Rating: 
Summary: A superior thriller with truly poetic language
Review: Thorn is back and so is Alexandra Rafferty. Fans of James W. Hall's Florida thrillers would recognize those names from previous novels. Thorn is the quintessential Florida hero who prefers to spend his time fishing in the keys. His idyllic life is commonly placed on hold whenever he is subjected to outside evil forces that he must contend with. In this case, he witnesses a jumbo jet crash land in the gulf while he is fishing there. After rescuing as many passengers as he could he notices something not quite right going on. He soon discovers the existence of a device that could shut off electricity at a distance. Hence, the ability to cause massive power failures, not only among aircrafts such as the one Thorn witnessed, but, in whole sections of cities. The device is being sold by the miscreant family called the Braswells. The father, AJ, is obsessed with the capture of a huge marlin responsible for the freak death of his eldest son Andy. Johnny, mentally deficient, is a psychopathic killer and his beautiful sister, Morgan, is evil incarnate. It is this family that Thorn must battle to stop the sale of this potentially devastating weapon. Teaming with Thorn is Alexandra Rafferty, the heroine of BODY LANGUAGE. Alexandra is a Miami PD photographic specialist. Her father, Lawton, suffering from Alzheimer's has stumbled upon the device and is held hostage by the Braswells until it is recovered.
The unique aspect of James W. Hall's books is the combination of a superior thriller with truly poetic and lyrical language. He is, not only a superb storyteller, but is a highly talented writer. He bears comparison to James Lee Burke in evoking the Florida landscape. The descriptions of fishing for the marlin is so magnificently described that one can't help thinking of Hemingway's OLD MAN AND THE SEA. The villains are quite similar to those in previous books. The psychopath, Johnny Braswell, bears an uncanny resemblance to Butler Jack, the terrorist of BUZZ CUT. The characters, however, are an overall believable bunch and ones that are quite familiar to fans of Mr. Hall of whom I proudly count myself as one of them. Highly recommended as are all of his books.
Rating:
Summary: Thorn's back!!!!
Review: Thorn is my favorite series character. Beginning with "Under Cover of Daylight", I've read all the books and "Blackwater Sound" is one of the best. It's got everything you'd expect from this author: moments that thrill you, others that touch you and some that make you laugh. And, the characters are memorable -- especially the still-in-love-with-her-dead-brother main villian. Definitely a five-star thriller.
Rating:
Summary: What a Pleasure!!!
Review: Thorne is back, which means we all have good reason to rejoice. As much as I loved Hall's previous two books -- "Body Language" and "Rough Draft" -- I was ready to hang with my old buddy Thorne again. Hall is the best of the Florida writers -- in fact, he may just be the best living suspense novelist. And, the great news is that "Blackwater Sound" as as good as anything he's ever written. There plot is both elegant and subtle -- no super-villians or schtick. It's smart stuff all the way through. Enormously entertaining crime fiction that's also fine literature. I'm ready for his next one.
Rating:
Summary: Best Thriller of the Year!!
Review: You want a great story? Read BLACKWATER SOUND. You want characters that are real, three-dimensional people? Read BLACKWATER SOUND. You want some of the best language in contemporary fiction? Read BLACKWATER SOUND. As you can tell, the book blew me away. This guy's the greatest.
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