Customer Reviews

Slow Burn (Marti MacAlister Mystery)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have now read three of the Marti MacAlister novels and I am anxious to continue on. The characters are so strongly drawn that this is almost a cross between a police procedural and a cozy. One of the chief attractions of novels to me is good character development of people that I would like to know (well, mostly people that I would like to know). Bland does an excellent job of handling a fairly large cast of continuing characters, while making them distinct from one another. The characters have personal as well as professional lives, and this adds to the depth of the book and the intricacy of the plots. I am pleased to say that although they have their share of frustrations and struggles, the police are not all angst-ridden and alienated.

The stories also perform the tough trick of dealing with the gritty side of life, and the reality that not everyone can be saved, without becoming despondent. The main characters never stop fighting the good fight, which I find rather inspiring.

Eleanor Bland is one of the finest mystery writers alive today, and Slow Burn is just more proof of that. The characters are all vivid and fully drawn, and the plot is intricate and immensely interesting-- and the interplay between the two lead detectives is quite realistic. I've read three of Bland's books so far, and each one has not only been entertaining, but makes you think. There are no car-chases or shoot-outs here, just good solid writing that makes this a book for people who like to use their brains. Others need not apply!

Truly disappointing. A make-read (make yourself finish the book because you wasted your money}.

This book was pale at best. The ending was too predictable and it did not carry any suspense.

I thought this was suppose to be a mystery novel. What happened?