3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
EXCITING, ACTION-PACKED, VISUALLY DESCRIPTIVE MYSTERY, July 12, 2003
This review is from: Too Beautiful to Die (Blades Overstreet Mystery) (Hardcover)
Fans of Glenville Lovell and/or mysteries are in for a treat with his latest book, TOO BEAUTIFUL TO DIE. True to the form of most whodunit novels, movies, and other pieces showcasing the life of a private detective, Lovell definitely delivers! TOO BEAUTIFUL TO DIE is an exciting, action-packed, visually descriptive, fast-moving, and witty tale that kept me on the edge of my seat.
Formerly a New York City policeman, Blades Overstreet is at odds with the NYPD, awaiting a settlement from the city, and in a battle with himself over his separation from his wife. Blades finds himself caught up in issues surrounding his wife, his family; specifically his anger over being shot and wounded by a white police officer during an undercover operation gone bad. Convinced that the system is out to get him when the other cop is cleared of all wrongdoings and the shooting is determined an accident, Blades resigns from the Force and loses himself in bitterness and is set on revenge. As a result, his wife leaves him and in the midst of trying to get her back, he hears from Jimmie, the white cab driver that saved his life after the shooting. Blades feels indebted to Jimmie because he rescued Blades from the street after he had been shot and took him to the hospital, thus saving his life and becoming a friend.
At the request of Precious, a famous soap opera actress, Jimmie has summoned Blades to help Precious find her father. Uninterested in the position, Blades disregards his gut feelings on the case and accepts it after pressure from Jimmie. He accompanies Precious to meet an informant who supposedly has information about her father. She's never known her father, doesn't know who he is or what he looks like, and it seems odd that out of the blue someone has called her claiming to have information. What happens when the informant is found dead...and is later revealed to be an FBI agent? The NYPD come looking for Blades as a suspect. More drama unfolds as Blades becomes involved with Precious and continues on his quest to find her father. On the run for his life, he must find out who is setting him up while at the same time trying to stay clear of the authorities.
TOO BEAUTIFUL TO DIE is mystery writing at its best, and Lovell not only commands your attention as the story unravels, but he also tells it in a literary tone that strokes the imagination and emotions of the reader. I was thoroughly surprised that I loved this book so much because it's told in a very strong narrative format, which I normally don't care for in books. Lovell not only pulls it off, he does it well! The ending is absolutely breath taking and it left me applauding Lovell and setting out on a mission to pick up his earlier works. Though Lovell did an excellent job of visually displaying the happenings in the book, I'd love to see it on the big screen. Additionally, I look forward to the continuation of the Blades Overstreet character and further mysteries by Lovell.
Reviewed by Tee C. Royal
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Blades Blazes onto the Scene......, September 11, 2003
This review is from: Too Beautiful to Die (Blades Overstreet Mystery) (Hardcover)
WHOA!!!!!This is my expression from reading this action packed novel full of breath-taking twists and turns that leave you mentally aroused as well as stimulated. Lovell has a penchant for writing Mysteries. He has taken this novel and intermingled romance with the street life of crime and the underworld corruption in governmwnt and Law enforcement at large. I was moved by his introduction of Blades, the ex-cop who refuses to accept his fate of being accidentally fired upon by one of his own. Just when I thought the story could not evoke any more emotion it heightened my awareness of the struggles Blades is trying to overcome while dealing with his quest for the TRUTH.
I would highly recommend this book to ALL persons in Law Enforcement and to anyoe in the general literary world who can appreciate the journey this writer takes you on in this beatifully crafted novel. I look forward to more from Blades and can't wait to see what Lovell will create for his next novel.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
exciting urban noir, July 10, 2003
This review is from: Too Beautiful to Die (Blades Overstreet Mystery) (Hardcover)
Three years may have passed, but African-American Blades Overstreet remains bitter over the incident that nearly cost him his life and ultimately did cost him his wife. During a bust, an undercover white cop "accidentally" shot police officer Blades, who felt it was a deliberate effort to eliminate a black cop. The brass told him to shut up so he quit and sued. The acrimonious aftertaste and avenging obsession over the subsequent two years led to his wife Anais leaving him to go to California.
Jimmy Lucas once saved Blades' life so he now asks a big favor of Blades. Jimmy wants Blades to help his "Precious" find her long lost father. Warning Jimmy that the debt is now paid, Blades begins making inquiries only he finds a murdered FBI agent during his investigation. Already detested by the NYPD brass and most of its rank and file for failing to live up to its blue color code, Blades finds federal and local law enforcement want to hang his black butt with the crime. He knows he needs to uncover with 200 proof evidence the identity of the real culprit o he will find himself behind bars.
Though containing a powerful condemnation of racism, this exciting urban noir is clearly for those in the audience who appreciate macho males bragging about sexual conquests in between acts of violence. So the question begs itself as to why this suburban female reviewer kept reading in spite of feeling like an outsider. Somehow Blades hooks the reader as an underdog David who the audience follows in hopes he wins the day against entrenched Goliath bureaucracies and regains his love. This work is clearly for specified sub-genre fans that will enjoy Blade's New York City joy ride.
Harriet Klausner
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