A Grave Talent

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Summary: A book I was not able to forget.
Review: I don't trust my reactions enough to express them right after reading a book. But, three weeks and a half-dozen more books read, and I still have the most vivid memories of this book. Absolutely haunting. It may not be a book for puzzle-lovers, but it has well drawn characters, almost unbearable suspense as it reaches its climax, and one of the most powerfully written last paragraphs (to the main story, not the epilogue) I've ever read. The last seven words still roll through my head from time to time and bring back the whole feeling of it each time they do. I read a library copy of this book, but ordered the hardback version afterwards from Amazon.

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Summary: Some unexpected turns
Review: I found "Grave Talent" interesting - not that the plot ever actually twisted, but I can usually tell what is going to happen no too far into the book. I did deduce the murderer before too long, but there was still enough emotion and action to keep me interested to the end. I would definitely read more books by this author. I started reading this book while trying to log on to aol. And finished it by the time I finally connected!

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Summary: A good read......
Review: I found myself unexplicably hooked in reading this book. Although at times it was predictable, there were enough twists and turns to have it be very enjoyable. I would recommend it and look forward to reading more of her.

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Summary: A Gripping, Exciting, Tour-de-Force
Review: I had no idea what to expect when I picked up this book. As I started reading, I found it headed into territory I don't normally care for (serial killers of children). But within the first few pages, I began to feel something unusual. King was somehow grabbing my interest so forcefully that I was helpless to resist. As the story unfolded, many plot developments and situations that I usually dislike took on a fascination and wove themselves into a pattern that was truly compelling.

I can't put my finger on how or why, but this novel truly excited me. I felt that I was having a profound experience as I read. I had the same feeling, albeit to slightly lesser degree, when I read the next book in the series, To Play the Fool.

To me, this book was a masterpiece, the highlight of my reading year. (And I read well over a hundred mysteries a year.)

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Summary: [e-mail]
Review: I loved this book! I am an avid mystery fan, and this one is great. Not only does she have a great plot, but also interesting, well-developed characters. I then read, playing the fool, which was even better. I really like stories with depth rather than the "formula" model so many successful authors fall into. Laurie King is defintely an author to look for.

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Summary: Excellent!!
Review: I picked up this book by accident looking for something to do. I hadn't read a novel in years. Surprisingly within the first few chapters all I could think of was the book. I was hooked. It had it's humorous parts, it's scary and suspenseful parts. King's writing style is wonderful in that it kept someone like myself interested and also it makes the reader feel as if they personally know the characters. I couldn't wait to finish and start the next book. Awesome!!! Made a fan out of me: )

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Summary: Disappointing when compared to her other series
Review: I purchased this book after reading the first novel in Laurie King's other series The Beekepper's Apprentice. I loved every minute of that book and was disappointed when it ended. Naturally, I thought the author's writing style would be similar in this book. I was mistaken.

Don't get me wrong, the book was not horrible. However, when reading it, I was never able to develop the same attachment to the characters that I had while reading her other book, and I often found myself wishing the book would end.

Rating:
Summary: Marvelous book
Review: I read all of Laurie King's other books before getting around to A GRAVE TALENT, but it's turned out to be my favorite. Because I already "knew" Kate Martinelli from later books, this first in the series had special resonance for me. This is much more than a puzzle story; it's a beautifully written novel about human relationships that also happens to have a gripping mystery at its heart. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: A Bit Farfetched
Review: I really enjoyed this book but the ending was a bit far-fetched. I can let the lover's involvement slide but I know that a cop would never allow her own home to be used in an investigation, so that made the last 1/4 of the book hard for me to get in to. Otherwise, the story is very good, suspenseful, and has you guessing who the murderer could be. The characters are well-described and come to life. If not for the "at home" thing, I would have given it a 5-star rating.

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Summary: I really wanted to like this book.
Review: I really wanted to like this one because King's Mary Russell books are so extraordinarily good. This first Kate Martinelli book introduces several interesting characters. But it didn't hold my interest at all. I guess I just didn't care about the characters -- I was never totally drawn in. I kept setting the book down and picking up a different one. The climax was intense and exciting, as King's always are, but then there's a lengthy epilogue that made me want to fast-forward through it. I DID finally finish it, but the book was just too long. One of the hardest jobs of a writer is knowing what to leave out, and one of the hardest jobs of an editor is telling the writer that. I can't recommend the book unless you're a die-hard Laurie King fan. But DO pick up "The Beekeeper's Apprentice." That's one of the best of the genre.