Tropic of Night

Rating:
Summary: do you believe in... magick!!?
Review: Absolutely! and reading this book was pure joy, as it enhanced and titillated my already compelling curiosity regards this topic. The plot (which can be found, in Amazon's amazing layout, above) moves at the speed of light. The co-protagonists (Jane and Paz) are both well-developed characters separately well before joining forces, but together create an intriguing combo. The foundation here is Sorcery and is handled in a very credible, intelligent and comprehensive manner, as is humanity's naive acceptance (my personal and varied spiritual belief system is undergoing a vast RE-examination, currently, after reading this book, thanks Mike! /bonk /hug) or, more important, rigid rejection thereof. This is a page turner! and has joined Nasaw, Connelly, J. King and Kadow on the top of my "omg, WRITE FAST, I can't wait" list.

Rating:
Summary: ..........wow............
Review: All right, bear with me here....

So. We only use something like 2% of our brain capacity. Ok, let me look that up to be sure. Ok ok so it's 10%, but that's still pretty pathetic. That's 90% of your brain mass sitting there like a useless mass of jello. Supposedly. Ever wonder what the hell you could do with those "unused" parts of the brain? There's got to be something more to it.

It's taken me awhile to complete "Tropic of Night" by Michael Gruber, but it's a mystery that makes you think beyond the plot, the above paragraph an example. It also makes you look at things at a completely different angle. Think those herbs that are burned in certain wiccan (et al) rituals/spells/etc. serve no other purpose but actual ritual? Hmmm... maybe not. Just another thing to think about, and this book gives you a lot of that. As much as it's a mystery it's really artfully done in the way he drops details. It keeps you reading to find out more without feeling frustrated. The characterization is great, I'm in love with the main character, she's amazing. She's an anthropologist who has studied and lived in cultures that people believe to be mythical, and are extremely advanced in the way they use their minds. The book centers around Santeria, a really potent form of African "magic." It goes back and forth between her present life in hiding and her journals, which cover both her anthropological trips with the Chenka and the Olo peoples, as well as her family life.

This blows the "Da Vinci Code" out of the water.

Rating:
Summary: Actually about 3 and 1/2 stars
Review: Although I'm not usually into "who done its" I found this book to be surprisingly good. First a warning, you owe it to yourself to read at least 3 chapters before you throw it away. I must admit that the first chapter pretty much turned me off. I wasn't into some strange woman killing a child's mom and then "adopting" the little girl. The second chapter kind of irritated me, and by the 3rd I had decided that the book was worth a read.

The things about the book that kept me away from the 4 stars were that, as I said, I'm not a big mystery fan and (like another reader) the inclusion of so much vocabulary about magic and sorcery. It's lends authenticity to supply facts, but I prefer my fiction without a glossary. (Yes, there is a glossary.)

But what I did like about the book was the writing. At first I found the inclusion of the journals hard to follow. Then I realized it's just like what I write in my daily planner. There are abbreviations and it's not meant to be full sentences, it just the capturing of thoughts. Once you get into the spirit, it gives so much background of how Jane Doe got there, what makes her tick, and what led up to the current state of affairs. Then there are two more narratives that are more traditional, the narrative given in the here and now by Jane and the one given by Paz. The mixture of the three view points makes for an interesting and rich writing style.

I'd be inclined to try another of Mr. Gruber's novels in the future.

Rating:
Summary: Very Smart and Very Scary
Review: Although this novel is a mixture of genres I usually avoid--the mystery/serial killer/horror/detective story--I somehow became intrigued by the reviews of this one and picked it up. To my delight I found it quite enjoyable, a perfect example of a light entertainment that is intelligent, witty, well-crafted and engrossing.

The story unfolds in alternating chapters: the first a first person narrative written by the protagonist, Jane Doe, (her real name); the second are the diaries written by her during her anthropological expeditions to Siberia and Africa; and the third a third person narrative having to do with the Miami detective whose path will eventually cross that of Jane's.

The plot has to do with Jane's studies into the spiritual or supernatural elements of two smallish societies in Siberia and Africa, and the unusual discoveries she makes about them. Her husband gets overly involved in the second African expedition, causing Jane a great deal of anguish and fear; he then sets into motion events which Jane comes to realize will unleash a demonic power on the earth the likes of which it has never seen. This causes her to flee in terror and go into hiding, which is where she is when the novel begins.

Sounds a bit preposterous, I know, and if you're raising your eyebrow a bit, I don't blame you. But the author handles it very well, making these powers seem to us as if they were misunderstood scientific phenomenon rather than the usual King-like made-up contrivance, and he is so knowledgeable about anthropology, geography, African folklore, mysticism, and voodooism that one finds oneself quite willing to suspend disbelief.

There are just a ton of surprising, bizarre, truly hair-raising moments. There is the ghostly, carnal visit in Siberia; the ritualistic Miami murders; the scary, shocking Santeria ritual; and the entire, nightmare African journey. Suffice to say, the book is very engrossing. And loaded with detail, too. As mentioned, the author is very knowledgeable, and there was a lot of stuff having to do with both contemporary and historical Africa which I found fascinating.

The detective story is a little more conventional but done very well, particularly the sardonic, witty dialogue between the two lead guys which is dead-on and often hilarious.

Look, I don't blame you if you're a little skeptical. I was too. But good writing is good writing, no matter what the genre, and this novel is loaded with it. Fun, entertaining, and rich in detail, the novel is a real blast. I look forward to more by this guy.

Rating:
Summary: Best Mystery I've Read in Years
Review: As a student of African diasporan religion and a mystery junkie, I absolutely loved this book!!! The plot was coherently constructed, the text skillfully written and the characters were appealing, multi-textured people. And Gruber has really done his homework on African religion (at least that of the Yoruba). He even managed to avoid the pitfall of a corny, Hollywood conclusion. I was sorry to see this book end and I hope that his next is a sequel. I can't wait for it to come out in paperback , so I can afford to give some copies away as gifts.

Rating:
Summary: What a ride!
Review: Cops. Ritual (serial) murder. Black magic. African gods. Zombies. Anthropology. Poets and poetry. Race relations. End Times. Such a wild mix shouldn't work, since in the hands of most authors it would result in overreaching. But Gruber, in a real swing for the fences, pulls it off. Home run! Gruber's key for success is in his character development. The central character, Jane Doe (no kidding!), comes across as a remarkable creation. A (very) rich woman who happens to be an anthropologist and sorcerer, who also happens to be adept at aikido. (Sounds like Laura Croft, but believe me, Jane is more resiliant.) No, she's not Super Woman. And her passages in the book remind me of a wry Joan Dideon (who can break your neck) caught in a nightmare. There are times when Gruber is telling Jane's story that the prose authentically soars and riffs (especially in the African and Siberian portions of the story), and in a way that reminds me of LeCarre's "foreign" scenes from, such as, for example, "The Honorable School Boy (Cambodia-before-the-fall). Like LeCarre, it's clear Gruber did quite a bit of research.

But Jane isn't the whole story. There is Jimmy Paz (and it's nearly as much his story, as it is Jane's), a complex mix of a man. He's a black Cuban-American homicide detective (with great Elmore Leonard like dialogue). He faces and harbors resentments in his daily life, but works beyond them. He's as much a hero as Jane, and not some author poster board for speeches and canned sentiments. Secondary characters, such as Barlow, Paz's fundamentalist-preacher cop partner, or Jane's father, same thing. Fully developed, leaving lasting impressions from their moment on Michael Gruber's stage. Cant' do much better than "Tropic of Night."

Rating:
Summary: Good Read..If you have time.
Review: For those of you who want a quick book fix...this is NOT the book for you. Tropic has a lot of characters, details and information packed into it. For recreational readers this is pretty heavy reading and the Glossary will most likely have to be used. The main character is developed well, but it does take several chapters to get a feel for her and the situations she finds herself in. The writer goes back and forth from past events - via main characters journal - to present events, and it is not always easy to follow or keep you interested. The ending is open and left no closure for the main character. If you have the time this book can be interesting, if you want a light easy read...this is not the book for you.

Rating:
Summary: guilt-free horror
Review: For us horror fans especially, books like this are worth their weight in hen's teeth. Regardless of why (on Earth) we're each addicted to such dark fiction, our common guilty admission is that we usually have to "dumb down" in order enjoy the ride. Not so with TROPIC OF NIGHT, which engaged and rewarded me in all respects I'm aware of. (The title put me off, by the way. Glad I ignored it.)
The above, if you resonate with it, should already make this your next book. So, no plot nibbles from me ...just read and enjoy. (I will note that the cover quotes Martin Cruz Smith, who declares the main character "indelible". He should know, and he's dead on ...a rare thing for those incestuous little inter-author blurbs.)

Rating:
Summary: One heck of a first novel!
Review: I couldn't agree more with the Amazon reviewer who wrote that this book blows the over-rated "DaVinci Code" out of the water. This is the kind of mystery-thriller we all hunger for, perfect for crawling into bed with on a stormy night or reading on the beach, yet remaining intelligent, challenging and provocative. I kept flipping back to the author Michael Gruber's bio in the back, dumfounded that this was his first novel.

Not since "The Possession of Joel Delaney" has a book delved so deeply into pagan voodoo ingratiating its way into modern society. And there are other, more humanistic undercurrents, about the difference between love and possesiveness that will keep you thinking long after you've put the book down.

Don't be thrown by the tacky, cheap-thriller cover. "Tropic of Night" is a total winner that you're very likely to read more than once.

Rating:
Summary: The book is overhyped
Review: I didnt/couldn't finish this book. I found it tried too hard and while I don't mind violence, this violence is there for its own sake.