The Poet

Rating:
Summary: What a travesty of an ending...
Review: The Poet is a solid read with the exception of a few minor annoyances in the plot. These include the FBI letting a reporter into the heart of their investigation (sympathy will not take you that far) and people actually committing bodily harm while under hypnosis. Nevertheless, I could easily get by these as the story unfolded. However, once I got to the ending, I was shocked at the abruptness and the randomness of the author's finale. Unfortunately, it left a bitter taste in my mouth after what had been a very enjoyable read. I still recommend it, as long as you're prepared for a letdown at the very end. This is the first book I've read by Michael Connelly and I plan to read more, assuming that his other books wrap-up with much smoother conclusions.

Rating:
Summary: WHAT A PLEASURE
Review: There is no middle ground for Connelly readers. I just finished this as my second non-Bosch book and was totally absorbed. If you have a long lonely weekend and need company, this is the book for you. If Michael was reading this I would tell him to get off the internet and keep writing.

Rating:
Summary: I felt cheated
Review: I read this book to the end, but by page 400 (yes, it has about 500 pages! They always have 500 pages, no matter how little they have to say! Do these guys get paid by the page or something?) the plot had began to exhibit more holes than a sieve, and I had not even got to the end yet! I don't mind open endings, but in this case the ending cannot be properly described as "open," rather, the author did feel like he should be bothered to explain anything at all. He just chose the most unlikely suspect and named him as the culprit... he might as well have said that the butler did it. I love crime novels, but lately, reading them has become a frustrating exercise, because the authors seem to believe we readers are idiots! The story is contrived and unbelievable, for example, do you really believe that the real FBI would have allowed a journalist (and a relative of one of the victims to boot) to get inside the investigation? Nah, me neither. You know you cannot force a person to commit suicide by hypnosis, and Connelly also knows it, but he breezily dismisses this fact. And so on. And to cap it all, the hero is a whiner! When he complains about losing always when playing solitaire with his computer I had to laugh, but not because I was amused. Ah, do I miss the Continental Op.

Rating:
Summary: A brilliantly weaved novel.
Review: Before 'The Poet' I had never heard of Michael Connelly, but after reading it I'm anxious to dive head-first into his other books. 'The Poet' is a brilliantly-paced and twisting novel that starts off at a lethargic pace and builds and builds until the plot-twist of an ending. It's a very cinematic book, and would make a great film.

Rating:
Summary: Way to go, Michael!
Review: An excellent novel, I couldn't put it down. This has to be one of the best crime novels ever written. Not only can Michael write, he can write like a poet! Buy it today, believe me you won't be disappointed. I'm still waiting for the sequel, Mike!

Rating:
Summary: Not the same quality of the Bosch novels...
Review: Some parts I could have done without. But it was a well written book as cop novels go. Plot twists, characters,etc. But the ending...I did not like the ending. Too much of a twist, very disappointing...

Rating:
Summary: Excellent exposure to Connolly's in your face thrillers
Review: This book has more twists and turns than a game of snakes and ladders. Thoroughly enjoyable, with an intricate plot throughout.

Rating:
Summary: Why, God??? Why????
Review: I was genuinely enjoying this book until I hit the travesty that was supposed to be an "ending". I never felt like burning a book before in my life but found myself scurrying to find a book of matches and some kerosene to make sure that not a fiber of the paper it was printed on remained.

Rating:
Summary: A real page-turner. I couldn't put this one down.
Review: I found this interesting from the first page. It was difficult to put it down. I was surprised by the ending. I have added another great author to my list!

Rating:
Summary: Started slowly, but after 100 pages, I became engrossed!
Review: I thought it started slowly, but once you bought into the plot , I found I couldn't put it down. I became engrossed in this book. Many twists and turns!