Rating: 
Summary: Perfect suspense
Review: Earl V. Pike tools along in his pristine Mercedes. An errant driver toys with him. But Pike holds his growing rage within . . . for now.
Carsten Stroud has written a perfect suspense novel. Pike is but the first of many well drawn characters who feel and sound real. There's Earl V. Pike. Jack Vermillion, parter in Black Water Transit, a shipping company. His partner Cheek Johnson. And more.
I don't like to describe plots and story lines because I feel it detracts from the pleasure of approaching a novel fresh, withoout a hint of what happens between the covers.
But I don't mind at all telling you that Stroud's characters are rich, his plots and sub-plots intense and believable and, most happily, every page compels you to read the next and the next.
Stroud is an absolute master and "Black Water Transit" is perfect suspense.
Jerry
Rating:
Summary: Question Authority
Review: As a mystery writer with my debut novel in its initial release, I am quite impressed by Carsten Stroud's BLACK WATER TRANSIT. The story centers on a successful businessman Jack Vermillion who has a son prison. He wants to help his son as much as he can, and he attempts to cut a deal with some law enforcement figures he shouldn't have trusted. He helps to set up a Federal bust of a client named Earl Pike for gunrunning, yet the attempted arrest results in Federal agents getting killed by a sniper. Vermillon, not Pike, finds himself charged in the shooting because a prosecutor wants to make his rep bringing down Vermillion and confiscating everything he owns under asset forfeiture laws. As Vermillion struggles with that situation, Casey Spandau, a police detective is attempting to uncover evidence in a frustratingly difficult to solve homicide case. Earl Pike is her prime suspect. Plot lines converge, and the good guys learn the importance of questioning authority. Stroud has written a fabulous thriller here with BLACK WATER TRANSIT.
Rating:
Summary: What a thriller!
Review: Black Water Transit by Carsten Stroud is a taut, nail biting thriller that I could not put down! (Yes, I know that it's cliche, but in this case it's true!)I do not normally read crime fiction, and only chose this book when I ran out of other reading material... I did not realize what I was getting into! Stroud is very witty and has a narrative style unlike I've ever read. He writes in such a way that you understand exactly what words sound like coming from the characters' mouths, and he captures the essence of internal thought and turmoil like they were your own thoughts. The action of this book is very fast-paced, and he endears you to the characters very quickly. The plot is sinuous and keeps you guessing until the very end. This book has everything from romance to the Mob, from bad-guys who turn good to good-guys who turn bad, and revenge coming out the wazoo (technical term)! I recommend this book to anyone!!
Rating:
Summary: A Must Read Mystery Thriller ...
Review: Black Water Transit by talented writer Carsten Stroud is a suspenseful thriller not to be missed-- A businessman is trying to fight his way out of a government frame up. This is one story that will not disappoint!
Rating:
Summary: Fast paced action drama
Review: Hard to believe that Stroud is the author of the nicely paced and beautifully written "Lizardskin." With "Blackwater Transit," Stroud seems to be relying as much on a quirky writing style as much as he is on plotting - so much so that his storytelling gets in the way of his storytelling. Call this a novel with an excess of style. Too bad.
Rating:
Summary: Just wonderful!
Review: I don't know how I missed Stroud's first two books, but I couldn't be happier that I did find Black Water Transit. Stroud is an enormously gifted writer, with exceptional plotting skills, a fine gift for characterization, and a Damon Runyonesque sense of humor. It takes a lot to make me laugh, but some of the observations (placed in darker moments, which makes them all the more laudable) had me merrily, appreciatively chortling away. Nothing in this book is predictable; none of the characters are cliched, but are original and entirely memorable. There's not a wasted word; there's no unnecessary padding. The narrative takes off in high gear and never lets up for a moment. This is a book not to be missed! I'm now off to order Close Pursuit and Sniper's Moon.
Most highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Stylish, Gritty
Review: I loved Stroud's book and thought Black Water Transit was one of the most original plots that I have read in a long time. Jack Vermilion, the main character is successful businessman and the owner of Black Water Systems a shipping company. He enjoys the sucesses of his life except for his dissapointing son, Danny, a thief and drug addict. In federal prison, Danny calls and begs for help. In an effort to help his son, Jack turns informant on a client, Earl Pike, who wants to ship some guns to Mexico. When feds move in to yank the shipment, several agents are killed and of course Jack is blamed and not Pike. Pike, a former army colonel and sniper feels he has been betrayed by Jack and starts his own personal vendetta. The edgy writing of the story gives it the added substance that some writers lack. The characters were razor-sharp and very believable. This is the type of book that you won't want to put down until you are finished. Although, I initially had some problems with going back and forth in the chapters with the different story lines and characters, in the long run it was one hell of a read!...
Rating:
Summary: Blazingly fast paced, muscular narrative
Review: Just a straight-ahead "guys book", with fast moving plot and guns aplenty. At times violent, at times funny, the book just keeps going. It was a fairly complicated plot, but told very clearly with short sections so it was easy to follow.
Rating:
Summary: Wow
Review: This fellow can write. This book makes even Thanksgiving with your inlaws bearable. It is funny, poignent, and irresitable. The characters are real, you will feel their pain. I just wish dialogue in real life was quite as apt. Five stars, a terrific book.
Rating:
Summary: A nailbiter of a story
Review: You hear this a lot in book reviews, but this is a novel that you need to prepare to read in one sitting. The author ties together several subplots to weave a very taut, exciting story. There is plenty of action, good character development and a sense of intrigue that keeps you reading just to find out what happens next. This is one of the best police novels I have read in quite awhile. Although somewhat violent, it all feeds the plot line quite well without being gratuitous. I highly recommend this book.
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