Rating: 
Summary: For Detective Novels...This Is As Good As It Gets!
Review: A fascinating and unusual plot; never read anything like it before. Asked by a friend to investigate a list of names, the hero/detective of this novel finds that the people listed are dying - apparently by accident. None of the people are connected to one another. The man who gave the hero the list also dies in an "accident." You'll never predict the ending of this one. Novelist Ethan Black has a first rate imagination and writes very very well. The personal details of the detective's life are every bit as fascinating as the professional side. One helluva good read!!
Rating: 
Summary: Doctors Without Borders, Countries Without Borders
Review: All The Dead Were Strangers, By Ethan Black 12/28/01I felt lost in the first part of this book, it did not have good continuality, and if I had not read one of Ethan Black's earlier books where I became acquainted with the New York police detective Conrad Voort I wouldn't have finished it. But I'm glad I did, because the story came out alive in the middle of the book. It was interesting and alarming. It will give the reader a change to pick whose side he is on-the police's or the dark, very manipulative higher one, which may be one department or person, which reports to no one? I found the book interesting because of its obvious, before or after, connection to what happened on September 11 and what is happening now. Mr. Ethan Black was unquestionably thinking out of the box when he wrote that book. It is definitely worth three stars in spite of the characteristics of some of his characters, which appears to change during the book.
Rating: 
Summary: THRILLS, CHILLS...BUT...
Review: ALL THE DEAD WERE STRANGERS, the third in the Conrad Voort series, is an exceptionally well-written thriller, with an ingenuous plot and one of the strongest lead detectives in current fiction. Conrad Voort, believe it or not, is a moral man, who goes to church and prays asking God for help not only in his personal life, but also in his cases. And with this case, he finds himself looking for people on a list who may or may not be murdered, although their deaths have been made to look "accidental." His friend, Meechum, embroils him in this plot, and when Meecham disappears, Conrad and his reliable partner/friend, Mickie, try to stop an unbelievable terrorist type of plot.
Along the way, the hormone-driven Conrad falls hard for Dr. Jill Towne, one of the people on the list. Conrad's past relationship with Camilla (who lied about aborting their child)surfaces, and the book ends on a "what if.." type scenario.
The first third of the book is engrossing, although it tends to sag a little in some parts, becoming a little too talky, but it entertains. The ending seems somehow rushed and far-fetched, but you can't help but root for our hero, and hope the nasty villain gets his just desserts.
A top notch thriller, highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Topical and Timely
Review: As a mystery writer with my debut novel in its initial release, I love a solid thriller. ALL THE DEAD WERE STRANGERS is a solid thriller. Ethan Black's third novel (following THE BROKEN HEARTS CLUB and IRRESISTIBLE)deals with terrorism, the government's attempts to battle it, and a top-notch mystery story. Black's Conrad Voort, an NYPD detective, is passed a list of people around the country with connections to terrorism. Some are dead, perhaps murdered. Others include Dr. Jill Towne, with whom Voort becomes taken, and Frank Greene, who is hoping to blow up a nice chunk of New York City. A shadowy Saudi businessman/terrorist, Abu Bin Hussein, also plays a part in this story, as do numerous government operatives. Black has a well-plotted--topical and timely--story. His characters are well-drawn, and his writing is excellent. ALL THE DEAD WERE STRANGERS is an excellent suspense novel.
Rating: 
Summary: a real disappointment
Review: I loved his/her first two books so couldn't wait for this one and couldn't wait to finish it (or plod through!). There was little suspense. Loosely tied together and what did come together, one said, "Yeah, well so what...?" Too busy, too many characters that gave little to the continuity or substance to the story. Wonder what else he/she writes under other name(s)?
Rating:
Summary: Can't they at least get the guns right?
Review: I'm going to take out a long-restrained frustration on this single book: Can't mystery/suspense authors get someone knowledgeable to review their books to see if the guns they describe actually exist? This author refers to both a "Glock .38" and a "Browning .38." Neither weapon exists. Browning does make a couple versions of handguns in .380 ACP, but that's not the same thing. It drives me up a wall! I am willing to "suspend my disbelief" and become absorbed in a good story, but then comes that moment where the hero or villain pulls out a non-existent weapon and "poof"...I am shocked back to reality by the author's ignorance. Other than the author's complete and abysmal ignorance about firearms (every weapon used in the book is a ".38"...obviously the only caliber of which the author is aware, even though it is almost never used by modern law enforcement), the story is pretty good. Ethan (or whatever your real name is), go to a good gun shop!
Rating:
Summary: Evolution
Review: In the third entry in the Conrad Voort Detective series the pseudonomous Ethan Black has evolved as an author similiarly to the evolution of his detective hero. In this novel Conrad Voort last seen in The Broken Hearts Club and Irresistable, meets his childhood friend in a bar and recieves a list of names on a napkin. Bang like a shot the plot takes off with the speed of an assasin's bullet. Voort soon discover's that four of six names on the mysterious list have passed away in accident's, and after meeting a fifth name Dr. Jill Towne, he vows she won't be amongst the victims.
The author's writing has evolved (I repeat)as he more fully flushes out his protaganist's character. Voort breaks up with one love interest in previous novels over the issue of abortion. Cynic's will say the pairing of Jill and Conrad was predictable and Camilla was discarded conviently to make room for his character's new female interest. However, I debate that his struggles with relationships (without giving away whole story there is side issues with Jill too.) is what makes his hero so identifiable and human to the reader. Particularly in this novel his villians are never merely evil two dimensional bad guys, rather again vividly drawn character, all too human and real.
Ethan Black has also expanded the scope of his plotting in this recent entry, he imagines new challenges and cases for Voort to work on that takes him outside of standard Sex Crimes modus Operanti. This isn't thickest book on the market, yet the buyer definitely gets their money worth as each page is densely packed with characterization, plot and sub-plot. HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Rating:
Summary: Relevant
Review: The issues raised are even more interesting post 9/11. Some interesting characters will make me look for earlier entries in this series.
Rating:
Summary: The Best one yet
Review: This is the best one yet in the Ethan Black detective series. I read it in one sitting start to finish. Ethan Black is by far one of the best writers of our time. He draws you in and never lets you go. I can't wait for the next offering by this very talented writer.
Rating:
Summary: The Best one yet
Review: This is the best one yet in the Ethan Black detective series. I read it in one sitting start to finish. Ethan Black is by far one of the best writers of our time. He draws you in and never lets you go. I can't wait for the next offering by this very talented writer.
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