True Crime : The Novel

Rating:
Summary: Exciting - but could have used a bit of editing.
Review: I enjoyed this book a lot and would recommend it. But I must say, it took it's sweet time getting off the ground. Similar to Richard Price's "Freedomland", "True Crime" could have used the help of good editor to speed things up and pare away the distractions. Did we really need that silly prologue? Or that jarring, pointless chapter from the point of view of the cub reporter? And did that letter from Frank Beachum have to come so early in the book -- and be so long and boring? The prison chaplains ramblings, while humorous, could also have been cut down. Klavan should be hailed for creating a well-crafted, well-written thriller of unusual depth. But maybe he should pick up a book by Jim Thompson now and then - just to see how great simple can be.

Rating:
Summary: A funny, thought-provoking look at capital punishment.
Review: I find it hard to believe this book is not well-known. No one that I have recommended it to has heard of it. It is one of the very best books I have ever read. This book had me sobbing and shaking and laughing and crying. I LOVED this book and so did my husband and my mother. This book is wonderful. My advice: buy this book, read this book. It is great!

Rating:
Summary: Uhmmmmmmm...???
Review: I finished the book several days ago and I'm still not sure what I think about it. My wife loved it and insisted I read it. I've read so many "thriller" books lately that there wasn't enough originality in this one to make me wet the pages with saliva slipping off my chin. I knew the ending about twenty pages into it. I was, however, genuinely amused with the lead character-- I hesitate to call him a hero. He is a real horse's rear-end and he never fails to disappoint. That was refreshing. The actual "evidence" was incredibly flimsy to me. The rule seemed to be that if the author CAPITALIZED A LINE OFTEN ENOUGH THEN IT MUST BE TRUE. I realize that a lot of novels are based on assumptions that eventually get supported by fact in plot manuevering but this one was a bunch of assumptions that led to a final "fact" that seemed utterly improbable. But, it was entertaining. I'll give it that.

Rating:
Summary: Uhmmmmmmm...???
Review: I finished the book several days ago and I'm still not sure what I think about it. My wife loved it and insisted I read it. I've read so many "thriller" books lately that there wasn't enough originality in this one to make me wet the pages with saliva slipping off my chin. I knew the ending about twenty pages into it. I was, however, genuinely amused with the lead character-- I hesitate to call him a hero. He is a real horse's rear-end and he never fails to disappoint. That was refreshing. The actual "evidence" was incredibly flimsy to me. The rule seemed to be that if the author CAPITALIZED A LINE OFTEN ENOUGH THEN IT MUST BE TRUE. I realize that a lot of novels are based on assumptions that eventually get supported by fact in plot manuevering but this one was a bunch of assumptions that led to a final "fact" that seemed utterly improbable. But, it was entertaining. I'll give it that.

Rating:
Summary: a book about a jerk who does one redeeming thing
Review: I found this book a real page-turner, although Klavan is much better plotter than writer. I love books like this for the same reason I like movies like "The Fugitive": the pace of the narrative carries me along. It's interesting to have a novel with a protagonist who's so unlikable (the person who wrote that Everett can't help the things that happen to him makes me mad; a man CAN keep his pants on, after all). And for depth on the death penalty issue, it's far outclassed by "In Cold Blood" or "Dead Man Walking." But it's a good read, especially for the beach, the plane, or the sickbed. Despite the flaws I found in this book, I just had my local library get "The Animal Hour" for me on inter-library loan.

Rating:
Summary: a book about a jerk who does one redeeming thing
Review: I found this book a real page-turner, although Klavan is much better plotter than writer. I love books like this for the same reason I like movies like "The Fugitive": the pace of the narrative carries me along. It's interesting to have a novel with a protagonist who's so unlikable (the person who wrote that Everett can't help the things that happen to him makes me mad; a man CAN keep his pants on, after all). And for depth on the death penalty issue, it's far outclassed by "In Cold Blood" or "Dead Man Walking." But it's a good read, especially for the beach, the plane, or the sickbed. Despite the flaws I found in this book, I just had my local library get "The Animal Hour" for me on inter-library loan.

Rating:
Summary: A real page-turner
Review: I found this book to be comparable to Grisham at his best. It's a real page-turner and I found that I really cared what happened.. Give it a go!

Rating:
Summary: Almost a perfect suspense thriller!
Review: I give this a 10 because I gave Steve Thayer's "The Weatherman" a 10 also. Each deals with a man awaiting execution. Each does it brilliantly! I can't help but refer to John Grisham's preachy attempt at the same subject matter. I guess that some authors are just lucky enough to become fashionable. "True Crime" has a hero, nay anti-hero, who embodies many of our frailties and is not afraid to admit it. He has few redeeming traits. He is however, an honest to goodness from-the-gut reporter whose life behind the byline will never be anything but misery. His personal life is in self-destruct mode. The first half of the book is a setup for a frenetic conlusion. Once there, I honestly could not put it down until I reached its end. Read this and give kudos where they are due. Great job, Andrew Klavan.

Rating:
Summary: NERVE-RACKING
Review: I have cried at books before but I have never ever cried and shook. You always hear the critics say "A real nail-biter" about some books. Well, let me tell you, in this case it is true. You will not put this book down until the end. However, you may put it down momentarily to either throw your hands in the air in frustration or to compose yourself. I called my mom the minute I finished the last page and told her to immediately go buy a copy. I have also passed it around to my friends at work and watched them read it on their breaks throwing their hands in the air with groans. So it wasn't just me. I also called the bookstore and had them get me every book Andrew Klavan wrote, and they could not get allof them. That is why I am searching Amazon, which had all his books available. Thankyou Andrew Klavan and Thankyou Amazon.

Rating:
Summary: NERVE-RACKING
Review: I have cried at books before but I have never ever cried and shook. You always hear the critics say "A real nail-biter" about some books. Well, let me tell you, in this case it is true. You will not put this book down until the end. However, you may put it down momentarily to either throw your hands in the air in frustration or to compose yourself. I called my mom the minute I finished the last page and told her to immediately go buy a copy. I have also passed it around to my friends at work and watched them read it on their breaks throwing their hands in the air with groans. So it wasn't just me. I also called the bookstore and had them get me every book Andrew Klavan wrote, and they could not get all of them. That is why I am searching Amazon, which had all his books available. Thankyou Andrew Klavan and Thankyou Amazon.