Customer Reviews

Surrogate Evil: A Lee Nez Novel (Lee Nez Novels)

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

 

 

Good read. This addition to the series depends more on police work than on the supernatural; and while I'm happy with both, I did feel the Thurlos were on more solid footing in their writing here. Maybe they should continue in this style. I'm game!

I don't think this was good an effort as the previous books, but still is good for the series. This outing Lee Nez and his girlfriend,Diane Lopez, also an FBI agent, go undercover to rescue a boy who was kidnapped and to thwart a man who is a mean sonofagun, and is delving into illegal stuff, porn, drugs, etc. The battle starts between Nez, Diane, and this guy Glover. They provoke Glover and he retaliates time and time again. There isn't much of Indian folklore in this outing, which I miss. Nor is there much vamp stuff, other than Lee's night vision, speed, and quick healing. No calf blood around.
This book may not pop like others, but strengthens the bond between Lee and Diane.

I've been following this series since they came out and out of the four books already out this one was the slowest one when it came to action and fights. The way the main characters relationship has been played was well done, but the book overall left me wanting for something that wasn't there...maybe next one.

I love Aimee and David Thurlo's books, especially the Lee Nez series. Nez is a Navaho half-vampire State police officer and frequently works with Diane Lopez, an FBI agent. In this book, they go after "a piece of scum" who has a community terrorized, is involved with child kidnapping and child porn, blackmail, murder, etc. I definitely recommend this book.

One of the advantages of being a half-vampire working for the New Mexico State Police is that Lee Nez's powers make it easier for him to work a case. Lee and his sometimes partner FBI special agent Diana Lopez are able to solve a case quicker with less danger to civilians. After busting men on various charges that are connected to a senator, Lee and Diane are advised to get out of the area for a while. They are assigned to take down Newton Glover a man who has intimidated the East Mountain area and is suspected of various crimes.

It is believed he has authorities in various agencies working for him so Lee and Diana move into the trailer across the way from his pretending to be tough criminals. When Lee sees him watching them through surveillance, he breaks the man's windshield in the hope that Newton will try to get even and they will have something to arrest him on. They are also investigating the disappearances of ten year old Tim Klein who Grover might have kidnapped. When Newton tries to kill Lee, with Diane as a witness, Newton knows he will have to murder both of them before they can get obtain evidence to put him away.

The Latest Lee Nez combination horror mystery police procedural is a reading experience on the wild side with so many adrenaline inducing scenes that readers will feel thoroughly spoiled. The Thurlos have a take on the vampire mythos based on Navaho legends and myths and Lee is so unlike Bram Stoker's Dracula that the two characters don't resemble each other in the slightest. Lee is one hero who makes his life and his to keep the area he patrols safe. Diana, who knows what Lee is, loves him because he is a good man who works for the good of society.

Harriet Klausner

Having enjoyed the concept and series, as well as the Ellah Clah novels, I was eager for this entry, but was very disappointed. In this situation, there is little to no justification for the excesses of provocation and blatantly illegal actions on the part of the "good guys" to catch the bad guy--amounting to advocating vigilantism. Granted the bad guy is really bad--to the point of caricature--but there is a reason we have laws about how to determine guilt and punish people for wrong-doing--after a jury of their peers finds them guilty. None of us have the right to become investigator, prosecutor, jury, judge, and executioner all by ourselves--for very good reason. With a supernatural bad guy and no way to prove it, there is some fictional justification for action that goes way beyond the pale--but here--really none. I didn't like Lee and Diane by the end very much at all--despite the truly evil bad guy, who surely "deserved justice". They walked dangerous ground here and in my view--crossed the line into being perhaps not quite as bad as the bad guy they chased--but no heros. Hope this is a single miss and the next book will be better.

I picked up this book because the main character was half-vampire. I prefer paranormal/urban fantasy genre and this was not it. I did enjoy the book however despite my disappointed expectations. It was a crime/detective novel mostly. A little too much detail on the procedures used by law enforcement for my tastes. Since I am not well-read in this type of genre, it would be difficult for me to review it accurately. I did manage to read it rather quickly and remained intrigued for the most part. I reviewed this mainly to warn off fans of LKH, Kim Harrison, Kelley Armstrong and the like, that this is not one of those types of books as it does not delve into the supernatural at all. The half vampire character makes references to his abilities at great vision, hearing and other physical feats while he slathers on sunscreen. So if you expect to read about blood intake, reading minds, vampire politics/hierarchy and the like, then you are certain to be disappointed. The violence is also not supernatural and relates more to police work (i.e. gunshots, etc). If you are into crime/detective novels then this may be more enjoyable for you. I did like the characters though, especially the way the authors portrayed the women as very intelligent and capable law enforcement personnel. There is no romance either but I expect many who pick this book up could care less about that aspect.

This is the first book by the Thurlo's for me. I got it yesterday and finished it today!!!! I loved it!!! So very entertaining!!! I read until 1:30 last night. I will be reading more of their books.