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Title: A Killing Frost (Five Star First Edition Mystery Series) by Michael A. Black ISBN: 0-7862-4309-0 Publisher: Five Star Pub. Date: September, 2002 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.4
Rating: 4
Summary: A Great First Novel
Comment: "A Killing Frost" is a fun read. If you don't want anything to heavy and are into the Robert B. Parker style of gumshoe, you will definitely enjoy Michael Blacks' introdcution to Ron Shade, detective and martial artist.
The story, like all good detective novels, is written in the first person. Ron Shade is a former SWAT team member and martial artist, currently attempting to win the world heavyweight kickboxing title. The story is simple and fairly straight forward (Really just a missing person case) and therefore highly believable. Black's understanding of police procedure and his in depth knowledge of the feelings that a fighter has while he trains are very entertaining. There is a nice romance underlying the main story that keeps the reader caring about the characters. Also, the descriptions of Chicago and the surrounding suburbs are right on the nut.
This book was definitely worth the money spent. Hopefully we haven't seen the last of Michael Black.
Rating: 4
Summary: Almost 5 stars
Comment: Black is a confident writer with a take charge attitude. He doesn't waste too many pages setting up his characters, explaining their relationships to each other or any subtle clues on when or where the mystery will occur. Instead he gives us a character who is original yet funny but has had his share of bad luck. Ron grew up in Chicago and had a rough childhood. An older cop took him under his wing and convinced to serve in the army. Upon his return he joined the men in blue in protecting the rough streets of Chicago while on duty one day something goes wrong and he is no longer a cop. The author hasn't fully told this story but his friends are sympathetic to him as he begins a career as a private detective. While all this is going on, he is also working out for a fight in the ring where boxing and kick boxing is combined into an event. His current case is for an old friend who is trying to locate a missing fiancee. As Ron works the case, he learns that Carlos uncovered a dirty secret for the company he was employed. Black uses an old plot of a company doing deceitful things and hiding under dummy corporation to fly under the radar of the government. The originality comes from the way Black uses action to propel the plot to the end. I figured
out early on what the secret was but by that time I wanted to see how Ron would figure it all out. And Ron works hard to apprehend the persons in the company he rubs the investigator on the case the wrong way and ends up solving the case his way. If you like Myron ( Harlan Coben ) or Elvis ( Robert Crais) or even Patrick ( Dennis Lehane) give this new author a chance. He will be a master storyteller like Connelly soon.
Rating: 5
Summary: A Killer Read
Comment: You know how it goes: most times when a friend or relative or coworker raves about a new book (or movie or TV show), it doesn't add up to the expectations built up around all the hype. But sometimes it is as good as you've heard, and it's those special times that keep you going back for more, searching the new talent pool that will amaze and delight you. A KILLING FROST by Michael A. Black is one of those even rarer treats, a book that's even BETTER than you've heard.
Simply put: I couldn't put the book down. Will Private Eye Ron Shade discover what happened to Carlos? Will the relationship with Maria blossom into something more? Will Shade regain his kickboxing title? And will Shade survive the breathtaking climax to reveal the murderous political corruption underlying everything about Space Oddities? The plots and subplots are woven so seamlessly and intricately that it simply isn't possible to set the book aside without wondering what will happen next. And so you find yourself saying, "Oh, I'll just read one more chapter," until you suddenly realize you've read the whole thing. It's that good.
One of my favorite things about the novel is Shade's relationship with Maria. I can't tell you how tired I am of reading PI novels where the "dolls" exist only to gush "My hero" or the sexy dame turns out to be the true murderer. Black sweeps all that silliness aside by showing Maria as a complex woman with her own identity and life. Their relationship is wonderfully romantic while still being true to each of their own issues and concerns of real life.
Best of all, Black reminds us that a car is just a car and a kickboxing title is just a title, but making the best of what you have and being true to yourself and your ideals in the search for truth and justice is what truly makes a man. And when all is said and done, the only question remaining at the end of the novel is: "When's the next one coming out?!"
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Title: Cold Pursuit by T. Jefferson Parker ISBN: 0786868058 Publisher: Hyperion Press Pub. Date: April, 2003 List Price(USD): $23.95 |
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Title: Last Car to Elysian Fields: A Novel by James Lee Burke ISBN: 0743245423 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Pub. Date: 30 September, 2003 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: Street Level by Bob Truluck ISBN: 031226626X Publisher: St. Martin's Minotaur Pub. Date: September, 1900 List Price(USD): $22.95 |
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Title: The Last Detective by Robert Crais ISBN: 0385504268 Publisher: Doubleday Pub. Date: 18 February, 2003 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: Shutter Island: A Novel by Dennis Lehane ISBN: 0688163173 Publisher: William Morrow Pub. Date: 15 April, 2003 List Price(USD): $25.95 |
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