Customer Reviews

Perfect Circles: The Sequel to Two Wheels

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Perfect Circles brings back Will Ross, Greg Moody's hero from Two Wheels. I enjoyed this book, it was a great summer read but it is not as good as the first book. If you have never read any cycling mysteries, read Two Wheels or the Yellow Jersey instead. The first half of the book is well written, the second half tends to get a bit goofy...

I've never been to France. The only bike race I ever saw I cursed because it closed the streets I wanted to use at that particular moment. But after reading Moody's book, I had the urge to dig out the ten speed from the back of the garage and book a flight on the Concord. The story flashes from scene to scene so fast I got a blister on my page turning finger! The way this guy writes puts you in the middle of the action with such vivid detail you believe you're actually the one peddling the bike. Moody's wit and humor will have you re-reading some passages wishing YOU'D said that. The book taught me a lot about road racing and what might go on behind the scenes. If the thought of Groucho Marx on a bike tickles you, read this book!

This is more of a recommendation than a review. As a road cyclist, I thoroughly enjoyed both of Moody's books and consider them must reads for those looking for entertainment who have an interest in cycling - real page turners. Sure, they're a bit tongue-in-cheek, bullets flying, comic book-esque and not Pulitzer prize material. But I loved them nonetheless.

The further adventures of Will and Cheryl flats early into the race--with no patch kit or spare. The novel establishes an intriguing tension between Will and Cheryl that for some reason is nearly forgotten, replaced by a femme fatale character who (together with the plot) becomes laughingly ridiculous halfway through the book. This is unfortunate, because one of the plot conflicts involves substance abuse similar to this year's Tour!! But frankly, the author writes a novel which any high school kid might have written, filled with silly male sex and 007 fantasies and precious few realistic bike scenes. Had the author written more of the world of bike racing (of which to his credit he seems knowledgeable--although the climactic mountaintop bike race scenes are absurd) and exercised more writing discipline (didn't this book have an editor?), this book might be worth reading. Unfortunately, Perfect Circles will satisfy neither bicyclists nor mystery lovers. It's like that time you weren't sure if you should race or not, went anyway, and broke a spoke or flatted. Save yourself the disappontment and read Moody's first book or The Yellow Jersey.

I used to work with Greg and he writes just as he talks. He's wonderfully funny -- and I'm only slightly prejudiced. In Perfect Circles, Greg continues the story of Will Ross, an unlikely hero, and Cheryl Crane. I'm convinced Will IS Greg. Somebody is undoing the Haven cycling team and Will and Cheryl are right in the middle of the action. Will's ultimate nobility is remarkable -- in life and in sports. Give the book a try. It's set in France. How bad can it be?

Following on the heels of Two Wheels, this is a worthy complement to the Will and Cheryl adventure. The descriptions of the locales and stages and the history behind Le Tour are spot on. Those familiar with history will smile as the story pregresses, and those that aren't will learn about burning desire in the sport of road racing. Just make sure you've got that bike ready to go after you're done reading this novel.