Burning Moon

Rating:
Summary: Hardesty is back in great form
Review: A few years ago when I was new to the mystery genre, I was introduced to Richard Barre's Wil Hardesty series through a book review in my newspaper. After reading the review of "Blackheart Highway", I decided to invest the time and money and "surf" my way through the series (4 books) from the beginning with "The Innocents". What an exhilirating ride! I have been hooked on mysteries ever since and appreciative of this author's talent. The character developments and story plots got better and better with each book. Barre delivers a perfect balance of suspense, action, and emotion in his books.

Wil Hardesty is a well-crafted, believable, interesting, and complex character. A middle-aged Vietnam vet and surfer P.I. with a lot of personal baggage - the loss of his son due to a surfing accident, subsequent drinking problem, and the crumbling of his twenty-plus year marriage. Wil is also a likable character as more and more about him and his background is revealed with each new book.

It was a bit of a wait for the latest installment, "Burning Moon", but again Barre does not disappoint. The story line is captivating and the writing is crisp and intelligent. This is a book about two Vietnamese brothers who make good in America, but on different sides of the law, and about a hierachy of rival Asian gangs fighting for control. A character from a previous book and Wil's past surfaces again, and at the end of "Burning Moon", the reader is hopeful about Hardesty's relationship with his ex-wife.

I am an avid reader of mysteries now and have read books by other excellent writers. If you enjoy Connelly, Lehane, Pelecanos, and Crais, to name a few, I highly recommend Barre. He definitely belongs in their league and deserves more kudos than he is getting. Hopefully, "Burning Moon" will not be the last time we get to read about Wil Hardesty, and I trust that the wait for the next book won't have to be as long.

Rating:
Summary: Welcome Back Wil!
Review: Once again Richard Barre displays his mastery over words. He's always used them sparingly, never more so than in Burning Moon. The style makes his novels easy to pick up and hard to put down. It's been years since the last installment in the Wil Hardesty series, and it's a joy to see him again.
When Jimmy Tien and his pregnant fiance are killed in a boating accident, Jimmy's father suspects foul play. He hires Wil to investigate the incident. Wil follows the trail, which becomes more and more complicated. Every answer he finds leads to another question. As in all the Hardesty books, Wil's past both haunt and comfort him.
One of the reasons I enjoy Barre's books so much is his ability to handle intricate plots. He weaves subplots into the story, and somehow manages to tie up all the loose ends by the last page. If you like intriguing characters, complex plots, and a few surprises, you will love Burning Moon.