Blown Away

Rating:
Summary: New Discovery
Review: I've just discovered John Becker and David Wiltse (where have I been?)and what a fortuitous discovery it is! If John Becker is not the most fascinating, complicated, sexy, clever, dangerous--and most interestingly of all--oddly virtuous character in this whole genre, I don't know of any other contenders that even come close. His villains may be be even better. Evil enough even for Dubya's list, but tantalizingly human as well. Most exciting of all for me as a reader is the author's command of the language. The words, the words! This is a genuine writer, not just a potboiler. If Blown Away is any example, I'm going to have a wonderful time with the rest of Mr. Wiltse's work.

Rating:
Summary: If you liked Wiltse before, he doesn't disappoint
Review: I've read and loved all of David Wiltse's Becker novels, so I would have probably loved this one no matter how bad it was. Luckily, there was enough action and dialogue to keep me entertained throughout the book. The only problem I have with his later novels is that Wiltse has been making Becker too witty and light, forgetting how tormented he usually is when on the hunt. The humor's always a nice counterpoint to the psychos though, so the light tone works effectively in this book.

Rating:
Summary: Exceptional
Review: Since this book is several years old, I won't bother with a precis of the plot, that having been done by others. But I do want to say how happily I was struck by the author's use of character. That's an ingredient missing all too often in crime fiction. Sure, the plot is twisting and involving and there is plenty of tension, etc, but, almost uniquely, it is all performed by some very real, very complicated characters. I found it quite exceptional.