Briarpatch (Paperback)

by Ross Thomas (Author), Lawrence Block (Introduction)
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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (January 9, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312290314
• ISBN-13: 978-0312290313
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #222,385 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Edgar Award Winning Mystery, January 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Briarpatch (Crime, Penguin) (Paperback)

Ross Thomas is a vastly underappreciated writer who sucessfully blends fast-paced dialog, humor and suspense with unique characters and totally original plot twists. If you're unfamiliar with Thomas, this book is the perfect introduction. If you're already a fan and haven't read this one, you've been missing out. The plot doesn't exactly defy description, but a short synopsis hardly does it justice. Like most of Thomas's novels, Briarpatch tells the tale of murder, politics and corruption. Ben Dill, the likeable-loner hero, comes back to his hometown searching for his sister's killer. The town itself becomes an integral character in the story, and if you are able to guess the identity of the locale, you've solved the OTHER mystery of the book. If you're not already a Thomas fan, you will be after this highly entertaining book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful writing, so-so plot, September 12, 2005

By	Eric Van Der Walde (ann arbor, michigan) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This was my first Ross Thomas novel. I had heard from friends what a wonderful writer he was and was eager to give him a shot. The writing is truly outstanding. His desciptions left me alternately laughing and shaking my head in amazement that someone could describe things so perfectly.

The plot however leaves a bit to be desired. It is a rather conventional whodunit. It was a bit too straightforward for my tastes and most readers will figure out the ending well before getting there. Having said that it was entertaining and the language Thomas uses makes it well worth taking the time to read.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great storytelling., December 19, 2006

By	Michael G. "mikefromrochester" (Rochester, NY United States) - See all my reviews

Benjamin Dill of Washington, D.C. makes his living as an investigator for an obscure Senate subcommittee. His investigative powers are put to the test when his own sister, a policewoman, is murdered.
Briarpatch is an extremely well written mystery told as a third person narrative. Most of the action unfolds in Dill's hometown, an unnamed city in the southwestern United States.

Just as in all Ross Thomas novels, there is plenty of urbane humor. However, unlike most Ross Thomas novels, the story itself is a fairly mainstream, straightforward one. Missing are the way over-the-top characters and situations Thomas fans are used to encountering.

Briarpatch is a well crafted mystery novel noteworthy for having a very smooth narrative flow, an appealing cast of characters, clever dialogue and an engaging plot. This is a book all mystery fans will enjoy.