10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Sophomore Slump, August 24, 1999
The sequel to Lonely Hearts holds true to the curse of the "sophomore slump." After the crispness of the first book, something isn't quite as fresh here. Part of it may be that the criminals being pursued by the hero, Charlie Resnick, are burglars and mid-range drug dealers, instead of the serial killer of the previous book. What still holds one's attention, however, are the side stories in which the off-duty lives of the various police officers are given some play. Most interesting is the unflappable Super's paternal woes. Don't worry, the series picks up after this one.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Diverting, but not the best of its kind, August 9, 2001
This is a "police procedural", somewhat reminiscent of McBain's 87th Precinct books with a British flavor (or should I say flavour?). Unusually for a crime novel, there is no murder. The crimes are burglary and drug dealing. One of the burglars is a strikingly unusual crook who enjoys bird watching, seduces (maybe even falls for) one of his female victims, and saves the life of another of his victims who suffers a heart attack when he discovers the burglars in his home.
There is no real "mystery" here, since the activities of the criminals are described side-by-side along with the attempts of the police to find and arrest them. There are the usual side issues involving the personal lives of the police officers on the squad, and Harvey does a good job with that.
The one thing I found annoying about this novel is Harvey's penchant for giving us a conversation in which the participants speak indirectly and the reader can't figure out what they're talking about. Harvey isn't the only writer who does this, of course, but I have always found the practice to be smug and aggravating. There is an undertone of "If you were really paying attention, pal, you'd know exactly what they're talking about." I can do without the attitude, Mr. Harvey.
Otherwise the book is a completely professionally produced crime novel: pleasant for those who enjoy the genre, but unmemorable.
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A Description..., April 5, 2006
From Back Cover:
Things have started to get seriously out of hand for kind-hearted burglar Jerry Grabianski. His violent, opportunistic partner-in-crime, Trevor Grice, is uncontrollable. And now Jerry has fallen hard for married, love-starved and willing Maria Roy - whom he and Trevor met while ransacking her house.
Detective Inspector Charlie Resnick is certain that the criminals responsible for the break-in at the Roy household are the same two who left a corpse behind during their previous caper. But there are some things neigher Maria nor her television director husband Harold are reveaing to the melancholy investigator. And when love, lies and larceny mix, the result can be murder.
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