Review: 3.5 Rather Violent, Interesting, Well-written, Historical Fiction
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 6, 2014
*** I shall attemp to keep this spoiler free; I was given a review copy for my honest opinion***If it were a movie, I'd rate it R b/c it contains adult content and some graphic violence - probably not necessary to state that, but since a good number of my reviews are YA, it's worth pointing out.Point Assessment, Comments, and Ratings:Plot (2.5/5 stars) - As mentioned by a negative reviewer, the plot tends to meander.Plot Twists (3/5 stars) - Predictable yet satisfying.Characters (4/5) - You can come to sympathize with Michael and the ladies in his life. Most of the rest of the characters are 2d, but I don't think it really detracts all that much.Writing Style (4/5) - Detailed yet easy to read.Newspaper inserts (5/5) - Brilliant move on the author's part. They're part of the reason I'd actually categorize this as historical fiction, not mystery. There is one subplot mystery going on in the background, but this isn't a detective story despite the main character being a copper.Dialogue (3/5) - decent but some spots got repetitive.Adult Content (3/5) - It's strange. Some things are described in a lot of detail but when it comes to the main character everything is handled with something akin to a sense of embarrassment.Violence (4/5) - Generally handled well. It provides a nice perspective on the tulmultuous world circa 1920-1937.Flashbacks (4/5) - Handled very nicely. I don't typically like flashbacks, but the dates certainly helped.Conclusion: If you're seeking a globetrotting gumshoe, this isn't what you're going to get. However, if detailed historical fiction with a dash of thriller is your thing, go for it as long as adult content, including quite a few f-bombs) doesn't disturb you.