Rating: 
Summary: Where was the editor?
Review: W.E.B. Griffin's books, while captivating reads, have frequently suffered from inconsistencies from one book to the next. This has often been a result of his detailed summaries, often including dialogue, of events from previous books. Among the Griffin fans with whom I've chatted, this is the most commonly cited complaint.The newest entry in the Badge of Honor series is the most extreme example. As many other reviewers have pointed out, the setting is jarringly moved from the mid 1970s to the present day. Characters are missing with little explanation. However, the Badge of Honor series has been suffering through the last few entries. Significant subplots have been developed only to drop out of the series. Two previous books have had significant subplots surrounding slayings of police officers, but these have sunk without a trace. And of course, the last book developed the idea that the crack Narcotics 5 squad was crooked, giving every suggestion that book number 8 would be based on this investigation. As an aside, Griffin's trademark step-by-step description of procedures becomes tiresome when describing things that are commonplace to most readers, such as dumping images from a digital camera and renaming the files. Maybe Griffin intended to write a book about investigating the 5 squad, but lost interest in a book about dirty cops. I suspect that the series has been suffering from Griffin's attention to his other books. It's a shame, because the first few books in the Badge of Honor series were some of his better ones. Of course, the first two or three entries in each of his series are always the most readable. If you're already a fan, though, odds are you'll read Final Justice despite the holes. And you'll stay up late turning the pages, because he writes well. And in answer to my initial question, why bother with good editing when the author is assured of a loyal readership?
Rating: 
Summary: Better than the last one
Review: Yes, there are continuity problems. I for one would have liked an explanation on Carlucci's exit (by the way, he was so much like Rudy Giuiliani it is scary). Also, Lt. Washington was an issue, albeit smaller. The rest were not a problem for me.
However, the bottom line is that this was an excellent book. The stories were quite interesting, and I love what happened to Matt Payne. He grew as a character.
I cannot wait for the follow up.
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