Customer Reviews

Spiral (John Francis Cuddy Mystery)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Jeremiah Healy has brought his erstwhile series character, John Francis Cuddy, Boston PI, back. After losing the second love of his life to a plane crash, he is called upon to help his Vietnam commander, one Nicholas Helides, now wheelchair bound, determine who murdered his 13 year rock singer/sexual teaser granddaughter. Cuddy finds himself in Fort Lauderdale, a place usually thought of as a bedroom community for Miami, but which below its staid surface boils like hot oil into which drops of water has fallen. Cuddy must deal with a world-class dysfunctional family, cops with a cruelty gene, violent rednecks, hookers, and the rock group Spiral, whose problems would take longer to list than the side effects to Viagra. Cuddy displays just how tough he is, as he takes more than his share of physical abuse from a number of people. Healy has pushed the envelope in dealing with issues relating to children and their sexuality. He pulls it off brilliantly and without being exploitive. That's the mark of a great writer, which Jeremiah Healy again proves he is. This is definitely one to read.

I loved the book and I love the character of John Cuddy, however, I was extremely disappointed that his new love, Nancy Meagher, died. I loved the interaction building between the two of them throughout the novels and will definitely miss it continuing. I think John Cuddy has enough to deal with without having to find a new love and I feel that he needs love and companionship in his life. He will now be afraid to love anyone else again in fear that he will lose her. I hope that since they did not find the body, that Nancy somehow comes back.

Dark, passionate, gripping are only three words to describe a thriller impossible to put down! One of Healy's best yet!

This is not the typical John Francis Cuddy book. For one thing, Healy's always been a dependable detective novelist, with the right mix of suspense and intrigue, and a plot that leaves you wondering who the killer is. In this instance, instead, the book's almost 400 pages long, and you have the feeling that it's almost overwhelmed by the dialog. I actually looked when I reached the end of one sequence, and nothing had happened except conversations for about 90 pages. Then the author throws in a knife fight, almost as if he knows he's gone overboard, but he needs all of the clues he didn't plant. Nothing really seems to come from the conversations, either.

I wish I could have reviewed this book more positively: I've liked other books in the series considerably more, though it's been a while since I read one. This one just didn't click with me.

I purchased this book on the basis of the reviews I had read here. This was my first Healy novel, and I had high expectations. Knowing that a good novel, or movie, has to make one suspend disbelief, I was surprised to find in the first chapter circumstances surrounding the murder of 13 year old to be a little unbelieveable. For example, the security cameras in the mansion of her grandfather being turned off during the commission of the crime because a 15 year old friend of the victim wanted to make his own video of the party, and didn't want any competition from any other videotape. Bit of a stretch, eh? Oh, and she could sing like Janis Joplin?
Anyway, as we move along, several interesting characters develop, but weaving them all together requires so much imagination, and often re reading, that the plot development struggles as much as our hero. Although the perpetrator is a bit of surprise, the movement of the other characters is a bit shallow and predictable. I'd skip this one.

While I was touring for my first mystery novel, many readers compared my work to that of Jeremiah Healy's. Such comparisons pleased me greatly, and SPIRAL clearly demonstrates what I admire most about Healy's works.

John Cuddy is still mourning the death of his love, Nancy Meagher, when an old friend from his Vietnam service calls him on behalf of their wartime commander Nicolas Helides, who is now confined to a wheelchair. Helides' thirteen-year-old granddaughter was murdered. The girl's father planned to use his daughter to revitalize his old rock band. As Cuddy investigates the teengirl's death, he finds himself confronting greed, jealousy, lust, and ambition. SPIRAL is perhaps the darkest of Healy's Cuddy series, yet, in this mystery writer's opinion, it is one of his best. It is a magnificent work. Slide your mouse over to the purchase button and order it today.

While I was touring for my first mystery novel, many readers compared my work to that of Jeremiah Healy's. Such comparisons pleased me greatly, and SPIRAL clearly demonstrates what I admire most about Healy's works.

John Cuddy is still mourning the death of his love, Nancy Meagher, when an old friend from his Vietnam service calls him on behalf of their wartime commander Nicolas Helides, who is now confined to a wheelchair. Helides' thirteen-year-old granddaughter was murdered. The girl's father planned to use his daughter to revitalize his old rock band. As Cuddy investigates the teengirl's death, he finds himself confronting greed, jealousy, lust, and ambition. SPIRAL is perhaps the darkest of Healy's Cuddy series, yet, in this mystery writer's opinion, it is one of his best. It is a magnificent work. Slide your mouse over to the purchase button and order it today.

Private Investigator John Cuddy drops his beloved Nancy Meagher at Boston's Logan Airport so the Suffolk County prosecutor can attend an educational conference in San Francisco. However Flight 133 crashed, probable cause being El Nino. Nancy was reported dead with her body not recovered.

Still recovering from the shock, John goes to Florida where he meets an old buddy from his military police days in Saigon. Justo Vega asks John to help the "Skipper", their former Commanding Officer Nicholas Helides. Apparently, Nicholas believes someone murdered his teenage granddaughter, even though the official report and the media believe the girl accidentally drowned in the family swimming pool. Skipper wants Nicholas to uncover the identity of the killer.

The thirteenth Cuddy novel is an interesting, well-written tale that refreshes the series as the lead protagonist SPIRALs into a much darker novel than usual. The story line rips the guts open on the characters

exposing their raw energies and dire emotions. John is included in exposing his rawest nerves even as he remains a caring, grieving individual. Jeremiah Healy has written one of the better albeit gloomiest entries in a tremendous series.

Harriet Klausner