Middle of Nowhere

Rating:
Summary: Another Boldt series
Review: I enjoyed all Lou Boldt books including this one with Boldt's same supporting characters who are enjoyable to read. "Blu Flu" situation is unusual in normal life which is something different in the story that makes it interesting to read that we don't see very often in other novels. I'm looking forward to read next series in "The Art of Deception" which I'm reading now.

Rating:
Summary: A taut, well-plotted thriller
Review: Pearson's latest Lou Boldt thriller is a good one, a great rebound from last year's (The First Victim) in this humble reviewer's opinion. Like that last one, Middle of Nowhere finds Pearson continuing to move away from the "madman baddy threatening the entire city," type storyline, only this one is done much, much better than The First Victim. For one thing, the personal storylines are back, and things between Daphne and Boldt heat up (causing them more than a few problems both at home AND at work). Secondly, Pearson masterfully weaves two different sets of storylines (attacks on police officers during a "sick out" strike and a series of violent burglaries) together so that there is just no telling who is at the bottom of each set of crimes. Is it the same person committing both? Or is there more than one criminal on the loose? Boldt really has his hands full in this one. A great book in this series, one of the top 2 or 3.

Rating:
Summary: Better than most, but not the best
Review: Ridley Pearson continues to write well-paced, intriguing novels starring detective Lou Boldt and psychologist Daphne Matthews. Middle of Nowhere, however, is not the best. This book is still better than most other mystery/thrillers being written. The ending, though interesting, is not particularly shocking or twisting. The feelings between Daphne and the married Lou are explored more fully in this novel. However, it's left hanging in the end, almost as if Pearson had to wrap things up quickly and had no time left for this. Readers are left to hope that the relationship gets more depth in the next novel. Overall, a great read, but not as good as other Boldt mysteries, like The Pied Piper and Beyond Recognition.

Rating:
Summary: Twists 'til the very end
Review: Ridley Pearson does it again, revisiting the life of Seattle cop Lou Bolt. The "Blue Flu" has infected the Seattle Police Department and over half the force sits at home while Bolt, Daphne Matthews and the regular cast work to find the person that brutally attacked a fellow officer.

Bolt is a likeable character, that faces the daily struggles of being a husband, father, friend and cop. Facing division in the force, Pearson's writing forces Bolt to look deep within himself to find answers.

Pearson is a master at weaving several storylines around one another, until they reach the shattering climax together.

"Middle of Nowhere" is a must read this summer! Having lived in Seattle for 8+ years, I feel like I am walking down the streets along with the characters.

Pearson's storytelling dares you to put down the book, a feat not easily accomplished by most of today's writers. You won't be disappointed to find your self in the "Middle of Nowhere". The only disappointment that you will have is waiting for the next book from Mr. Pearson.

Rating:
Summary: The Ill Effects of Blue Flu
Review: Ridley Pearson has gathered devoted fans based on his previous novels starring Detective Lou Boldt, Daphne Matthews and Sergeant John LaMoia. Although "Middle of NoWhere" is my first visit with Ridley Pearson, I expect I will locate his earlier works and look forward to his next literary tour of Seattle.

Detective Boldt is a tough-minded cop (picture the older Dirty Harry), loyal to his profession and calling. Hence, he elects not to participate in Seattle's outbreak of blue flu, despite the grief, threats and stress suffered upon him at the hands of his fellow "striking" officers. His frustration and a lack of manpower reaches a critical level when a series of violent home invasions/robberies/assaults (several on fellow officers) may or may not to be related to the work stoppage crippling his department and the city.

For accustomed readers of crime fiction, Lou Boldt is not particuarly a new face. In fact, my greatest criticism of "Middle of NoWhere" is the lack of depth in his personality. He is the consummate strong and silent type, on the job and at home. Perhaps Pearson was demonstrating the character's frustration at the situtation, but he honestly seemed rather old and tired instead. Hence, the book often plodded along, as if Lou Boldt was counting his days to retirement. I found his supporting characters, Daphne Matthews and John LaMoia, more colorful and interesting. The most riveting section of the story involved Daphne's solo-efforts to ensnare the robbery suspect. I would encourage Ridley Pearson to develop LaMoia and Matthews' characters further.

These few criticisms aside, in "Middle of NoWhere", Ridley Pearson accomplished a difficut feat - joining what appeared to be a group of complicated, seemingly-unrelated loose ends into a cohesive, interesting plot. From anticipated chaos, Lou Boldt and his fellow officers proved the value of teamwork and loyalty. The readers and a fictious Seattle are the beneficiaries.

Rating:
Summary: Exciting, Top-Notch Thriller
Review: Ridley Pearson sets the suspenseful tone for his seventh thriller featuring Seattle Police Lt. Lou Boldt in the prologue when officer Maria Sanchez pulls into her driveway, gets out of her car and is brutally attacked. The realism will make the reader apprehensive about pulling into their driveway and opening their car door for a very long time! As Boldt investigates the assault and officer Sanchez lies in the hospital on the brink of death, a case of "Blue Flu" takes over the police department. Boldt teams up again with police psychologist Daphne Matthews and Sergeant John LaMoia, to hunt down the people responsible for the assault on the officer as well as other victims of such beatings and a recent string of robberies. The investigation progresses, to the annoyance of the officers who have staged the first sickout in the history of the police department, to two brothers, both with extensive criminal histories. A common thread connects the crimes - a telemarketing operation based in a prison, an operation using hardened criminals to call unsuspecting people to tout their wares. Things heat up even more when Boldt is tempted to rekindle the flame of his affair with Daphne. Pearson is one of my favorite thriller-writers. He is a dynamic author, skillfully using real-life stories straight from the newspaper, expounding on them and landing them in the reader's lap. This one will make you sleep with the lights on! If you haven't discovered Ridley Pearson, it's time you did!