8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Minimalist Perfection, September 20, 2006
This review is from: Seventy Times Seven (Colton Parker Mystery Series, Book 2) (Paperback)
Dodson's "Original Sin" was one of my favorite discoveries of the last year: a gritty mystery, told in sparse style, with snappy dialogue along the lines of Elmore Leonard, and a beating heart beneath the tough guy exterior. I wondered if he could pull it off again, in his second Colton Parker mystery. And I wasn't disappointed.
Although "Seventy Times Seven" takes a bit longer to snare the reader, it becomes an even better mystery than its predecessor. This time, Private Investigator Colton is trying to find a missing woman. The initial suspicions that she has merely run off from her wealthy, but homely, husband seem like run-of-the-mill stuff--until Colton begins stumbling upon some very intriguing contradictions. Along the way, he is dealing with his own wife's passing and his teen daughter's resulting depression. The estrangement between father and daughter is portrayed with minimalist perfection, spliced between surprises and action from the larger plot.
There are some rich rewards in this story, particularly for those who have read the first book. Nevertheless, this is a stand-alone mystery, and even new readers to the series will be able to follow along. I love the poetic prose of authors such as James Lee Burke, but Dodson never tries to be something he's not. He writes more along the lines of Chandler and Leonard, while still serving up a story of God's forgiveness in the midst of harsh realities. Colton Parker is a skeptic, but one slowly turning toward the light. With the third installment due in January '07, I'm assured to kick off the new year with another satisfying Dodson mystery.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Another gritty mystery from Dodson, July 10, 2007
This review is from: Seventy Times Seven (Colton Parker Mystery Series, Book 2) (Paperback)
Indianapolis private detective Colton Parker returns in SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN, the second book in the series by Brandt Dodson. Parker, the fired in disgrace former FBI agent, is still down on his luck. His practice barely pulls in enough money to pay the bills. He still struggles with the guilt and sadness of the death of his wife, and he still has no idea how to raise his 13 year old daughter, Callie.
Someone recommends Parker's services to Lester Cheek. Lester is a geek, a nerd, a founder of a pottery store empire in Indiana. Lester has a lot of money and no friends for most of his life. Now, the one woman who loved him for who he was, has gone missing and Lester hires Parker to find her.
Cheek gives Parker a list of his enemies and Parker begins interviewing each person. Slowly a picture begins to form about what kind of woman Lester's wife really was. When blood is found in Lester's wife's abandoned car, Parker fears the worst. But from there, the mystery only takes off. Lester's wife has a sordid past of her own, and Parker must fight to keep the mistakes she has made from ruining all of their lives.
Just as interesting as the mystery is Colton Parker's home life. After a fight with his wife, she stormed out of the house and had a car wreck that ended her life. His thirteen year-old daughter still hasn't recovered from the loss of her mom and the resulting loss of her own esteem and identity. Some of the most gripping passages are those in which Parker talks about life and faith with his daughter and with FBI friend Mary.
These books have a strong element of faith and also a lot of violence. Also, this book seemed to share some scenes from the first book in the series, ORIGINAL SIN (Parker busting into a bad guy's business unannounced and not being killed). This is a great series and I have the third book in the series on my shelf. Brandt Dodson writes books with great intrigue, realistic characters, suspenseful action and a strong message about God.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome!!, May 13, 2007
This review is from: Seventy Times Seven (Colton Parker Mystery Series, Book 2) (Paperback)
Fabulous book. Reminds me of the early days of Robert Parker only I think Dodson's writing is better. His books will all be in my permanent collection.
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