Customer Reviews

Spire

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(32)
3 star:		(17)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Richard North Patterson has returned to writing the types of books that made him one of my favorite authors! This is a great psychological suspense novel, and drew me in from the first pages.

Mark Darrow is a succesful lawyer, but after some life crises he returns to his old alma mater as the college president. His job is to try to restore the school's reputation, which has been on the decline since a murder during his college days. This brings back many conflicts for Mark, in part because his best friend was convicted of the murder and is in prison for life.

Flipping between the past and the present, Patterson does a great job of re-telling the story and tying it into the present day. He keeps you in suspense until the very end, although I will say my hunch about the real murderer was correct. Patterson also develops a beautiful love story and tale of healing for Mark and his love interest.

This is a great book-you will not regret a minute spent reading it!

Richard North Patterson has written some truly gripping thrillers in his day. The compelling Eyes of a Child springs to mind immediately as an example of what this writer can do when he's on top form -- a rollercoaster ride, where the reader never really knows which way is up and who to trust. Unfortunately, in this return to the genre (after recent books that have too often been tedious reads set in the world of presidential politics and the supreme court, where Patterson allowed his passion for causes like gun control to take priority over the telling of a great story, a big no-no in my opinion), the bad guy was obvious to me from very nearly his first appearance on the scene, long before the commission of any crime. (I can't say why without a giant spoiler, alas.) So my only question revolved around the specifics of 'how', and a bit of the 'why', rather than the 'who'. The result? A disappointing book.

The plot revolves around Mark Darrow, a lawyer who owes his current life and career to his football scholarship to Caldwell College and, especially, to his mentor, philosophy professor Lionel Farr. Now, Farr calls on the recently-widowed and directionless Darrow to give back to his alma mater, asking him to return as the college's president and rebuild its reputation in the wake of an embezzlement that the last president seems to have orchestrated. Together with the murder of a young African-American female student in Darrow's final year, a crime of which Darrow's best friend was convicted, this scandal leaves Caldwell College vulnerable, and Darrow accepts the challenge.

It's an intriguing premise, but it never really pans out. The characters' relationships (with the exception of those between Darrow and Farr and his daughter) are very sketchily developed and never really convincing. The plot twists were modest and telegraphed in advance, and the whole book felt rushed. Patterson himself has tackled this theme -- that of a man going back to the place where he came of age, solving a contemporary crime as well as one in the hero's past -- before in one of his best books, Silent Witness, and did it again with a female protagonist in the book now titled Caroline Masters. One of the strengths of those two books were Patterson's courtroom scenes, which are typically fabulous -- and which are absent in this book, which wraps up not in a trial with Perry Mason-style fireworks but in a series of sudden revelations that appear suddenly at the end of the book.

This is a ho-hum effort by Patterson, and I'd recommend it only to the author's die-hard fans who have already read his other books. For those new to Patterson's works, by all means seek out -- as rapidly as possible -- books like those above as well as Degree of Guilt or Dark Lady. Generally, I'd advise getting this from a library, and turning to other thrillers, like those by Greg Iles or Thomas Perry, if you're in search of some real dramatic tension.

I really enjoyed Richard North Patterson's latest and found myself hooked within the first few pages. The idea of a former college football star coming back to his old college as school president sixteen years later to handle a crisis, while suddenly re-investigating an old, presumably solved murder case, struck me as a brilliant premise, and it was handled very well. Clearly a skilled writer, Patterson slowly reveals clues while amplifying characterizations, constructing a murder mystery alongside a seemingly unconnected financial mystery with a poignant, if slightly underdeveloped, love story forming its emotional center. One might argue that the novel's middle is a little flabby with dialogue-heavy chapters as the protagonist informally interviews person after person involved in the sixteen-year-old murder of student Angela Hall. However, all great murder mystery novels use this device, and while it can be tedious in the hands of a less skilled author, I found myself eagerly turning page after page even when two characters are sitting in a diner, chatting over coffee.

The most surprising part of my reading experience was the novel's ultimate predictability. In no way am I skilled at guessing the endings of books; indeed, quite the opposite. I'm usually guessing until the final chapter and always am I most surprised at the end. Strangely, I had this one figured out about fifty pages in, and was both pleased and disappointed when every subsequent clue simply confirmed what seemed to be the obvious outcome from the start. Yet I remain steadfast in giving this novel a glowing review because it is well written and, even though I was able to figure it out well in advance of the protagonist, I very much enjoyed the ride. Four big stars, minus one because, in the end, I was hoping for a little out of the blue twist that never materialized. Still, highly recommended!

After about a decade, Richard North Patterson has returned with the type of thriller that made him one of my favorite authors. In THE SPIRE, Patterson writes of a shocking murder at a small Ohio college that changes everyone involved. Patterson used to write legal thrillers that were filled with amazing depth and psychological suspence. Then he moved on to political novels. Since he is a liberal and I'm a conservative, they weren't my favorite. I read a few, but not all, and found them well written, but just not fun. Then, he moved on to issue novels, tacking the death penalty, the middle east, and Africa. These books were again well written and very good, but certainly not escapist fiction.

In THE SPIRE, Patterson returns to his roots. Fans will find nothing new here, but will find everything about Patterson they always enjoyed. Mark Darrow had a troubled childhood, leading him to have to live with his friend Steve Tillman. Darrow is a high school football star and Lionell Farr, a teacher at local Caldwell College, gets Mark a scholarship. Mark is a star at Caldwell too, but his life is changed when he finds the murdered body of Angela Hall, a black woman, beneath the Spire. Mark's friend Steve is convicted of the crime.

Mark returns to the college 15 years later as newly appointed president. He's always wondered about Steve's conviction, and as he begans to research it, he has a lot of unanswered questions. Mark's investigation turns up old flames of jealousy, racism, and regret. He also develops a relationship with Farr's daughter, which may or may not be a good thing.

In saying that Patterson returns to what he does best, I also believe this novel offers nothing new accept the way Patterson used to write. So don't expect anything groundbreaking, but do take comfort in that Patterson can still write a very good novel.

Richard North Patterson is my favorite author, so when I saw he wrote a new novel I was thrilled. Because I have read all of his books, I knew "who done it" from the beginning, but that did not decrease the enjoyment of the development of the story. His last three books were political thrillers and, while I believe that "Exile" was his best book, it was refreshing to read a book that was the type of story he used to write. It reminded me in ways of "Silent Witness. He tells a great story and tells it well. I have to comment that I am surprised that Amazon.com did not showcase this book either for a pre-order or when it first came out.

Richard North Patterson, acclaimed for his character-driven political thrillers, makes a departure from the major issues of previous novels like Eclipse and Exile and turns out a straightforward campus mystery in The Spire.

Mark Darrow has made millions practicing law after graduating on a football scholarship from Caldwell College, a fictional but familiar-seeming formerly Christian school in small-town Ohio. Sixteen years later, his alma mater is asking for his help. The school is embroiled in a financial scandal involving its president, and Lionel Farr, Darrow's mentor and the school's provost, asks Darrow to return to Caldwell to fill the now empty position. Darrow agrees, but upon his return, he quickly finds that all is not well at the little college.

The story follows Darrow as he adapts to his new job, but between fundraising calls to prominent alumni and meetings with faculty, he finds time to investigate not only the financial scandal for which the former president was ousted but also a 16-year-old murder for which his best friend is still serving time. For some reason, no one in town, from the police chief to the local attorney, seems to think it the least bit odd that the new college president would be investigating a murder that took place a decade and a half earlier.

As a mystery, The Spire mostly succeeds. Patterson does a good job of setting up multiple plausible suspects early on, and the ending delivers a predictable but satisfying twist. But the story, while interesting, is flawed by uncharacteristically careless writing. The transitions between story elements are jarring at times, and much of the book's first half contains confusing memories of memories and flashbacks within flashbacks. The plot is frequently interrupted by lengthy sections of dialog that, while they serve to build character depth, are largely unsupported by any real drama in the story.

Like most of this author's books, the story is told from a purely secular viewpoint, and the objectionable content that exists stems from that fact. It is either interesting or unfortunate, depending on one's point of view, that Caldwell, a purportedly Christian institution, exists in such an environment that things like rampant drug and alcohol abuse and even a professor's affair with a student are viewed as wrong only insofar as they affect the school's reputation among wealthy alumni.

For all its problems, however, this book was still penned by one of the great fiction authors of our time. So while it falls short of the bar set by Patterson's best-sellers of previous years, it nevertheless manages to be compelling right to the final page.

It isn't often that I use the four star option, but I choose to on this excellent novel because parts of the plot were a little too facile and transparent. A certain relationship, and potential perpetrator, a couple of rather too obviously innocent accused folks contribute to that.

And yet -- there is something about a novel written by a former lawyer who was good at his trade. As a participant in the Watergate Special Prosecutor's process, Patterson has had the opportunity not only to rub shoulders with very skilled attorneys, but to develop access to highly skilled people to add believable detail and texture to his tale. The afterword details many of these folks, and their particular expertise, and it is an imposing list.

One failing that is often found in suspense novels, particularly ones with a psichological basis is a need to provide a nice tidy ending that ties off all the loose ends. To achieve this in a believable and satisfactory way is a rare skill, and I thank Patterson for having that skill -- and using it.

The novel does dissolve into a slightly turgid development towards the middle, but the final of the three sections entitled the same as the novel, "The Spire" totally held my attention to the extent that I discarded all other plans for the evening until it was finished.

A couple of extra notes -- I found the first chapter in the first section "The Offer" had a most engaging segment describing a good professor of philisophy conducting a class. The very strength of this segment made me want to stick with the novel no matter what happened -- and I am glad I did. Later when a slightly contrived relationship developed between the protagonist, Mark Darrow and another person I wasn't comfortable. I'm not going to spoil the yarn by telling too much, but I will say that what seemed a little artificial matured into something truly charming -- and even believable.

So, four stars, but only because of that lapse into turgidity in the middle. Recommended nonetheless!

Sometimes the stars align and you get lucky. Back when he was a high school student with a mentally ill mother and an often absent alcoholic father, successful Boston attorney Mark Darrow was looking at a no hope dead end future. He could, however, play football. Luckily he came under the eye of Professor Lionel Farr who was able to offer him a full scholarship at a small Ohio college. Darrow accepted, but only after he managed to wrangle a scholarship for his best friend Steve Tillman, who had a slight racism problem.

College almost over, Darrow is a star, Tillman is not. One night after a party Tillman leaves with black co-ed Angela Hall, who is later found murdered. Who do you think looks good for the crime? Darrow goes on to Boston and his bright future and Tillman gets life without parole.

Now there is a financial scandal at the College and Farr wants Darrow to come back as college president and help put things right. Darrow accepts and decides to not only investigate the financial mess, but to look into that old murder. But there is somebody who doesn't want Darrow poking into the past. Then there is another body.

As usual Richard North Patterson had me on the edge of my seat. His writing style keeps you turing the pages, putting other plans on hold till you get to the end of the story. The suspense in this one keeps building. The characters are likable and believable, the writing taught. This is a might fine mystery with twists and turns galore.

I usually enjoy Patterson's novels and he is a great author. The plot and the characters are superbly developed with just the right amount of suspense and mystery. I particularly like the fact that the story is not too far-fetched and the plot seems actually plausible -- a rarity in novels these days.

However, being the accomplished author that he is, I expected better. My main disappointment is that the plot and characters are far too complex and sometimes reading this book made me feel like I was doing chemistry homework or something. I look to a good novel as something to make me relax and my mind into a different setting -- a sort of escape from the present. In The Spire you need to actually study to fully understand many details.

When student Mark Darrow discovers the body of a black fellow student, Angela Hall, at the foot of the spire in the centre of the college he attends, he little suspects that his best friend will be charged with the murder. Now, 16 years later, Darrow is back, at the invitation of his mentor and now college provost, Lionel Farr, to become president of the college in order to rebuild its reputation after a case of embezzlement has left the college in a precarious position (conveniently, Darrow has become an ace financial fraud lawyer in the intervening years). As Darrow digs into what happened with the college finances, he also begins to look afresh at the trial of his friend and questions if he really was guilty as charged. He also finds time to start an emerging relationship with the provost's troubled, but beautiful, daughter. Is the real killer still at large and are the two crimes connected?

Richard North Patterson began his publishing career with a number of excellent crime novels before more recently turning to court room style books (he is, after all, a former trial lawyer). In many ways this is something of a welcome return to his roots. Although, saying that, his protagonist is still a trial lawyer so we get something of a court room drama without the court room, if you see what I mean.

The Spire is a terrific read. It's a fast moving, well-written story that has that undeniable quality of making the reader want to read "just a few more pages" each time. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it's a very satisfying book.

However, if you are allergic to a lack of originality, this might be a book to avoid. For a start we are located in a small town US college where plenty of authors have gone before (and none so brilliantly as Donna Tartt's `'The Secret History'` in my view). Add to this other `store cupboard' ingredients such as small town boy made good, a suggestion of racism, a love story, several dysfunctional families, a bit of psychoanalysis for the lead character, a splash of sexual deviancy and a game of both American Football and Baseball and you have the recipe for a comforting, warming meal, but hardly one to earn you a Michelin star. Personally, I don't mind that almost cliché mix, but if that's a recipe that will drive you mad, then be warned.

I'm not sure I wholly bought into the likelihood of a financial crime lawyer being invited to run a college, but it's probably best to just accept that for the sake of the story. Neither was I particularly convinced that Darrow would have had quite such a lack of interest in his best friend's plight in prison during his heady years as a top lawyer - although he had other issues to deal with, including the death of his wife.

Perhaps more seriously potentially damaging to your enjoyment of this book is the lack of likely candidates for the crime. The cast of characters is relatively modest and I have to say that I guessed the identity of the villain of the piece very early on. But once again, I'd stress that this didn't affect my enjoyment of the book at all.

It's a great book to curl up with in front of the fire or would be an excellent holiday read if ever summer reappears.