Customer Reviews

The Trials of Nikki Hill

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Christopher Darden and is co-writer have writeen a good mystery here. I kept thinking I had it figured out, and then something would change and it would be back to square one again.

The writing was very well done and the book flowed smoothly. The only thing that disappointed me was that the characters and the story seemed a bit contrived. Some of it just wasn't believeable to me.

Overall, I wouldn't go out of my way to read it, but I also would consider it a good "airplane" or "travel" book.

This book was quite a disappointment; it offers no insight into criminal prosecution in LA (which Darden should have provided) and ultimately is just another mystery novel. The authors burden themselves with too many characters, but have no interest in realistic dialgoue--everything sounds tinny and fake.

The chapters are uniformly short (3-4 pages, tops), which makes reading easy. The plot is ho-hum; standard thriller stuff, with an admirable twist at the end. However, this book could have been so much more--Darden could offer an interesting in-depth look into criminal prosecution, but instead contents himself to do a half-baked job. Much like his work prosecuting OJ Simpson.

From beginning to end, this book captures the reader and doesn't let go. Just when you think you have the book figured out, darden and lochte throw another curveball and send you down another path.

The characters are all well defined and none are above suspicion, until the gripping conclusion, which leaves you wanting more from the authors in future endeavors.

It is truly wonderful to be pleasantly surprised by the writing quality of a relatively unknown fiction writer. Certainly, Christopher Darden is not unknown as a lawyer, but teamed with Dick Lochte (who I had never read before), this book was well worth the time and money that I spent on it. The only reason I missed giving it a 5-star rating is because most men don't truly know women. Darden and Lochte prove the point in their lack of insight into a woman's world. Nevertheless, I look forward to more from this duo.

I was worried that this would be just another OJ rehash. What a surprise to discover it was something very different -- a well-written, suspenseful, clever and at times humorous big book with characters that leap off the pages. Mystery fans should meet Nikki as fast as possible.

This book was real. I could really see the charactors come to life. I can see this into a made for TV movie. I did not know until the end who was the killer. I could not put it down. Christopher has a real nack for Murder Mystery books and I think being in the D.A.'s office seeing real cases and having to deal with real murders is a great asset. I recommend this book to new mystery readers like myself as well as those who have read many. Everyone should enjoy this one.

Whilst I normally follow the thriller market pretty closely I had never heard of Darden or Lochte when I picked up the paperback in a New Zealand bookstore (having run out of books).

The first few pages did not make me expect much but what unfolded was a genuine good thriller with lots of surprises and believable characters you could identify with.

The prosecutor Nikki Hill and the cop who helped her,the veteran Goodman ( it is very simple to envisage his namesake John in the film role)are smart and likeable. They have to fight the system in many ways and succeed( of course) in doing so, but to great personal cost.

I really hope these two writers get together more and continue the tale of Nikki Hill.

I'm used to being able to second-guess mystery writers, but Darden and Lochte had me completely faked out. Great characters and lots of fun!

One of the most enjoyable books I've read this year. Nikki and her police detectives are great characters. The story is strong and totally believable. And the ending took my breath away. You'll love this book!

I was really surprised at the ending. I think it was a pretty good book but it could have been a little shorter.