Death Rites

Rating:
Summary: Shallow Characters, Shallow Plot
Review: Elliot is a former screen writer, and this book is like reading a made for TV movie. The character development left me not caring for the people involved, and the plot bounced all over the place, often without good reason. Elliot relies on greasy hair to vilify one character, and good looks to let us know if a character is a "good guy". Touch, (the main character) is a man conflicted by the death of his bi-polar wife two years ago. This a great base for personal growth and insight of the lead character. Instead, Elliot turns Touch into a macho, drinking tough guy, who somehow is justified in things like fighting on an LA freeway and lying to protect people he likes. Generally is a bad version of Mel Gibson's character in Lethal Weapon.
The only reason I read this book, is so you don't have to.

Rating:
Summary: Shallow Characters, Shallow Plot
Review: Elliot is a former screen writer, and this book is like reading a made for TV movie. The character development left me not caring for the people involved, and the plot bounced all over the place, often without good reason. Elliot relies on greasy hair to vilify one character, and good looks to let us know if a character is a "good guy". Touch, (the main character) is a man conflicted by the death of his bi-polar wife two years ago. This a great base for personal growth and insight of the lead character. Instead, Elliot turns Touch into a macho, drinking tough guy, who somehow is justified in things like fighting on an LA freeway and lying to protect people he likes. Generally is a bad version of Mel Gibson's character in Lethal Weapon.
The only reason I read this book, is so you don't have to.

Rating:
Summary: Hang On For A Wild Ride
Review: Having read Still Life last summer and loving it, I was very much looking forward to Bruce Elliot's next book. It was a smart move to use his Still Life hero, Touch Benson, in this amazing book. In Death Rites, Touch is on a case that defies logic, and once again one of the chief suspects is his high school friend and now near-lover, Michelle, who seems to be predicting the murders through her dreams.

Nothing is what it seems in this book, which makes for an exciting and fascinating read, and I highly recommend that you read Still Life first, then Death Rites. Touch Benson is a great character and should be good for a long run!

Rating:
Summary: Hang On For A Wild Ride
Review: Mr Elliot continues to show his wonderful imagination with "Death Rites". Elliot writes in a very descriptive manner making one feel they are a part of the story. The pace is fast, pulling you along in its wake until you realize you have reached the end of the book!

Rating:
Summary: Solid, hard to put down; by the author of PRESSURE POINTS
Review: Witty, saucy prose, served with a healthy dollop of attitude, contributes toward this book's strongest attribute -- you can't stop reading it. Despite a feeling that you've been here before, and a few "oh please" contrivances, you simply must keep going to find out what happens. Nonetheless, the main reason I didn't rate this book a "5" is because the primary characters (not to mention the plot) tend to lean toward primetime-TV cliches -- the sad, recovering quasi-alcoholic ex-jock cop hero, his grouchy lieutenant boss in need of a chill pill, the whacko psychotic killer into whose mind we get a frightening peek. Rather than imitate the genre (note to author: there's too many Patterson wannabes in the game already), Elliot should use his considerable talent and skill to take us somewhere new. Here's hoping.

Rating:
Summary: Solid, hard to put down; by the author of PRESSURE POINTS
Review: Witty, saucy prose, served with a healthy dollop of attitude, contributes toward this book's strongest attribute -- you can't stop reading it. Despite a feeling that you've been here before, and a few "oh please" contrivances, you simply must keep going to find out what happens. Nonetheless, the main reason I didn't rate this book a "5" is because the primary characters (not to mention the plot) tend to lean toward primetime-TV cliches -- the sad, recovering quasi-alcoholic ex-jock cop hero, his grouchy lieutenant boss in need of a chill pill, the whacko psychotic killer into whose mind we get a frightening peek. Rather than imitate the genre (note to author: there's too many Patterson wannabes in the game already), Elliot should use his considerable talent and skill to take us somewhere new. Here's hoping.