Review: Title is Good Description of Contents
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 25, 2014
Redemption - oh joy! After the exhilaration of the first book in this series featuring best-in-the-world cardio-thoracic surgeon Dr. Gideon Box (who also boasts the world's biggest ego) only to be disappointed when the second one came up seriously short, it was a treat when this most recent entry hit the mark.For for the most part it was, although I don't think it quite lived up to the first one. And I'll add this as well: While it's not essential that you read these in order, it certainly helps. Characters and circumstances do carry forward from book to book - particularly noticeable between book two and this one, in which backwoods country beauty Trudy Lake, who Box encounters in book two (and falls in love with, as much as Box is able to love anyone except himself) comes to New York to join Box in his world. What transpires from that point forward ranges from spilled blood and guts, broken bones and a story line that would make "Rosemary's Baby" author Ira Levin cringe, but it's all pretty humorous.And humor, in fact, is what makes this series fun. I've said before that the situations in which the characters find themselves generally are pretty silly and unbelievable, but there are enough jokes and one-liners to keep things interesting. I'll emphasize, though, that it takes someone with a truly offbeat sense of humor (I plead guilty) to appreciate the funny here. And if you're not fond of reading all sorts of words and descriptions of sex that many would consider pornographic, this isn't for you. As for me, all I'll say is that most aren't words I'd ever consider interjecting into a conversation, but others? I'll take the Fifth.This one also is filled with way more analogies that I typically want to see, but here again, there are a few corkers, to-wit:"...skittish as a 12-point buck at an NRA convention.""...cautious as a porcupine wiping its ass.""By the time they pull her off me, I've suffered more cuts than the New England Patriots' August roster."And my favorite, "...getting more action than Anthony Weiner's keyboard."Oh yes, for those fans of Locke's other characters, two of them -  the ruthless Donovan Creed and investigator Dani Ripper - show up here in supporting roles.Long story short? If you want to give this series a try, start with the first and go from there if you like that one.