Beyond Recognition (Bookcassette(r) Edition)

Rating:
Summary: What a book!!!! What a leading man!!!! What a writer!!!
Review: I discovered Lou Boldt and Ridley Pearson in The Angel Maker. I am now reading the series and "Beyond Recognition" does not disappoint. Pearson writes such a believable detective. He is not just a "stud" or just a "hard-nose" or one dimmensional in any way. He is the total package. Not just that, but the stories themselves are so involving. This book really has it all. Characters. Dialogue. Driving plot. Twists and turns. Human element. Suspense. Surprise. Pearson delivers the whole meal right down to the cherry on top. I cannot wait to read the rest of the Boldt/Matthews series to see what he has in store for me next.

Rating:
Summary: What a book!!!! What a leading man!!!! What a writer!!!
Review: I discovered Lou Boldt and Ridley Pearson in The Angel Maker. I am now reading the series and "Beyond Recognition" does not disappoint. Pearson writes such a believable detective. He is not just a "stud" or just a "hard-nose" or one dimmensional in any way. He is the total package. Not just that, but the stories themselves are so involving. This book really has it all. Characters. Dialogue. Driving plot. Twists and turns. Human element. Suspense. Surprise. Pearson delivers the whole meal right down to the cherry on top. I cannot wait to read the rest of the Boldt/Matthews series to see what he has in store for me next.

Rating:
Summary: What a book!!!! What a leading man!!!! What a writer!!!
Review: I discovered Lou Boldt and Ridley Pearson in The Angel Maker. I am now reading the series and "Beyond Recognition" does not disappoint. Pearson writes such a believable detective. He is not just a "stud" or just a "hard-nose" or one dimmensional in any way. He is the total package. Not just that, but the stories themselves are so involving. This book really has it all. Characters. Dialogue. Driving plot. Twists and turns. Human element. Suspense. Surprise. Pearson delivers the whole meal right down to the cherry on top. I cannot wait to read the rest of the Boldt/Matthews series to see what he has in store for me next.

Rating:
Summary: Investigation--Great; Everything else--Not Worth It
Review: I have been a big fan of Pearson's work, so I grabbed this one out of habit. But I must say that I had a lukewarm reaction to the book. The subplot with the boy/psychic/Daphne was not very interesting to me. I know those sections were there to help move the plot along, but they were too predictable and boring, and they interrupted what I thought were the most compelling and heart-racing elements of the book: the pure investigation of the arsons by Boldt. Boltd's character, as always, comes across as one of the most believable in police fiction, a mix of determined desperation and fatalistic energy directed to help everyone else but himself. The book's villain disappointed me as well: without giving away anything, Boldt's nemesis did not seem as suitably sophisticated or malevolent as previous foes. Overall, if you're a Boldt fan, I'd say read the book and skip over the parts that don't really involve him.

Rating:
Summary: # 1 writer
Review: I just finished reading this book & the ending was great. I think Ridley Pearson is one of the best authors out there. He rates with John Saul & Dean Koontz. Books you cannot put down. He is one of the best. All of his books are page turners. worth buying.

Rating:
Summary: Simply amazing (not the book...the fact it got published)
Review: I must first apologize to anyone who reads this from Hyperion Press. I actually have a close friend who works there (that's how i came upon Mr. Pearson) so it's not in my best interest to give a terrible review of this book...but. Not only did I find at least two glaring errors in Beyond Recognition, I'm just amazed that it actually got published. Pearson's use of language is sophmoric, repetitive, and just plain boring. His descriptions of women are simplistic and one dimensional (all are incredibly attractive), his plot thin, and his main character rather unlikable. The only other thing I can say it that the news stories in the Journal and the News about original cases of high accelerant fires in Washington State were more exciting that Mr. Peason's fictionalization...

Rating:
Summary: A "searingly" good read!
Review: If you're looking for a great read and don't mind losing some sleep while caught up in Ridley Pearson's web of intrigue and fascinating forensics, then this page-turner is for you. I don't know why this author isn't better known (or IS he?), but I'm stoked I gave him a try.

Rating:
Summary: Blazing HOT!! Warmed my heart in cold December.
Review: Lou Boldt goes about solving a mystery the way most sensitive guys do, worried about the effects his work has on his family life and desperately trying to balance the two. In the middle of one of the toughest cases of his career (definitly rivals Undercurrents, The Angel Maker, and No Witnesses for intrigue and complexity that successfully draws the reader in) he realizes there is a problem with his wife. The way he handles it is realistic and effective, but then again so is the way he and Matthews deal with the arsonist/murderer. This is not a mystery where the reader will guess the ending half-way through--this is one that will keep you guessing right to the very end. Advice, don't start this when you absolutely have to get up the next morning because you cannot put it down.

Rating:
Summary: This is THE BOOK, why doesn't eveyone know about this guy
Review: Mr. Pearson's dialog is in fact very strong. His plots continue to get better and his characters have a depth to them that make his books not only enjoyable to read but hard to finish. Hard to finish because I know that when I get to the last page, I will have to wait a year for him to write another. I read consantly. I read a ton of books. So I feel I can say that Pearson's plots are always fresh and on the cutting edge. Period.

Rating:
Summary: Not up to his earlier workds- very disappointing
Review: Mr. Pearson's novels are headed in the wrong direction! The last three have gotten progressively worse. His books have always suffered from poor dialog, but his first three novels featured unique plots and carefully researched detail. His characters have become less believable, the details often don't ring true, and the dialog still is quite poor. What's happened?