The Pale Green Horse (J.J. Donavan Mysteries)

Rating:
Summary: Another solid mystery from Leahey
Review: It begins with a mistake. A courier is supposed to deliver an envelope to one man, but mistakenly gives it to another. The man who was supposed to receive it is Johnny St. John, a demon in human form with long, flowing, blue-white hair. The man who recieves it instead is Dr. Boris Koulomzin, the irrascible, bear-like genius, and partner to J. J. Donovan.

Consultants Donovan and Koulomzin (who first appeared in "Broken Machines") return in this intriguing mystery about a psychotic who fancies himself "the Right Hand of God" (the aforementioned St. John) -- and who thinks that terminal patients aren't dying fast enough.

Michael I. Leahey remains a promising talent in the mystery genre. He has intriguing ideas, a way with character, and an ear for dialogue. He has topped his excellent debut with this even-better followup. In the mystery world, cookie cutter PIs are a dime a dozen. These two unlikely investigators go beyond that to become interesting, likeable, and believable characters; an excellent pair to build a series around.

Well done!

Reviewed by David Montgomery, MysteryInkOnline.com

Rating:
Summary: Sophisticated, Supple and Very Satisfying
Review: Like a fine wine, Michael Leahey's second book, shows a maturity which provides wonderful structure and a breathtaking finish. A book to savor and enjoy even though you will be tempted to take it all in in one sitting. "The Pale Green Horse" will be a classic mystery book for this year and for years to come.

Rating:
Summary: Fine Noir
Review: My barometer for judging any work of fiction is simple...
Does it make me want to keep reading? The
answer here is a resounding Yes! The Pale Green
Horse possesses all the elements that make up
great noir...a cast of colorful characters (including
a pip of a villian), a plot that keeps you guessing, and
a solid, steady pace that never lets up.
From its prologue, to its Hitchcockian ending, this tale will keep you turning pages well into the night.
Buy this book , sit back, and enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: Fine Noir
Review: My barometer for judging any work of fiction is simple...
Does it make me want to keep reading? The
answer here is a resounding Yes! The Pale Green
Horse possesses all the elements that make up
great noir...a cast of colorful characters (including
a pip of a villian), a plot that keeps you guessing, and
a solid, steady pace that never lets up.
From its prologue, to its Hitchcockian ending, this tale will keep you turning pages well into the night.
Buy this book , sit back, and enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: A welcome return of JJ & Boris
Review: My, my but the Publishers Weekly reviewers are cranky lately--commenting on promotional material over which authors rarely, if ever, have any control; and entirely missing the point of this book. This is entertainment; as in Broken Machines, JJ and Boris and their various henchmen, including the ever stalwart Manny are in fine form. Boris is somewhat crankier than usual, due to some nasty injuries; the phobic, funny, ever-romantic JJ still loves the winsome Kate. Killings abound; there's a bad guy in town. The underlying motive behind those killings is well-conceived and timely. There's a breathtaking climax on the Queensborough Bridge. What's not to like? And any writer who can give a dog character has a lot going for him.

Ignore the cranky trade reviewers and get this book. It moves like lightning; it's humorous, populated with a great cast, and doesn't have a mean bone in its body--which is more than can be said for some of the people out there being paid to write reviews about books, not about the promotional packages they come in.
Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: JJ and Boris are at it again
Review: The story gallops along at a good pace and is populated by interesting characters. There are some sections with such crisp dialogue and plot development that I had to stop and reread them to savor the scenes once again. In the latter part of the book, we get some fascinating new insights into JJ Donovan the man. Nuff said.

Rating:
Summary: Breakneck Speed; Excellent dialogue
Review: This book is more than fast-paced--it is at breakneck speed. Maurice Green would like the pace. The author certainly has a way with dialogue. Possessing an excellent ear(as Monet was said to have a great eye), the dialogue is crisp. Like Fredrick Henry in Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms, it seems that J. J. Donovan provides a good window into the author's real thoughts.

Rating:
Summary: Unrealistic at best, boring as well....
Review: Thought I'd try a new author of medical thrillers. Was I ever disappointed. First off, this author seems to know next to
nothing about the reality of hospitals and the role of nurses.
A DOCTOR administering a Demerol shot in a hospital???? PLEASE. Where does this guy get his inaccurate information? Also, a nurse would NEVER leave pills with a patient -- it is his/her job to administer them personally so that it can be documented on the chart -- a legal record.
I hate it when authors get small facts wrong, tells me they are lazy and makes the book totally flop for me.
As for the plot.....well, there's another problem.
Don't waste your money on this one.

Rating:
Summary: Move over Travis McGee, JJ Donovan's on the case
Review: Welcome back to JJ and Boris! There aren't nearly enough charming "windmill tilters" in the world these days, and JJ is just what the doctor ordered. Starting in the magnificent temple of baseball, Yankee Stadium, as Boris is inadvertantly drawn into the mystery, right up to the thrilling scene atop the Queensborough Bridge, this story is a pulse-pounding ride through New York. Along with our heroes JJ and Boris, we get to reunite with Manny Santos, Kate Byrne, and the other great characters from Broken Machines. But in The Pale Green Horse, there are some great additions to the cast: NYPD's solid and dependable Lt.Gavin, genial saloon keeper Peter Walsh, the toothpick spitting Det.Sweeney, a cop you'd like to see get smacked around, and of course the horrifyingly evil and psychotically inspired villain, Johnny St. John.
When I finally got around to reading Michael I. Leahey's second JJ Donovan tale, The Pale Green Horse, I was sorry I waited so long to treat myself. Those of us who love to discover a great series of exciting mystery/detective novels with a truly engaging hero are in luck. Hopefully, Mr. Leahey will continue to delight us. The only drawback of course is that there are only two available so far. When I first stumbled onto John D.McDonald's series of Travis McGee stories, he'd already written all but the last three. So now alas, I must patiently await Boris and JJ's next adventure along with everyone else. Write 'em faster dammit!

Rating:
Summary: interesting serial killer tale
Review: While James Joseph "JJ" Donovan was enjoying his vacation with his ex-wife in the Virgin Islands, his partner, Dr. Boris Koulomzin attends a Yankees game when he mistakenly receives a manila envelope. However, the messenger must have changed his mind because following the game, he tries to kill Boris. JJ returns home to a badly, battered and frightened Boris because the content of the envelope describes the work of a serial killer.

Johnny St. John believes God has assigned him to provide salvation by delivering the very sick. Johnny does his task so well, killing people that JJ fears for Boris' life. JJ decides to go after this self-anointed mercy angel even though his actions place him in peril from a brilliant but twisted right hand of God.

THE PALE GREEN HORSE is an interesting serial killer tale that uses medical science and the streets of New York to add a deep authentic chill to the plot. The story line is action-packed due to a rising death count, but the solution feels more like the air let out of a balloon. The cynical hard-boiled JJ is a fun character to follow as he seeks clues to the whereabouts of the culprit before Boris joins the death list. Johnny is a fascinating villain, as he believes in what he is doing, yet at times seems too theatrical in accomplishing his "heavenly deeds". Though not as smooth as BROKEN MACHINES, THE PALE GREEN HORSE provides a complex intriguing tale that will garner Michael I. Leahey new readers and satisfy his previous fans.

Harriet Klausner