Customer Reviews

The Shut Mouth Society

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This captivating novel moves with dizzying speed. The plot twists so fast that you don't want to put it down because you know there is going to be another surprise on the next page. The combination of an unpredictable plot, intriguing characters, and fascinating American history made this book hard to put down. I was very disappointed to finish it because I wanted more. Hey! How long are you going to keep us waiting for Leadville?

It's all about secret societies but this book shouldn't be kept a secret. The fast-paced story is full of action, riddled with twists and turns, develops characters you like a lot, weaves in some interesting U.S. history and is VERY hard to put down. My only complaint was that it was over too soon. So read it - it's good!

I loved The Shopkeeper and I liked The Shut Mouth Society even more. It's full of adventure and suspense , but always remains believable. Besides being a fun book, I enjoyed the way American history was intertwined with an exciting story. The history of Lincoln and the Civil War period was a real asset to the book. I also like the way the story moves all over the United States because I have been in many of the locations. I hope James D. Best, like my other favorite authors, puts out at least a book a year.

First the good parts of this book. The insight and analyses on Lincoln were very good. Any history or Lincoln buff would enjoy and appreciate them. The main characters - a cop and a beauteous history professor were also very good. Those elements were in the five star range.

Now, for the part that brings it to a 3.5. The plot surrounds two ultra-secret societies that have existed since the Civil War and have continued in families through generations. One is good, of course, and the other is evil. The main characters, unbeknownst to both, are descendants in the good secret society and were brought together by the society. When things begin to extra dicey, it turns out that the cop was in some super intelligence branch of the military and he can pick up the phone and engage his entire band of brothers (who he has not seen nor spoken to in years) in a matter of hours.

The plot is contrived to say the least and must be so to accomodate the secret society conspiracies.

The action does get fast-paced at times and if you suspend belief in reality, the mystery is pretty good. However, the contrived plot is incongruous with the good and serious history portions. One would expect more reality when historical perspective and analysis is so well done.

In sum, this is a fair mystery with some good history thrown into the mix.

Having read his previous book, The Shopkeeper, I knew going in that this would be an entertaining thriller. The anticipation of what is going to happen next makes it difficult to put this book down. The author has a way of personalizing the characters so that they seem like someone you've known for a long time.

I eagerly await his next book, which I hope is out soon. His writing style is unique and demands attention, and yet is easy to follow. The Shut Mouth Society is one of those books that you get into reading and then realize that half the day is gone.

Excellent novel delivering everything you look for in a "good book". Suspense, thrill, adventure and American history all tossed in for an exciting story. The author's writting style is reminescant of an intellectural Dan Brown.

I couldn't put it down. The perfect combination of suspense, mystery, adventure and US history. I learned more about Lincoln then I expected, and had a good time doing it. I like the way it takes history and brings it into current times. Nicely done.

SHUT MOUTH SOCIETY is carried by an interesting premise and some intriguing historical theories. These kept me reading even though I often found the interactions between the main characters somewhat forced. There are some good action scenes, however, and they helped to keep my attention. The book is reminiscent of the "The Da Vinci Code," using, in this case, Abraham Lincoln as the central theme. I'd call it an okay read, particularly if one is interested in all things Lincoln.

A riveting mystery with lots of action, while also teaching a lot of US history. As with Best's other book, "The Shopkeeper", the action includes many twists - there's no way to predict the outcome - as well as very engaging characters. The history is so much a part of the story that it's not immediately obvious how much you're learning - the whole situation surrounding abolition is much more complex than I ever learned in my US history courses. Well worth reading.

A delightful romp across the US with almost the feel of a historical novel with wonderful revelations about Abraham Lincoln and an engaging mystery in the bargain.