Customer Reviews

Trouble Comes Back

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"Trouble Comes Back" in different disguises in the third installment of the life of Jason Keltner, a young electronic musician living in Southern California.

Keltner spends little time behind his keyboards and computers this go-round, as an attempt to rescue his roommates mother from an abusive boyfriend leads him on an expedition to a crack house, where they discover and help rescue former rock star Dwight Cooper, a.k.a. Uncle Trouble. Cooper returns the favor by hiring them to babysit his daughter and protect her from his ex-wife, now working as a model in New York City.

Keith Snyder has a way of capturing contemporary speech that's free-flowing and sometimes confusing or obscure. His characters trade barbs and jokes, sometimes in the same paragraph, they fight and make up or not. A story arc may go in one direction, hang a right turn at the last moment and head into uncharted territory. While the fun is more muted this time around, when it shows up it's all the more amusing from trenchent observations about New York (my favorite: "Brooklyn is like Manhatten only shorter.") to the inclusion of a bedtime story "The Little Clam that Liked to Dance Even Though It Had No Feet" and "The Wonky," a short-short story that plays a pivotal role in the conclusion. This is a book where the pain is real, the regret palatable and the consequences of even the best of intentions sometimes fatal.

I didn't think I'd like "Show Control" about three young men in Southern California. Just sounded to hip for someone of my advanced age and middle western upbringing. I was very wrong. The third in the Jason Keltner series following "The Coffin's Got the Dead Guy Inside" is the best yet. Snyder grows as a writer. Jason and his friends continue to mature as characters especially in this often touching book. The humor is still there, but the tale concerns dysfunctional families and a child in jeopardy. All three of the characters make discoveries about themselves that are shared with the reader and which makes this trio so very likable as they are all good men trying to find their place in the universe in which they live. "Trouble Comes Back" is a book that clearly fulfills the promise shown in the earlier books and makes one impatient for the fourth in the series.

Okay, so I recently signed on to work for the author, Keith Snyder, to do some publicity. But I did so because I think his Jason Keltner series is one of the best things to hit the mystery field in years. His dialogue is brilliant - funny and witty and snappy, but believable and real. His characters are young, sorta edgy, but the 3 main characters are young men who truly like each other and care about each other. The story, involving a sort of loose body-guarding of a young girl who's the daughter of a messed-up rock star, gives them changes to encounter all sorts of people and try, essentially, to do good. I don't often read books that make me laugh out loud, but I was doing just that within 3 pages of Trouble Comes Back. This is one _talented_ writer and I hope to be reading his books for years to come.

I really enjoyed Mr. Synder's two previous novels and was looking forward to reading his latest. I enjoyed the witty dialogue and funny, yet realistic story lines from his previous work. I expected the same in the new novel. I don't know if the author was hurried by his publisher or if he is running out of ideas, but I was rather disappointed when I finished the novel. The plot was weak and the characters just seem to sit around like they were waiting for the author to tell them what to do. The story never seemed to go anywhere and it just sort of ended. In some cases, I was confused as to what was going on. The book seemed hurried and I felt it could have used a little more proof reading. Hopefully, this is just a bump in Mr. Synder's writing career. Maybe he should start another series with fresh new characters.

When the offer comes to abandon day jobs that pay the rent and barely lap the edges of making art, Jason and the gang buckle on the capes and swords and venture forth to meet Trouble and its metaphors. The writing is more assured, characters more complex, and stylistic playfulness helps the series to continue feeling fresh.

With Trouble, Keith Snyder once again shows his ability to develop character, plot and dialogue. All are believable and energetic. One of the best things about Keith's writing is that his characters grow and evolve. We're continually granted a view of new nuances involving the relationship between Keltner and his friends which allow us to enter into the relationship vicariously. Add to that the fact you won't be able to help laughing out loud while you read, and you've got a novel well worth reading!

Keith Snyder's talent is showing again and he just keeps getting better. Snyder is not your average mystery writer. He manages to combine good writing, witty dialogue, clever plotting and three of the most engaging and real characters you've ever wanted to spend time with. And, believe me, it is time well spent!

(Personally, I think I'm a little in love with Robert, the Friendly Giant.)

Southern California has just about the best music scene around and for Jason Keltner who loves playing music that is the attraction of the area. Along with his friends Robert and Mason, Jason has also had some success as a sleuth. Circumstance provides the trio with the rare opportunity to meet rock superstar Dwight Cooper and his little girl Donna. Robert who has been to hell and back establishes a rapport with Donna. Celia Weather, head of Donna's security team contacts the threesome to baby-sit Donna, who refuses to allow professional field operatives near her.

Donna is to be protected from her mother, but during a field trip it seems that only Jason, Robert, and Martin are watching the little girl as an incident occurs. Jason springs into action, but Celia fires him for his unorthodox methods. Not long afterward, Celia fires Jason's two friends. However, Cora the housekeeper reinstates the trio. She explains why Donna's mother does not have custody. They wonder about the alleged kidnapping attempt and begin to investigate to determine whether Donna is safe and happy.

Keith Snyder has the uncanny ability to dip deep into the softer side of his characters, which, in turn, allows readers to understand three sensitive males. TROUBLE COMES BACK is a bit darker and more introspective than the usual work by this astute author. Mystery readers will feel the enjoyable tale is refreshing and complex as the subplots add depth to, while providing tension relief from, a terse story line. This microscopic look at the seamier side of the music industry is a winner for fans.

Harriet Klausner