Cold Case

Rating:
Summary: Probably the Best Thriller Series Around
Review: Having read all of Stephen White's novels in chronological order (which you also should do if you feel like exploring his complete work), I was highly impressed with this eighth instalment of the loose series.

Even though some of the plot is at times... well, quite predictable (anybody here who did not have an idea what would happen to the sympathetic Dorothy pretty quickly?), "Cold Case" nevertheless offers another exciting read from this gifted author. There are of course a lot of similarities to Jonathan Kellerman's L.A.-based Alex Delaware series, but Stephen White's very credible Colorado characters lend all of his thrillers deeper roots somehow.

Like I said in an earlier review, opening up a new Stephen White novel is like visiting good friends. It's great to see the main characters being carefully developed with each new novel - and with Stephen White you can bet that the story is always interesting, profoundly researched and well written.

Rating:
Summary: Why does he insult the reader so blatantly?
Review: I really don't know why I keep reading Stephen White. He can write a readable novel for the most part but then at the end he just keeps throwing one implausible thing after another at us until our intelligence is insulted. How many times can a person be held at gunpoint but manage to get away? And after Alan whined so pitifully about getting the bad guys some medical help IMMEDIATELY even if it meant all his friends could rot I found myself hoping someone WOULD shoot him! I know he's a big humanitarian and all but he was just ridiculous during those parts. That he would display so much compassion and concern for people who had just done their best to mercilessly end his life stretched my suspended disbelief just too far. Shoot him already.

I liked all the members in Locard so much more than Alan. I read White's books for his secondary characters like Sam Purdy, I can barely tolerate whine-boy, and in this novel he is at his all time worst for stupidity and cluelessness. I can believe that Alan would follow the bad guy right into the big woods like an idiot, but Kimber? No way. How stupid do you think we are Mr. White?

SPOILER: But the real insult came with the resolution. Like another reviewer said: why in the world would the Franklin family pay to open that can of worms after so long? White insulted us with that bit. No way they would have done such a thing. I guess all the fireworks at the end were supposed to make us forget that little detail. This isn't the first time he has chosen an ending or a killer that doesn't fit the facts. The real mystery here is why I keep reading these silly books.

Rating:
Summary: How to describe Stephen White?
Review: The words "Great author" comes to mind. Master storyteller. Weaver of words. This is the first book I read by Mr. White and my only complaint is that I didn't read his Alan Gregory novels in the order they were written. "Cold Case" is a masterful story from beginning to end, detailing the investigation of two murders that are several years old. There are several twists in this story (one or two you can see coming, but what can you do?)

I highly recommend this book, but I recommend it after having read the others in the series first!