Echoes of Lies

Rating:
Summary: a very challenging read
Review: "Echoes of Lies" by Jo Bannister is a very challenging book to read. At least it was for me. From very nearly the beginning, Bannister challenged every concept I had on the notions of justice, law, retribution and forgiveness. Jo Bannister really pushed the envelop with this novel.

The plot has already been reviewed rather well, and to discuss it any more would give away plot developments that could spoil things for those who haven't yet read this 'must read' novel. So, I'll stick to what I liked about "Echoes of Lies." The solution to the criminal act of who tortured Daniel Hood, and why is resolved a quarter way through the book. This leads private detective Brodie Farrell and Daniel to another crime and another innocent whose life is at stake. And the identity of the mastermind behind that crime was quite easy to guess as well. No, it's not the crimes or how Daniel and Brodie arrive at the solutions of these crimes that makes this book such compelling reading, but rather the manner in which Bannister makes the reader examine concepts such as punishment of the crime, justice, retribution and revenge. Daniel, the victim of torture, is a character that many will seldom come across, whether in fiction or in real life. The question that nagged at me while I read this book -- is Daniel doing the right thing? -- haunted me even after I had finished the book. This is a book that makes you think and question the accepted social mores about justice and retribution. And is what ultimately makes "Echoes of Lies" such compelling reading.

Bannister did an excellent job in the pacing and execution of the novel -- each new development in the mystery led to an even deeper one. And I liked the manner in which Bannister made each new incident development in the mystery result in the 'fleshing out' of characters as well as insights into their motives.

"Echoes in Lies" is an excellent read. I finished the book in one go -- I simply couldn't put it down. It's not quite the traditional mystery novel, but is a great read nonetheless. Here's my advice: run (don't walk) to your nearest library/bookstore and get this book!

Rating:
Summary: The start of a refreshing new mystey series
Review: Following her divorce, Brodie Farrell opens up the Look For Something? Shop. Brodie takes on clients seeking to find things or people. When a woman asks Brodie to find a man, she agrees to accept the case because the client insists the person in the picture conned her out of money. A few days later, Brodie locates the mark and provides the information to her customer.

Not long after completing her assignment, Brodie sees a picture of the man she found accompanied by an article in which the newspaper states he was tortured and killed. Brodie admits to the police her role in the victim's death only to learn he remains alive in a hospital under watch. She asks for absolution and receives it from the victim and soon Brodie and Daniel become friends, joining forces to track down the person who hired her. Soon the plot thickens as they find the torturers who thought Daniel was part of a scheme to kidnap a child.

This novel is quite different than the Castlemane series, but remains a solid tale. Brodie and Daniel are interesting characters with strong moral cores that takes them outside the law to do what each one feels is right. ECHOES OF LIES is a combination character story packed inside a Bond-like thriller.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Terrible
Review: I had high hopes for this book. The first few pages really draw you in and make you think you're in for a great mystery. Little did I know that was the best it was going to get and I should've stopped there. Within the first few chapters we learn who hurt Daniel Hood and why. The rest of the book is mainly devoted to Daniel's strange sense of acceptance/forgiveness of his tormentors which goes so far as to include his constant "lying" to the Detective investigating the case. Even more inexplicable, is Brodie Farrel going along with it. I kept wondering who was more pathetic...Daniel Hood or me for continuing to read this dreck.

Rating:
Summary: Terrible
Review: I had high hopes for this book. The first few pages really draw you in and make you think you're in for a great mystery. Little did I know that was the best it was going to get and I should've stopped there. Within the first few chapters we learn who hurt Daniel Hood and why. The rest of the book is mainly devoted to Daniel's strange sense of acceptance/forgiveness of his tormentors which goes so far as to include his constant "lying" to the Detective investigating the case. Even more inexplicable, is Brodie Farrel going along with it. I kept wondering who was more pathetic...Daniel Hood or me for continuing to read this dreck.

Rating:
Summary: More than a thriller...
Review: It would be easy to categorize "Echos of Lies" a 'thriller' or a good mystery, but to do so would be to take the easy way out. Jo Bannister's novel certainly fits those superficial descriptions--in fact, it rates most highly in the suspense department. But in all fairness to the author, there is much more going on here. "Echos of Lies" is an examination of lies, and lies about lies. Not only is the kidnapping of a young child a lie, all of the relationships which surround Sophie are filled with untruths and pain. And each of the characters who participates in her rescue must create their own deceptions and wrestle with the question of the destructive nature of truth. When should they lie? When is it better to tell a half-truth, or no truth at all? At the beginning of the novel, Daniel Hood is tortured relentlessly for information: the first words he speaks in chapter one are "I don't know...".

And he doesn't know. Miraculously, he survives physically, and confronts his torturers. Miraculously, he unravels the mysteris surrounding kidnapping and death. And at the end, the truth is too destructive to be told. The last sentence of the book is Daniel's lie to the police inspector: "No," he lied. "She never knew, and I never told her."

This book is truly good writing. More than just a challenging read or a thriller, it contains a penetrating depth of thought which makes it intellectually satisfying as well.

Rating:
Summary: Great novel, highly addictive.
Review: The title says it all. The resolution to the novel is not what you expect! My favorite character is Daniel Hood and while at times his actions seem to suspend belief, you feel for this character and want to root him on.

Brodie is a great character as well. I wish there was more info about her but you're revealed yummy carrots, enough to grow attach to her as well.

Only problem I had with this book was the fact it makes me want to read more! :)

Rating:
Summary: starts great but blows up in middle and end
Review: When the great reviewer Penzler (see Editorial Reviews above) says the book requires "fair suspension of disbelief" you know there is a major problem. How could anyone give this book five stars--don't they know what good crime literature can be? Let me tell you the names of some good writers that can tell a story: Christie, Sayers, Bruce Alexander, Laurie King, etc.

This author starts out with a bang, describing a horrible torture, and in the second chapter we meet a really interesting lady character who finds things. But the story blows up when the two main characters (Brodie and Daniel) figure out who perpetrates this crime and goes on to confront the criminals rather than inform the police--are they crazy? Brodie has a four year old daughter who is in danger from this kind of thinking. Yah, there is a policeman but he is treated as an idiot by the main characters. The pangs of conscience of Daniel to the people that hurt him are completely unbelievable, and in the real world they would have easily killed him when he confronted them with only Brodie at his side.

At the end of the book, Daniel's stupidly almost gets him killed (again), but the author throws in the unexpected miracle that saves the day. This is the same problem that the Scarpeta stories (Patricia Cornwell) and innumerable other bad authors share with Jo Bannister--it is always this miracle. Bad people when cornered will continue to do bad things. It is not fair to throw in at the last minute some special circumstance that saves the hero--this is just not believable.

There are lots of good ideas and character development in this book--this author should be capable of solid detective writing without resorting to cheap tricks. This is the first book of hers that I have read, but I am not going to read any others.

Rating:
Summary: starts great but blows up in middle and end
Review: When the great reviewer Penzler (see Editorial Reviews above) says the book requires "fair suspension of disbelief" you know there is a major problem. How could anyone give this book five stars--don't they know what good crime literature can be? Let me tell you the names of some good writers that can tell a story: Christie, Sayers, Bruce Alexander, Laurie King, etc.

This author starts out with a bang, describing a horrible torture, and in the second chapter we meet a really interesting lady character who finds things. But the story blows up when the two main characters (Brodie and Daniel) figure out who perpetrates this crime and goes on to confront the criminals rather than inform the police--are they crazy? Brodie has a four year old daughter who is in danger from this kind of thinking. Yah, there is a policeman but he is treated as an idiot by the main characters. The pangs of conscience of Daniel to the people that hurt him are completely unbelievable, and in the real world they would have easily killed him when he confronted them with only Brodie at his side.

At the end of the book, Daniel's stupidly almost gets him killed (again), but the author throws in the unexpected miracle that saves the day. This is the same problem that the Scarpeta stories (Patricia Cornwell) and innumerable other bad authors share with Jo Bannister--it is always this miracle. Bad people when cornered will continue to do bad things. It is not fair to throw in at the last minute some special circumstance that saves the hero--this is just not believable.

There are lots of good ideas and character development in this book--this author should be capable of solid detective writing without resorting to cheap tricks. This is the first book of hers that I have read, but I am not going to read any others.