Customer Reviews

Two Wheels: A Cycling Murder Mystery

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

 

 

I am a teacher, a writer--and a huge cycling fan. Two Wheels was a great summer read for me and had me turning pages much more quickly than I did while reading the literary novels I also consumed. Moody entertains while giving us a look at the world of professional cycling that I've never gotten anywhere else--even in (sorry!) VeloNews. His characters are bumbling, flawed unsophisticated and inept--just like we are!!! Everyone in my household, from my artist daughter to my mystery-loving son, read this book and loved it. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go order Moody's next one....

I was disappointed, after buying this book on the recommendation of other reviews here, to find it was a rather shallow potboiler.

The only redeeming feature was the insight into cycling and race conditions - as an amateur racer and keen fan of the sport I enjoyed the few passages devoted to training and the Classics.

Moody's writing lacks style and precision; his use of language is as bland as if this was a poor translation. The plot is enormously contrived - almost cartoon-like, cliched even: the down-at-heel couldabeen who wins a moment of glory after manouevering through a family's corporate power-plays. The plot lurches along without style, the characters are paper-thin and the dialogue shows no ear at all for spoken language.

If not for the cycling I wouldn't have persevered to the end. And had to put up with fevered metaphors such as this beauty on p236:

"It was his sanctuary from the demons, for as he rode, the guilt and hatred would grow and overwhelm, then fade back into an easily controlled creature lurking quietly in a dark corner of his mind next to an old pile of National Geographics".

According to the reviews here, you either like this book or hate it. Put me near the middle, but leaning heavily on the like it side.

If you can get through the first third of the book, roughly, then you're in for a treat. I have to agree with the reviews faulting the book for its cliches and worn out character types. Frankly, that almost kept me from finishing the book - there was nobody I was that interested in at first and there was a lot of wordy prose to wade through.

But, like any good race or hard training ride, if you press through this wall, you'll be rewarded. The pace picked up, the suspense grew, the cliches diminished and even a few unexpected twists and turns emerged.
Moody's description of a person blowing up bears special mention. For some reason, his prose really hits its stride during those episodes. By the last third of the book, I literally couldn't put it down - a real page turner (my homage to the cliches).

It really did turn out to be a great ride, and not nearly as predictable as I was expecting. If you like mysteries generally - but ESPECIALLY if you like mysteries and are into cycling, get this book and stick to it. You won't be disappointed.

Greg Moody takes the casual or professional cyclist through the mountain hills of France and a roller coaster of emotions! The classic murder mystery is brought to life with just enough details to have the thrill of the ride and the thrill of the mystery. Moody does a fantasic job at keeping you guessing until you are on the run, the road and wondering if you are next on the killer's list. You'll want to run and hide and come back for more! Whether or not you are a professional cyclist, this murder mystery is a must. Clip in and take the ride!

OK, so it's not easy to combine cycling and murder mystery, and maybe I couldn't do as well. Still, this book, not badly written, trots out just about every cliche you can imagine. Our hero, now retired from bike racing and never all that good a cycle racer to begin with, suddenly finds himself on the most powerful team in the world, with unsuspected and hitherto unknown talent bubbling to the surface. There's the Plucky Heroine who takes no guff and heartily dislikes Our Hero, until she gets to know him a little better. It's even worse than that, but I won't give it away. Then there's the ex-wife who makes the incredibly villainous Snidley Whiplash look like a cub scout. But guess what? Our Hero and the Plucky Heroine manage to snatch triumph from the jaws of conspiracy and the clutches of evil businessmen, and of course, Our Hero manages to win a major bike race just for good measure. I just couldn't put the book down, I was so curious as to what trite little plot twist would next be foisted upon the unsuspecting reader. Don't waste your time. If you do, you'll feel foolish and used when you finish.

This book surprised me -- it was a real page-turner, well-written in a nice, casual style, and a nice mix of mystery and suspense. The cycling scenes are well-crafted, and the twists and turns of the plot are enjoyable, with a nice, cheeky sense of fun. The characters are also clearly drawn, for the most part, and there are funny moments for all of them. A pleasure.

Greg Moody's book is a great, quick read. A definite page turner with witty dialog, and Greg manages to capture the spirit of the cycling world.

Greg Moody entertains us with a thrilling novel encompassing both the mystery genre and cycling world. Great characters leave us wanting more. The descriptions of bike racing make even the average reader want to get on the bike and start pedaling! This is entertaining reading for anyone who has ever watched races like the Tour de France. Viva Greg Moody!

A murder mystery that makes you laugh. It also teaches a thing or two about the world of European bike racing. Greg Moody's dialogue among the characters is nothing short of awesome. People really say things like that. Even if you don't care about bike racing, it's a great read that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Moody pushes all the right buttons...he creates a character we can care about, and paints an excellent portrait of the bad guys as well. This is an excellent novel for cycling fans as well as non-cycling fans. My only disappointment was that the book had to end....great job!