Beyond Recognition

Rating:
Summary: Grabs you right away.
Review: "Beyond Recognition" by Ridley Pearson accelerates from the first page, and with the exception of a lull at the midway point moves at a nonstop pace.

The lull is caused by a couple of scenes being too drawn out and what I felt a weaker subplot.

The story is riveting when the action revolves around the investigation of the Seattle serial arsonist and the interaction between Lou Boldt, Daphne Matthews and their team. The characters (on both sides of the law) are well developed and most credible.

Mr. Pearson did a couple of years of research on this one and it shows. It is based on an actual Seattle arson case and the procedural and technical aspects really ring true.

Seattle comes to life on every page with wonderful descriptive passages.

This is a terrific series and Mr. Pearson is masterful at forensic detail, without making it tedious. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: BOOK BEST OF ITS KIND
Review: "Beyond Recognition" is the best mystery I have ever read. Believe me, I have read all the popular mystery authors, but I have never read such a powerful, suspenseful book. This is the author's fourth book, and the characters keep developing until you feel as you know them personally. I was amazed at all the twists and turns in the book. Usually I figure out things that will happen in each book I read, but not this one. It will keep you guessing until the last page, trust me.

If you are looking for a book that will captivate you, this is the mystery for you. It should be required reading for all mystery addicts! Get this one; you won't be sorry!

Rating:
Summary: WHOOOOOOM!
Review: Beyond Recognition blows open in a firing inferno. One house after another after another is consumed by sky roaring flames. Sgt. Lou Boldt's job is to find the arsonist/s and restore Seattle, Washington to peace. He becomes involved as a policeman because each fire was set to kill off single moms. The fire departments involved had no clue as to why the fires were started or who might have been involved in setting the fires.

Thanks to police psycologist, Daphanie Matthews, and several other faithful policemen like Lts. LaMoia, Neil Bahan and Bernie Lofgrin the arsonist/s are snuffed out. But before that happens, little 12-year-old, Ben Santori plays a key role in sniffing out the criminal/s. Ben was a victim of assaults and abuse by his stepfather and in his(Ben's) attempt to get free of his stepfather he encounters the arsonist who is not much older than himself.

Prepare yourself for a lot of suspense, surprise and mystery. Also prepare to learn about the various types of ways fires can be started and how fire marshalls determine exactly where and how fires are started in buildings. You will be amazed at the technical information involved in those types of determinations.

So, do read this book which is one in a series of the Boldt/Matthews mysteries.

Rating:
Summary: What a book!!!! What a leading man!!!! What a writer!!!
Review: I discovered Lou Boldt and Ridley Pearson in The Angel Maker. I am now reading the series and "Beyond Recognition" does not disappoint. Pearson writes such a believable detective. He is not just a "stud" or just a "hard-nose" or one dimmensional in any way. He is the total package. Not just that, but the stories themselves are so involving. This book really has it all. Characters. Dialogue. Driving plot. Twists and turns. Human element. Suspense. Surprise. Pearson delivers the whole meal right down to the cherry on top. I cannot wait to read the rest of the Boldt/Matthews series to see what he has in store for me next.

Rating:
Summary: A let-down
Review: Ridley Pearson has been called the best of the "thriller" writers and he IS GOOD. Good characters, good plot, superior writing; Pearson has it all. Unfortunately he wrote a novel here that is too long for the plot. It gets tedious because the author STRETCHED the plot and spent much too much verbiage on a non-essential sub-plot of a troubled child. That is the only thing that stopped my giving this book five stars. If you are a reader of this genre, it is well worth your time. Tip: skip over a lot of the child stuff; you won't miss a thing.

Rating:
Summary: Overwrought
Review: Sgt. Boldt plunges right into a frightening case full of the fear of fatally frying in fire, friends and foes alike. "Overwrought" for a Pearson novel, that is (Sgt. Boldt is immediately panicked by a nasty arson case but his reaction hardly seems initially [or finally] justifiable on the evidence presented). The story still doesn't hold a candle to the recent excesses of psycho-mystery writers Cornwall or Patterson. While Boldt and his devoted police psychologist Daphne Matthews are fully rounded characters, here they surely do have more than their fair share of personal problems, marriages threatening to break up amid other disasters of child abuse, disappearence, and psychic mummery. Several times you think Boldt has found his man, but then Pearson adds another jolting twist and the chase resumes. At times it is truly intense and thrilling.
The plot has a parallel story structure, but we see not the criminal, who is very well hidden, but a poor boy dreadfully afraid to leave his extraordinarily abusive father. Pearson has a wonderful ability to make a small observation-like a cleaned window-develop into bone-chilling significance. There are many fine moments here despite a story that starts too fast and ends too tamely.

Rating:
Summary: Knocked my socks off --
Review: This book really grabbed me and hauled me into the book before I was past page 5. I was so involved in the solving of this case that I had trouble monitoring my loads of laundry so that everything was wrinkled beyond recognition from the dryer. You will love this book!

Rating:
Summary: Another great one in the Lou Boldt series by Pearson
Review: This fourth book in Pearson's Seattle based detective novel, BEYOND RECOGNITION, kept me hook from the very first chapter. For anyone who calls the Pacific Northwest home, Pearson's books are realistic. It was difficult to second guess each new turn and twist Pearson has planned for Lou Bodt and Daphne Matthews. His continued development of character personalities is great. The characters grow with each new book and there is just the right mix of new people too. The aronist angle was well developed and believable. The only complaint is the book was to long, much longer than his earlier books. I would have enjoyed BEYOND RECOGNITION if it had been about 75% of the pages. Still I would recommend the entire series to everyone living the Pacific Northwest.

Rating:
Summary: GOOD BUT LONG!!!!!!!!
Review: This is the fourth Pearson book I have read. As in the first three the characters are great. I like Lou Boldt and Daphne Matthews. If Boldt does become a Lieutenant I don't think it will be as good. The character of Ben was very good. Would like to see him again as he grows up. Lets you use your imagination, you can just see the things as they happen. My reason for a three was the length of the book. Paper back--644 pages. I nearly put it down several times because I was past ready for it to be over. A lot of thought and feeling could have been left out. In my humble openion around 400 to 425 pages is plenty. If you like a good mystery that is very looooonnnnnng. You will like this.

Rating:
Summary: His best book yet!
Review: Throughout his Lou Boldt series - Ridley Pearson has captured the soul and essence of what it's like to be a detective searching frantically for a serial killer - this time a homicidal arsonist. From the time you pick up the book, Pearson grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go til the last page. He creates a web of characters and plots and brings them together in a wonderfully crafted story. Pearson doesn't getted bogged down in technical terms - giving just enough explanation to make his point. One of the best books I've read this year by far!