed and read more then reach for Jess Walter's "Over Tumbled Graves". It's joined my list of all-time favorites.

Walter crafts an immensely satisfying mystery that tugs the reader through every twist and turn. You'll race through the pages, unable to put the book down until you reach its conclusion and then, when you do finish, you'll feel saddened that the joy ride has ended. Don't miss this one.