With a writing style very similar to Robert B. Parker, this is the closest I can get to enjoying new Spenser stories. There are a lot of similarities because a mystery that works has a specific formula. Crais does more experimentation with the formula but the basics are all here. And I guess that is all I need.
One of the key points I like is the pacing – moving fast and drawing you in. The tension of knowing both the bad guy’s perspective as well as the good guy’s works well here, especially since we learn there is something different about this bad guy.
Unfortunately there were some big tells in the beginning which led me to know the twist early on. That took away some of the fun, but I get it – it must be tough to keep this formula fresh as a writer.
My solution, more Joe Pike. This side character (and occasionally in books as a main character) is intriguing and scary and admirable all at once. He appears in this book occasionally but as usual I was hoping for more.
Next I am reading A History Lover’s Guide to New York City by Alison Fortier.
