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3.0 out of 5 stars
Baked in Boston, April 27, 2007
This review is from: Pray for Us Sinners (Mass Market Paperback)
Harry Kline suffers from the Jessica Fletcher syndrome, in which those around him always ended up linked to a murder, either as subject or object. Although he's not as deadly as the TV sleuth, in "Pray for Us Sinners," the fourth novel by Boston-based forensic psychologist Philip Luber, at least two people come to a bad end. In this thriller, Kline's FBI agent girlfriend, Veronica Pace, decides to investigate her mother's murder, which she witnessed as a child over 20 years ago. Her decision brings pressure on Klein to get her to drop the matter, but he discovers that she has a tenacity that makes Nietzsche look wishy-washy. He learns that this trait extends even to something as minor as a swimming race. Press too hard, and he runs a risk of losing the woman he loves. Meanwhile, Veronica digs deeper into her mother's death and runs up against formidable adversaries: a nasty Wellesley matron with high connections, a manic-depressive ex-folk singer turned mail-order clothing tycoon and a businessman with Mafia ties. A perverse pleasure can be derived from Luber's gimlet-sharp take on the manners and mores of Boston society: of this bunch, the Mafia member is the best behaved. As a detecting hero, Kline is a colorless shadow, neither annoying nor admirable, but an Everyman capable of dealing with traumatized veterans, his growing daughter and a diffident mama's boy he's treating. H's surrounded by vivid characters, but "Pray" is a laid-back inquiry into the past, and picks up energy near the end, when it leads to a satisfying conclusion.
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3.0 out of 5 stars
Actually, a 3 1/2 star book -- it kept me turning the pages, December 29, 2003
This review is from: Pray for Us Sinners (Mass Market Paperback)
but there were some problems, including the fact that I didn't like the "detective" very much, and his girlfriend even less. I would also agree with reviewers who found the explanation for the murder under investigation to be less than convincing. The plot involves a woman who, as a child, witnessed her mother's death at the hands of a masked intruder. Twenty or so years later, she decides she must discover who killed her mother, so she takes a leave of absence from her job at the FBI to try to solve this cold case herself. Her boyfriend psychiatrist, however, is the primary "detective" in this book, which is a good thing because the woman herself is not particularly likeable and one wonders why these two are involved at all. Other characters, however, are more vividly portrayed, and good plotting keeps the story moving right along. Although some other reviewers complained about the religious and philosophical pondering that take place from time to time in this mystery, I found them of interest. Readers of a sensitive nature might be a little more perturbed by a rather graphic (and unnecessary) sex scene, which I did not expect to find in a book of this genre -- so be warned! This only takes up a couple of pages, however, and is easily skipped by those offended by this content. All in all, a book to read and pass on (rather than keep). Good airplane reading.
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3.0 out of 5 stars
not my favorite, August 19, 2001
This review is from: Pray for Us Sinners (Mass Market Paperback)
This was my first book by this author. I thought I would enjoy a series about a psychiatrist who gets himself involved in a mystery as I love a Stephen White or a Jonathan Kellerman novel so much. Unfortunately, Harry Kline is not as enjoyable to read about as Alan Gregory or Alex Delaware. The mystery itself was not bad but it was all the other stuff that I disliked about this book. I had to skim many parts as I did not find myself fascinated by the history of Boston or Harry's religious wonderings and beliefs(or lack of). I just wanted the darn mystery and found his meanderings quite frustrating and boring. His girlfriend, Veronica, is not even likeable or believable. Why would anyone wait 21 years to go in search of a killer? That is just plain dumb. Especially for someone who is in law enforcement. I may try another Harry Kline novel as perhaps I started with the wrong one. I may end up liking them all better under different circumstances(the characters that is). I will let you know...
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