Moon Music

Rating:
Summary: One Heckuva Lot Better Than I Was Led To Believe
Review: I am reading "Moon Music" right now and greatly enjoying Ms. Kellerman's change of pace. Don't get me wrong -- I like her Pete Decker/Rina Lazarus series very much also, but moving in a different direction now and then keeps a writer fresh. I already know who the villain is, largely because someone else who reviewed this book mentioned it (really, Amazon.com, you should watch out for things like that), but I don't care. "Moon Music" is full of interesting new characters, and the most interesting of all is Las Vegas itself. As for the "weirdness" others have complained about -- Las Vegas by night is strange; Las Vegas by day is even stranger; but if you've ever been out in the desert surrounding Las Vegas, at night, all alone, then you really know what weird is. I highly recommend "Moon Music" for Faye Kellerman readers who are open-minded enough to allow for -- and enjoy -- a change of pace.

Rating:
Summary: A mostly successful experiment.
Review: "Moon Music" offers a welcome change of pace for Faye Kellerman, with an interesting (if sparsely drawn) cast of characters. Although the killer's identity becomes fairly clear not long into the story (notwithstanding some red herrings along the way), it's an entertaining read--right up to the ending, when it morphs into an episode of the X-Files.

Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it's a jarring transition out of the otherwise straightforward murder mystery format. And it leaves you wondering just how much influence TV might have had on the plot development--the autopsying coroner recalls the Scully character and the misfit detective rings a little of Mulder. No doubt that resemblence is a coincidence, but one that wouldn't have come to mind at all if the book hadn't so sharply turned to the supernatural, with no answers given to the puzzles raised by the ending.

Rating:
Summary: Poe, not Decker
Review: Fans of the Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus series take note! Amazon lists it as one of these novels but it's not. Faye Kellerman has taken a bold departure from her regular characters here and I'm not surprised to see mixed reviews from readers. Here's a glimpse of a sordid, violent side of Las Vegas you don't see as a tourist, presented in a compelling story that veers off into the supernatural.

That said - I loved the book. I found it a gripping page turner and the ambiguous ending only raised hopes that there will be more of this tale. If you like Stephen King you probably will like Moon Music.

Rating:
Summary: Moon Music
Review: I loved this book. It combined the detective novel/murder mystery genre with two of my other favorites, Science Fiction and mysticism.

It was so good that I'm re-reading it after less than a year. I wish Faye Kellerman would write another Romulus Poe novel. I look forward to it.

Rating:
Summary: A Disappointing Book
Review: No, it is not what I expected, and that is a good thing. If you are looking for to be throughly entertained by another's imagination this is the book for you. And what an imagination she has. Totally unpredictible ride from cover to cover. I liked the characters with all their little "twitches", I liked the brothers' dealings with the mother. These characters have flaws a mile wide and still remain human and likable. The sci-fi twist was different, and I loved it. I probably would not have picked it up if I had known about the s/f aspect so I an grateful that I didn't. I felt the voice of Poe was right on target. Las Vegas will never be the same for me. Brava! Waiting for the sequel.