Dark Lady

Rating:
Summary: Was disappointed, not a bad read, but not as good his others
Review: I had trouble with the characters. I couldn't identify with them. It felt cold and distant overservations rather than an ongoing story.

Rating:
Summary: After all of his other great reads, a major letdown.
Review: If you are a fan or Richard North Patterson, as am I, save yourself the money and more importantly the time. He attempts, and fails, at writing a darker tail of deceipt. His fictional town of Steeltown is contrived and not at all beleivable. His plot is disjointed and his characters belong in Greek tragety. Go back to San Francisco Mr. Patterson and leave the dark Rust Belt for more accomplished writers like John Updike. Stick to your knitting. We would all be much happier.

Rating:
Summary: Could Not Put It Down
Review: Although this is not a short book, I read it all in one sitting. Could not stop. It's great reading, interesting plot and believeable characters. Although I am not usually a mystery/thriller fan, I really enjoyed this book. It was well-written and assumed that the reader could comprehend above a 6th. grade reading level.

Rating:
Summary: Worth The Wait!
Review: I was eager to read the book, and it was well worth the wait. Well written with a good plot. Richard North Patterson is an excellent writter whose books simply get better and better.

Rating:
Summary: Not up to par with his other books
Review: Dark Lady was a bit of a disappointment. Richard North Patterson is my favorite author, and I always wait eagerly for his books, but this one didn't do much for me. Most of it was very boring. I couldn't identify (or care about) any of the characters.

Rating:
Summary: Doesn't hold together, far from Patterson's best
Review: Hey I love Cleveland and wanted to love this book. But the mob/big money/politics connection is about as obvious and hackneyed as plot devices come. Also the key clue that finally pulls everything together is laughably convenient and unbelievable. And why is Marz the one who finds this all important clue? No cop or homicide detective would have found it before her. Come on... The surprising best part here is the love story betwen Marz and her little helper. If it weren't for that, the book would fall completely flat.

Rating:
Summary: Make the effort, it's worth your time.
Review: This book is worth your time. It's only complicated because people are complicated, to write them any other way would be a waste of time. So many twists and turns, Patterson should never be taken for granted. Make the effort, then look at the people who surround your everyday life and realize, you never know....

Rating:
Summary: ABSORBING
Review: Well, whaddayknow! A complex narrative "torn from today's headlines" with nary a four letter word, car chase, explosion or steamy sex scenes. Thank you Mr. Patterson!

Rating:
Summary: A huge disappointment
Review: This book was very difficult to get through. It didn't have any of the suspenseful pacing of his other terrific novels. The murders are unnecessarily grotesque and the characters are almost caricatures. Although the story line is admirably complex, that's not enough to save this book.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting, Complex Plot
Review: An interesting, complex plot involving politics, a decaying city, corruption and murder. It took me a little while to get into, but very soon I became enthralled by its complexities. The only critisism that I might have is that the climax came a bit too soon for my taste. Don't worry though, there are enough inter-personal and psychologigal reasons to keep you reading until the end - with great satisfaction. I have a feeling that we'll be seeing several of these characters again. (I hope so.) Well worth the read.