Helpful Score: 3
Though this was a good read and I don't regret having picked it up, ultimately there was just something.... lacking. The premise is obviously a gripping one - child disappears while on paper route and the parents' attempts, with the help of PI Frank Behr, to find out what happened - but the way it unfolds is rushed and somewhat hackneyed (perhaps reflecting the author's screenwriting background).
The early scenes between the husband and wife post disappearance are well done, but later scenes with just the wife come across as afterthoughts or throwaways. As does, in fact, the presence of many of the secondary characters, especially Behr's former boss at the police department. It was as if Levien was following some formula that "required" there to be a petty, semi-competent, vindictive authority figure for his lead to bang heads with. The romantic aside was equally by-the-numbers and forced. If this is indeed to be a series, there will be more than enough time to delve into Behr's romantic / social life.
Frank Behr definitely has promise as a series lead, but I believe the gushing comparisons reviewers have been making to Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch and Robert Crais' Elvis Cole are a bit premature. A better comparison in my opinion would be Lee Child's Jack Reacher (complete with Behr's 6'6" size), though Behr has in no way proven himself (yet) to be as emotionally complex or intellectually sharp as Reacher.
The bottom line is that Behr simply did not have enough of a chance to shine in this book, with the secondary characters taking up more space than necessary, at the expense of Behr's development. I hope next time out Levien trims the excess character baggage and lets us really get to know our intended hero.
The early scenes between the husband and wife post disappearance are well done, but later scenes with just the wife come across as afterthoughts or throwaways. As does, in fact, the presence of many of the secondary characters, especially Behr's former boss at the police department. It was as if Levien was following some formula that "required" there to be a petty, semi-competent, vindictive authority figure for his lead to bang heads with. The romantic aside was equally by-the-numbers and forced. If this is indeed to be a series, there will be more than enough time to delve into Behr's romantic / social life.
Frank Behr definitely has promise as a series lead, but I believe the gushing comparisons reviewers have been making to Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch and Robert Crais' Elvis Cole are a bit premature. A better comparison in my opinion would be Lee Child's Jack Reacher (complete with Behr's 6'6" size), though Behr has in no way proven himself (yet) to be as emotionally complex or intellectually sharp as Reacher.
The bottom line is that Behr simply did not have enough of a chance to shine in this book, with the secondary characters taking up more space than necessary, at the expense of Behr's development. I hope next time out Levien trims the excess character baggage and lets us really get to know our intended hero.
Helpful Score: 2
This book is phenomenal yet heart-wrenching. The subject matter is a tough sell especially if you have children but the way Levien handles the subject and how engaging the characters are, pulls you into the story. I could not put this book down !
Helpful Score: 2
This was an EXCELLENT thriller! I haven't previously read anything by David Levien, but I'm going to check out and see if he has any other titles.
I was a little leery of the story at first, since it deals with the disappearance of a child, but the characters are so real and engaging that I was quickly sucked into the story.
This is a read that kept me up late to finish it, and I highly recommend it!
I was a little leery of the story at first, since it deals with the disappearance of a child, but the characters are so real and engaging that I was quickly sucked into the story.
This is a read that kept me up late to finish it, and I highly recommend it!
Helpful Score: 2
This is one of those unusual books you can't put down, yet you don't want it to end. The action is fast-paced, the suspense builds by the chapter, and there are complex, very real characters you come to care about. I'm delighted to discover this author, and will be looking for more from him.
Helpful Score: 1
This is one of the best books I've read about our children stolden and shipped off to Mexico. I think more of this is true than not
