The First Victim

Rating:
Summary: Riddled again
Review: Once more riddled with the tingles of suspense, I lost 2 nights of sleep over this can't-put-down latest from Ridley Pearson, The First Victim. The most recently read is always my favorite, as Pearson grips the reader in an intensity of focus so compelling one reads the last page with a sense of mourning, reluctant to leave the Boldts, Ms. Matthews and even LaMoia behind for another year or so until the next adventure comes along. Always, in addition to the thrilling ride, Pearson's novels add to the readers store of knowledge a peek into some corner of life previously unknown to the reader. This time, it's about the shady and desperate sides of immigration, and interesting observations about the evidentiary carelessness of the criminal at the start of his wayward career. The only aspect of this novel I missed was LB's jazz music. Being a jazz enthusiast and a mystery/suspense novel reader, I particularly like Lou Boldt's jazz soul and missed it in this otherwise wonderful novel.

Rating:
Summary: The First Victim is First Rate
Review: I first met Lou Boldt in The Pied Piper and then backtracked in our relationship by reading No Witnesses and Beyond Recognition. When I like a book series I usually read in groups of three and then take a year off.

I'm glad I didn't follow my rule with this Ridley Peason novel. It was a great read and I find myself looking forward to Middle of Nowhere. This is a first for me--five series books in a row without a significant break. And, you should know, that as a former English teacher I am very picky.

Here are the top three things about The First Victim:

1. Lou Boldt continues to be incredibly believable. I have a good friend who is a homicide detective in Washington State. Lou Boldt is so much like him that it's uncanny. His strained yet loving relationship with his wife adds deeper truth to the police procedural genre. I can personally vouch for Lou Boldt's feelings about his wife's recovery from cancer. They are real. Anything but cliche.

2. There is plenty of action in this novel, but the book never falls prey to the kind of trite, police stereotypes that litter most novels of this type. Boldt's friend and subordinate LaMoia comes the closest to a two dimensonal character, but the fact that he is the only one makes him unique.

3. The addition of the Stevie McNeal, the headstrong TV anchor, gives the novel a new direction. I am glad that Pearson gave the Daphne Matthew's/Boldt attraction a bit of rest.

Rating:
Summary: I expected more
Review: First Victim was very dissapointing. This was the fourth book in the Bolt/Matthews series that I read. I managed to get through it, I kept waiting for it to get better - but it never does. If this is the only Bolt/Matthews book you have read, please don't judge the series by First Victim.

Rating:
Summary: Love & Hate
Review: I love Ridley Pearson. I hated this book. Solution: Slow down, Ridley, to only one a year, or even one every two years. We'll wait for you. (If your publisher's pushing, push back!) When you're energized, there's no body better!

Rating:
Summary: Another hit
Review: The first victim is another Lou Boldt hit. I enjoy the series due to the fact that I am a Seattle native. I would have liked to have seen a little more interaction between Daphnie and Lou.

Rating:
Summary: Good but not great!
Review: First Victim was a good read but the subject was kind of non-interesting. I have read most of Ridleys books and I find the First Victim good but not one of Ridleys best. Check out Ridley Pearsons other great books. Ridley is diffently the best thrill writer goin.

Rating:
Summary: What a thrill
Review: Although the beginning got off to a slow start I quickly became intrigued with the story line. Once again the author has managed to keep the suspense of the novel at a extreme level. I read in just a little over 4 days and I am anxiously awaiting the next novel.

Rating:
Summary: Good book for Lou Boldt fans
Review: Another Lou Boldt book ... readers who have been following the series will get more insight on Lou as he struggles with the path his career and life are going. If this is your first read, you'll like it. For those who have read previous books in the series (such as "The Angel Maker" and what I consider his best "Beyond Recognition") will like it even more. It not as suspenseful as his best but I did like it better than his previous, "The Pied Piper".

Rating:
Summary: A DISAPPOINTING, SLOW-PACED THRILLER
Review: When a shipping container with illegals in it washes ashore, television news anchor Stevie McNeal jumps on the story to boost her career, along with the help of her friend, reporter, Melissa.

Lou Boldt and John LaMoia are the investigating officer's on the appearance of the mysterious ship.

When Melissa disappears and other murders begin happening, the two detective's team up with Stevie to find her friend and put and end to the illegal smuggling.

"The First Victim" is a let down, considering Pearson's previous novels "Beyond Recognition" and "Chain Of Evidence", although the plot is interesting, it is slowly paced for a thriller, and introduces too many characters along the way becoming more confusing and dull as the novel progresses. The climax may surprise some, but the armchair detective will have figured it out.

Ridley Pearson writes good thrillers, this not being one of them, pick up one of his previous novels for good thrills.

Nick Gonnella

Rating:
Summary: Could put it down....but wanted to pick it up again
Review: I enjoyed this book....it is the first one of this author's that I have read. The characters are believable (I'm a retired police officer) and the plot held my interest. I read the book over 4 days & could put it down for awhile & pick it right back up and easily start where I had left off. I look forward to the next Patterson novel.