Customer Reviews

Raw Deal

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When I last spoke to Mr. Les Standiford in the Autumn of 2008 at his annual writers conference on Hutchinson Island, he mentioned he hoped to write another entry in the John Deal mystery series soon, and it will behoove the vast mystery reading public if he does! As a fan who has read all of the books in the John Deal series, as well as historical nonfiction such as "Last Train to Paradise", "Meet You in Hell", and "The Man Who Invented Christmas", I agree with other reviewers that as a storyteller, Mr. Standiford writes books that you just can't put down.

Ignore the old and inaccurate Publisher's Weekly review of this title, and you'll find this entry in the series is packed with action and intrigue, laugh-out-loud humor, and suspicious characters with furtive motives but never a dull moment. As a flawed but brave and macho "detective", our hero manages to save the day, despite "help" from former crusty cop and tenant Vernon Driscoll and family problems, all while operating a successful commercial construction business. All of Standiford's books give the reader unique, well developed characters and a florid glimpse into both the contemporary and seedy life of Miami, Florida, mixed with a continuous helping of "on the edge danger" and a plot that grabs the reader and commands attention, making each book a "must read" page turner. Whether you love to read a riveting mystery or want to learn how to write one, buy several of Standiford's mysteries and get free shipping from Amazon - now that's a "Book Deal"!

Standiford paints a beautiful picture of the South Fl. streets, and tells a great story with many great characters