Customer Reviews

Try Darkness (Ty Buchanan Series, Book 2)

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James Scott Bell scores again. Ty Buchanan, defender of the defenseless, takes on the case of a man accused of robbery and murder. The man claims he didn't do it, but eye-witnesses ID him. Or is it a case of mistaken identity? Ty is determined to find out. Then, a secretive woman with a six year old daughter seeks his help, only to wind up dead, leaving the little girl, with no last name, orphaned. Ty takes the child under his wing and sets out to find her mother's killer.

But Ty is on his own now, with no trial experience in criminal law, armed only with his sense of justice, sharp mind, and a dogged determination to push through all obstacles to find the truth. We met Ty in Try Dying, Book 1 of the Ty Buchanan mystery/thriller series when his fiancée was killed and he learned it wasn't just a freak accident--it was out-and-out murder. He took some hard knocks, even accused of murder, but fought his way through to the truth.

His sometimes smart-aleck and confident attitude gets his bell rung a few times in Try Darkness, too, Book 2. And his temper threatens to be his undoing a number of times. But the wise counsel of his friends Sister Mary Veritas, a Benedictine nun, and Father Bob, a disgraced priest, try to help him stay on track. Ty's home and sanctuary is in a trailer situated on the grounds of St. Monica's due to the Benedictine rule of hospitality, Sister Mary and Father Bob his only 'family.

Try Darkness is fast moving and action packed, with snappy dialog. The pages practically turned themselves as I read--as I've come to expect from a James Scott Bell book. I love the unique layout of the chapters, all 191 of them! But not to worry, they're not long. Some are only a paragraph, some may appear two to a page, maybe even, with the book open, you'll see five chapters between the two pages. It's fun, and kept me turning the pages. AND, there's no place to find an easy break where you feel ready to set the book aside. Can't be done. I read Try Darkness in less than two days, waking up in the night to my husband taking my glasses off, setting the book aside and turning out the light.

Do I recommend this book? Oh, yeah!

Ever since his first novel came out in 1995, James Scott Bell's been an author to watch. "The Darwin Conspiracy", a sometimes tongue-in-cheek look at the evolution debate, put him on our radar. Two years later his legal thriller "Circumstantial Evidence" debuted, and since then Jim hasn't strayed too far from his suspense groove. In fact, when you pick up a Bell novel you can count on his trademark tag-line "The Suspense Never Rests" to be true.

That's certainly the case for his new Ty Buchanan crime/mystery series. In "Try Dying" (Book 1), Ty's character was established. He's a fighter, an attorney you don't want to push too hard. Yet we always suspected he had a softer side. Now in "Try Darkness" (Book 2), a little girl's mother is murdered and Ty becomes her impromptu guardian. Fatherly instincts Ty didn't even know he had bubble to the surface. He'll do anything to defend the young life under his care. Why was her mother murdered? What connection does the crime have with charges the mother was about to bring to the motel ready to evict them? As usual, there's much more going on than first meets the eye, and it's up to Ty to unravel the mystery and keep himself and his friends alive in the process.

Ty's character has developed, and he now gives legal advice to the poor and downtrodden. The pursuit of justice for his clients keeps him going and awake at night. He already lost everything in Try Dying, and he's still living at the St. Monica's community. So he has nothing to lose and little fear, a dangerous combination for his opponents. Not that he doesn't have his vulnerabilities--the wind's knocked out of him more than once. But like the crime fiction heroes of yesteryear, Ty Buchanan always clambers back on his feet. Even in the bleakest moments he'll press on--sometimes bleeding, sometimes barely able to see straight.

Every hero needs a confidant, and Ty's basketball wielding friend Sister Mary fills more pages here than in the first book. We're delving deeper into her character as she grapples with the struggle between her faith as a nun and the rules and regulations of the Benedictine community. Father Bob makes appearances as well, always available to offer wisdom and a caring ear to Ty.

Fans of Bell's previous inspirational novels won't be disappointed. In some ways the faith elements are even more prominent in this series, since the St. Monica's setting naturally sparks some spiritual conversations. But hard-boiled crime fiction lovers need not fear being preached at or hammered over the head with a "message". The story always takes center stage.

James Scott Bell's goal for this series was to write books in the vein of the great crime fiction stories of the 40's and 50's like "The Big Sleep" & "The Maltese Falcon". And for those weary of the gratuitous violence, sex, and language found in much of today's crime novels the Ty Buchanan series will be a breath of fresh air. Yes, bad stuff happens, but we aren't forced to watch it unfold in technicolor.

The scenes zoom. The plot zips. The dialogue zings. And the spiritual thread challenges us to re-think our worldview. It's almost like watching a movie unfold across the pages. As always, Jim is a wizard of surprises. Just when we think we might have things figured out he throws in a spiral we never saw coming. Nary a wasted word and packed with action, "Try Darkness" is even better than "Try Dying".

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AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH JAMES SCOTT BELL
by C.J. Darlington

Q: Share with us a little bit about what first drove you to write the Ty Buchanan series.

JSB: I get a lot of ideas from news stories. Several years ago a man shot his wife in South L.A., then drove to an overpass, got out, shot himself and fell a hundred feet to the freeway below. His body slammed into a car and killed the driver. That stayed with me. I thought, what an opening for a novel. (I can't help it).

So I started playing around with the incident in my mind, and wondered who would be most affected by this, and came up with a young hotshot lawyer, Tyler Buchanan, whose fiancée is killed on page one in an incident like that.

That started the ball rolling.

Q: How did you come up with the name for your lead character?

JSB: It was purposeful. One of my favorite Westerns is "Buchanan Rides Alone" starring Randolph Scott. He's a loner who rides into a corrupt town and helps a guy, and gets a lot of people mad at him. Sounds like Ty in Los Angeles.

Tyler was chosen because there's a fight going on inside him, a dark side that competes for attention. Sort of like an inner Tyler Durden from "The Fight Club".

That juxtaposition of these characters seemed like it would make great fodder for inner conflict, which is, after all, the most compelling aspect of a novel.

Q: Can you explain a little further?

JSB: Flat characters are ultimately dull, even if you put in all the plot fireworks you can. Inner conflict is essential to overcome this. I mean, look at "High Noon". The inner conflict is written all over Gary Cooper's face for the whole movie. And why not? He's probably going to be killed by the bad guys, and he's just married Grace Kelly. Grace Kelly! No wonder he's conflicted.

Seriously, as the town refuses to help him, and death becomes almost guaranteed, he knows he cannot back out. It would kill him inside. That's inner conflict. The character has to face a choice that means "dying inside" if he does the right thing.

Q: How did you develop the plot for the second book, Try Darkness?

JSB: Again, an item in the paper. There are low rent hotels in L.A. that sometimes play fast and loose with the law. In something called the "28 day shuffle," they force residents out before a full month, so certain renters' rights don't kick in.

I have Buchanan representing a poor woman who's getting this treatment. Of course, murder happens and Ty has to find out what's going on. Because he now has the woman's six year old daughter to protect.

Q: Have you found writing a series more challenging than writing stand-alone novels? Why or why not?

JSB: I am liking this series, becoming very fond of the characters. The challenge is to keep them growing throughout, even as they encounter twisting plot lines. But I enjoy the challenge.

When it's really done well, as in the books of Michael Connelly, it's incredibly satisfying. That's a high bar, but it's what I'm reaching for.

Q: What is the role of the Catholic characters - Sister Mary and Father Bob?

JSB: They represent one side in a multi-layered argument going on inside Buchanan. Spiritual interest is high in society right now, and why wouldn't it be, with the way things are? The search for answers is strong now, and I like having several different characters for Buchanan to play off.

There is Sister Mary Veritas, the basketball playing nun, and Father Bob, as you mentioned. There's also Barton C. "Pick" McNitt, a former philosophy professor who went crazy and now runs a coffee bar where Ty meets his clients. McNitt is an atheist who rails, Howard Beale style, against societal ills.

Then there's the simple innocence of a child, Kylie, who Ty has to protect.

All these things swirl around him as he deals with the loss of the woman he was going to marry.

Q: What are you hoping the Ty Buchanan series accomplishes?

JSB: Like any novelist, I want to give people a good read. I want them to fall in love with the characters. And I want to write about the search for justice in a dark world. That seems to be my theme, in all my books.

But whatever the theme, unless readers are compelled to turn the pages, nothing else will matter. So that's my first task.

Q: How many more books can we expect in the Ty Buchanan series and what's his next adventure?

JSB: The next one is Try Fear (mid-2009). This one is going to have a full on murder trial, and takes place mostly in Hollywood. I'd love to keep the series going after that. I have thirty good titles (when I get to "Try the Veal" I'll have to pack it in). The more the word gets out on the series, the better the chance it'll go on. So be sure to tell every reader to get a copy, and spread the word to their entire extended family.

Q: Umm...

JSB: No pressure.

Ty Buchanan is certainly not your typical lawyer. After the tragic death of his fiancé, Ty moves into a trailer behind a convent and befriends a nun with a passion for hoops. Together they work to bring justice to the downtrodden that cross their path. Ty's latest case involves a young girl whose mother was brutally murdered before her eyes. As Ty and Sister Mary Veritas look further into the case, they uncover a conspiracy between a larger than life business mogul and Ty's old law firm. It will take every ounce of Ty's wit and Sister Mary's unwavering faith to bring justice and hope to the little girl that has stolen their hearts.

James Scott Bell has given us exactly what we want in a sequel: an even better story. I thoroughly enjoyed Try Dying, but this second installment really outweighs the first. Ty Buchanan is such an engaging character full of heart, flaws, and passion. His own personal search for truth and meaning is such a welcome addition to an already rich plot. Bell knows how to structure a plot (heck, he has written a book about it) and his talent is on full display here. Never does the story drag or cause you to wonder just how many more pages are left. This is truly one of the more engaging novels I've read in some time.

Let's not forget about the wonderfully strange cast of characters Bell treats us to. Sister Mary Veritas is a fun and complex counterpart to Ty and their relationship is wonderfully explored here. Father Bob and Pick McNitt are back and as entertaining as ever with their witty banter and unique perspectives. Bell also mixes in some new characters that are sure to become fan favorites.

Try Darkness holds it's own as a mystery and also works as a relevant exploration into faith. Ty and Sister Mary remind me of Dr. Brennan and Agent Booth on the TV show, Bones. Being a self proclaimed agnostic, Ty often butts heads with Sister Mary over issues of spirituality making for fascinating conversations between the two. Indeed, one of the most intriguing aspects of Ty Buchanan is his passion for helping and serving others despite his uncertainty about God.

James Scott Bell totally has me hooked and I am eagerly awaiting another installment in this impressive series.

After the sizzling debut of his Ty Buchanan series last year in "Try Dying", James Scott Bell does it again in this fast-paced and tightly plotted second entry.

Still at loose ends after clearing himself of his fiancee's murder, we find Ty getting involved in a legal battle for the rights of tenants being hustled by the landlord of a Single Room Occupancy hotel in downtown LA.

But as Ty delves deeper into the case, he finds things aren't what they seem, and matters swing out of control, resulting in murder, kidnapping, and a confrontation with some of the city's top-level power brokers.

Buchanan is a fascinating, well portrayed character full of sardonic insights and witty ripostes; the secondary characters are all fully-realized and three-dimensional, each memorable and distinct in their own right.

The personal story between Ty and Sister Mary Veritas continues to develop, and I can hardly wait to see what happens in the next installment.

This book barrels along like a runaway train. It satisfies on every level, and Bell is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.

A solid five stars; get this book!

Try Dying hooked me right from the start. Try Darkness was even better. I love the characters in these books--they are very real and quite flawed. (Love the nun!) Bell is one of the best writers of dialogue I've come across. I love a book that keeps me glued to the page with great suspense and storytelling and laughing at the quick and witty dialogue. I can't wait the read the the third book, Try Fear.

Over the years, Bell has become one of my favorite novelists, and this book has ratcheted him up to a new level. Not only does the suspense keep you hanging until the end of the book, the writing is a treat all its own. Ty Buchanan is a witty, engaging character who you will want to keep following throughout this series, and some of the lines are laugh-out-loud funny. This is one of the kind of books that I will often "save" until a vacation when I can sit and savor it. Only this time I didn't mind going ahead and reading it before summer rolled around.

This story takes off from the ending of the previous novel, Try Dying. Ty's defense of the least well represented people in society finds him tracking down some unlikely villians of the common man: real estate developers, high profile attorneys, and Catholic nuns who've forsaken their first love. Another highly engaging story right to the end!

Review by Jill Williamson

Ty Buchanan is recovering from his fiancé's death by living at St. Monica's parish in the hills of Southern California. Since he no longer works for the big law firm--and to help earn his keep--he offers legal aid to parishioners and the underprivileged. When one of his new clients is murdered, he finds himself in charge of the dead woman's six-year-old daughter. Buchanan is determined to find the killer and protect the little girl. He partners up with a basketball-playing nun and follows the trail all over Los Angeles. But the truth just might cost him his life.

Ack! I loved this one too. Not only that, but when I finished it (at two in the morning), I had to log on to Amazon.com and download the free sample to book three so I could keep reading. Great mystery, action, red herrings! I couldn't put it down. I love how Buchanan keeps making friends who help him out later. Great characters in this series. I highly recommend these books for readers who love suspense, action, mystery, and adventure. And if you haven't read Try Dying (the first book) start there.

Losing his fiance isn't the only thing that has Ty down in the dumps. On top of his grief, he's also been accused of her murder. The one time big shot trial lawyer is forced to hide out in St. Monica's.

His loss was horrible but now Ty wants to give something back. He is offering his expertise to those less fortunate. A woman and her child come to him for help. They are being evicted and Ty's old law firm is the one who initiated this eviction. Ty decides to work for her and do all that he can to stop his one-time co-worker and best friend, Al.

When the woman Ty is trying to help turns up dead, he decides it's time for drastic measures. He takes it upon himself to find the creep who murdered this woman and he won't rest until the case is closed.

Wow. I don't even think there are words to describe this book. I really enjoyed it. Now there's another author to add to my favorites list. If you like whodunnit's and court room books, you should read this.

I have read all 3 books in the Ty Buchanan series but somehow got them turned around and read this one last. I enjoy Mr. Bell's style-love the humor-sarcastic-the kind that can get one into trouble. I know people like this. When you have serious drama going on to have the humor lightens things a bit.

I like all the characters in the series-Father Bob and Sister Mary and of course Ty himself. Ty has a wounded soul and not sure how far the author will take him but interesting to see him trying to work through his issues. The storyline is easy to follow and not predictable.

I find amusing the people that read this series and suddenly discover it's a "Christian" Mystery Series. I don't find it strong Christian as far as the preaching type. It's more discussing Theology between the main characters. I have read secular books where a priest or nun was involved in the story where they discussed religion so didn't find that unusual. I'm not Catholic but didn't any way feel offended at the conversations between Ty and Father Bob or Ty and Sister Mary. There is a lack of profanity and sexual scenes but again I have read secular books that are written in that style.

I think Mr. Bell is a gifted writer and always enjoy his books-some more than others but have enjoyed this series.