Eye of the Cricket (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

His fourth book in the Lew Griffin series proves once again that James Sallis is one of the most death-defying writers working in the mystery genre. Readers who have the persistence to untangle a twisted time line and go with the peculiar flow of Sallis's unique prose will find many rewards. Griffin, a New Orleans-based, 50-ish African American novelist, teacher, and occasional detective, dots his twisting tale with dozens of references to the act of writing, plus verbal samplings of everyone from James Joyce to Emily Dickinson. Griffin is obsessed with searches for missing children: a 15-year-old boy named Delany who has dropped into a dangerous world of drugs; the somewhat older son of Griffin's best friend, who also seems determined to destroy himself; and David, Griffin's own, long-gone son. Looking for a connection to David, Griffin abandons his hard-won sobriety and sets out on a drunken quest through some of New Orleans's seediest sectors. There's not much mystery in this long section, but it leads to an ending that will have you on the edge of your seat. Previous books in the Griffin series available in paperback include Black Hornet and Moth. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Series protagonist Lewis Griffin (see Black Hornet, LJ 9/1/94), fiftyish writer, part-time college instructor, and sometimes sleuth in New Orleans, searches for a client's missing son. He also hunts for a briefly hospitalized man who claims to be Lewis (though without the writer's block). Neighbors, meanwhile, ask him to look out for the teenagers who have been terrorizing the area. After stumbling across several murder victims, Lewis wonders about his own long-lost son as well. The author's quiet skill shines forth in the vibrant surroundings, literate prose, and skillful and diverse characterizations. Highly recommended.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 196 pages
• Publisher: Walker & Company (April 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802775810
• ISBN-13: 978-0802775818
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #293,780 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

• This is item 4 in The Lew Griffin Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Started on a whole new mystery series and a fine writer., June 30, 1998

By	[e-mail] (Cheney, WA US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eye of the Cricket (Lew Griffin Mysteries) (Hardcover)

Am a regular reader of mysteries. How I'd missed Sallis I don't know. I am pleased to "discover" him and his wonderful characters. He has a fine feel for my favorite city to visit: New Orleans, and gives a sound psychological sense to his characters. Even the minor characters stand out as people I would be interested to know. I took several quotes from the book and introduced them to a class I was teaching on Human Identity. The words just fit right into the context of the class. Now I've read Black Hornet and am waiting for more.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Social commentary posing as noir mystery, April 30, 2008

By	Chris Greenwood "Tree" (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Eye of the Cricket is the 4th Lew Griffin novel and begins similarly to the others with Lew attempting to locate a missing person. Although Lew has no real vested interest in finding the brother of one of his students, Lew naturally takes on this role even if it interferes with his job as a college professor. The irony is that Lew's own son is missing, and he has no clues where to look until a bum appears at a local hospital with one of Lew's books that he'd given to his son years ago.

As with the other Lew Griffin novels, the focus is not on the mystery but more on the inner struggle that Lew goes through, having dealt with the loss of so many loved ones and trying to reconcile. This book is really more of a social commentary, and the noir feeling to it beautifully highlights the struggles that Lew and all of us have to deal with. Lew just allows himself to sink to lower depths than most people would ever consider, giving him a different and well-rounded perspective.

The writing here is outstanding. Occasionally I'd have to pause in my reading just to bask in the perfection. For lack of a better word, it's just so poetic. The words and tone are spot-on, and many scenes are so wonderfully illustrated that I found myself smiling with satisfaction after reading them. Sallis doesn't waste any words yet still conveys the emotions and impressions of his characters so well. These novels leave such an impact that I'm always left wanting to read the next one.

4.0 out of 5 stars A Grim Slice of Reality, March 16, 2004

By	Untouchable (Sydney, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This is the 4th book in the exceptionally dark Lew Griffin series. Before heading between the pages of this series it would really be a good idea to work out how susceptible to depression you are. If you prefer happy, light-hearted mysteries then believe me, this book will not be for you.

EYE OF THE CRICKET is an example of southern noir or, to be more precise, it's New Orleans noir told from the first person perspective. Lew Griffin is a black man who teaches French and English literature in between occasional flurries as the author of several novels. He is also known to be quite adept at finding missing persons and so he moonlights as a sort of private detective. He is a man who seems to care a great deal for others, to the point where he has difficulty saying no to people's requests, often to his own detriment.

It is in his capacity as a teacher that he is approached to act as a private detective by a student who had heard of his ability at finding people and asks Griffin to try to find his half-brother. Griffin immediately agrees to help, no questions asked, a typical response.

What is revealed is that Griffin himself has a son that is missing and the tragic irony is, although he is able to find other people's missing loved ones, he can't seem to find his own son, not even a clue of where he might be.

That is, until a vagrant is brought into a hospital emergency room and the only item in his possession that might identify who he is, is a copy of one of Griffin's books - a book he had inscribed for his son. Suddenly he feels he might have the clue that he needs to continue his search.

Although the storyline seems straightforward enough, it is littered with flashbacks, dreams and memories, all of which managed to keep throwing me completely off balance. It was not always clear which parts were actually happening and which parts were just memories. Often times they interrupted the flow so badly I had forgotten what the original storyline was about.

As it turns out, the actual detective work done by Griffin is inconsequential and is given only minor importance as the focus is more squarely placed on Griffin and the question of how he would survive his demons. The missing persons case serves to remind him directly of his own missing son, a fact that he dwells on constantly. Combined with this is the beginning of a new relationship with a wonderful and understanding woman. But this prompts endless memories of LaVerne, his dead wife. Dreams, memories and reality become intertwined as Griffin fights thoughts of his own failings, the results of which form the body of his (Griffin's) latest novel.

Towards the end of the book, Griffin allows himself to sink to incredible depths in his quest to find his son. His willingness to do this typifies the man who, for all his dark thoughts and introspection, is a deeply caring person. There are some points where some truly moving moments can be found. But it is also at this stage that the maximum attention must be paid as Griffin's consciousness becomes distorted and consequently, so does the narration.

As far as the characters other than Griffin are concerned, although there are many of minor players, there are only 2 who play any substantial role in the story, or who are given any real substance. The first is Don Walsh, a police detective who is equally as jaded as Griffin making him a perfect friend. He has seen too much of the seamier side of life to hold any real hopes of happiness and exudes an air of tired desperation whenever he meets Griffin. The other character is Deborah O'Neill, Griffin's new girlfriend and the shining light in the book. She represents a chance for Griffin to break out of his miasmic haze of self doubt and is a breath of fresh air each time she appears.

If you're a devotee of noir fiction, particularly those involving troubled loner detectives, then this book will appeal to you. It reminds me a lot of James Lee Burke's early Dave Robicheaux books. A lot of that has to do with the Louisiana setting, but is also due to the depth of turmoil going through the protagonist's mind.

This is a story that is carried on the shoulders of Lew Griffin. Its darkness is generated by the demons inside his head, but there is a distinct feeling of optimism by the time we reach the last few chapters. While the book doesn't exactly finish with a happy ending or an ending with any real climax, it probably comes as close to one that we're going to get in this moody series.