The Hungry Detective (THD) has spent the last few days picking away at a post that would encompass a few books that we have read in the past couple weeks. Unfortunately it was taking forever to write. THD read a couple of James Lee Burke novels and writing the notes for both books has been problematic. I loved both books. Heck we read them back to back. In the Moon of the Red Ponies and Crusaders Cross reminded me why James Lee Burke is the best that Crime Fiction has to offer..... bar none. It made us excited to read James Lee Burke again. But that is not the purpose of this post.
The Evil That Men Do - Dave White
THD thinks the casting of Charles Bronson as Jackson Donne is inspired! With CGI I am sure they can shed a few years from the Bronson's craggy mug. Rarely does Hollywood get 'it' right, but Hollywood got it right. I must have missed this in the theaters, but this will.... hmmmm... what now? Sorry, the Film Desk is in the office trying tell me that this has nothing to do with Mr. White's book.
What the hell is an 'IMDB'?!
THD is not a cover to cover reader. Most of my reading is done in the tub or in the fifteen to twenty minutes before I go to bed. The reading that gets done during the day is done before the wife gets home or while she is napping on the weekend. However, I was in a car for about 5 and half hours recently and was able to read Mr. White's book with only one interruption to use one of New York's finer rest stops.
This is the second in the continuing story of New Jersey's favorite son, ex-cop/ex-p.i. Jackson Donne. The story is best described by the adage that you maybe through with the past but the past may not be through with you. What I like in particular about this book was that the seeds of this story lay in another story that take place well before most of the character in this book are born. Told in flashback, Jackson's grandfather sees something he shouldn't and because he stands up and does the right thing he nearly costs his family their lives. The ripple effect of his action's effect Jackson nearly 70 years later, in the end, it does not tear Jackson's family apart it brings them together in the way that families should be drawn together in crisis. This is really good writing. Flashbacks can be tricky things, but here it is used to maximum effect. Choosing to focus the readers attention on a different time and different set of characters causes two distinct stories to become one impressive narrative. The insight into the Donne family was reminiscent of The Big Blowdown by George Pelecanos. I would be fascinated to see Mr. White explore the Donne family across generations in further books or as a stand alone to the Jackson Donne series.
The Evil That Men Do - Dave WhiteTHD thinks the casting of Charles Bronson as Jackson Donne is inspired! With CGI I am sure they can shed a few years from the Bronson's craggy mug. Rarely does Hollywood get 'it' right, but Hollywood got it right. I must have missed this in the theaters, but this will.... hmmmm... what now? Sorry, the Film Desk is in the office trying tell me that this has nothing to do with Mr. White's book.
What the hell is an 'IMDB'?!
THD is not a cover to cover reader. Most of my reading is done in the tub or in the fifteen to twenty minutes before I go to bed. The reading that gets done during the day is done before the wife gets home or while she is napping on the weekend. However, I was in a car for about 5 and half hours recently and was able to read Mr. White's book with only one interruption to use one of New York's finer rest stops.
This is the second in the continuing story of New Jersey's favorite son, ex-cop/ex-p.i. Jackson Donne. The story is best described by the adage that you maybe through with the past but the past may not be through with you. What I like in particular about this book was that the seeds of this story lay in another story that take place well before most of the character in this book are born. Told in flashback, Jackson's grandfather sees something he shouldn't and because he stands up and does the right thing he nearly costs his family their lives. The ripple effect of his action's effect Jackson nearly 70 years later, in the end, it does not tear Jackson's family apart it brings them together in the way that families should be drawn together in crisis. This is really good writing. Flashbacks can be tricky things, but here it is used to maximum effect. Choosing to focus the readers attention on a different time and different set of characters causes two distinct stories to become one impressive narrative. The insight into the Donne family was reminiscent of The Big Blowdown by George Pelecanos. I would be fascinated to see Mr. White explore the Donne family across generations in further books or as a stand alone to the Jackson Donne series.
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