Book Review
Rating * * * *
Title: Book 1: The Last Refuge
Book 2: Two Time
Author: Chris Knopf
Published: The Last Refuge, a mystery novel, was published in 2005; I listened to the unabridged audiobook (Blackstone Audio, Inc.; read by Stefan Rudnicki; 11 hours)
Two Time, a mystery novel, was published in 2006; I listened to the unabridged audiobook (Blackstone Audio, Inc.; read by Stefan Rudnicki; 10 hours)
What is the story?
The Last Refuge: Sam Acquillo's at the end of the line. A middle-aged corporate dropout living in his dead parents' ramshackle cottage in Southampton's North Sea, Sam has abandoned friends, family and a big-time career to sit on his porch, drink vodka and stare at the Little Peconic Bay. But then the old lady next door ends up floating in her bathtub and it seems like Sam's the only one who wonders why. Despite himself, burned-out, busted up and cynical, the ex-engineer, ex-professional boxer, ex-loving father and husband finds himself uncovering secrets no one could have imagined, least of all Sam himself. Meanwhile, a procession of quirky characters intrudes on Sam's misanthropic ways. A beautiful banker, pot-smoking lawyer, bug-eyed fisherman and gay billionaire join a full complement of cops, thugs and local luminaries, and likes to which you never knew inhabited the hidden corners of the storied Hamptons: haves, have-nots and want-to-have-at-all-costs. Some deadly. Like Dr. Gernard Rieux in Camus' The Plague, tragedy has given Sam Acquillo an excuse to go on living, if for no other reason than to satisfy his curiosity, and maybe buy a little time before succumbing to the existential despair that has brought him to the brink. --from Audible.com
Two Time: Sam Acquillo, ex-boxer, ex-corporate executive, and accidental hero of The Last Refuge, can't seem to stay out of trouble. All he really wants to do is hammer a few nails into his ramshackle cottage, drink a great deal of vodka, and hang out with his dog, Eddie Van Halen. But when a car bomb outside a trendy waterfront restaurant kills a prominent financial consultant, injuring Sam and his lawyer friend, he is drawn into the investigation. Where the police have met roadblocks, Sam makes inroads with his trademark wit, instinct, and charm. Set against the backdrop of Southampton, Long Island, Two Time is full of moody sunsets, beachfront properties, and beautiful people with an extraordinary amount of money and very dangerous secrets. --from Audible.com
What type of language do they use—technical, complex, standard, or colloquial? standard/colloquial. Sam is education and intelligent, but with the ability to speak like a normal guy.
Does the level of language make it easy or difficult for the reader to follow? very easy
Did you like these books? I did! Mystery is not my favorite genre, but I was in the mood for something engaging, not too complex (after the book reviewed last Thursday, I needed something less intellectual!), and part of a series that I might get into. This one, set in an area of the country I don't know much about, seems to fit the bill.
If you could change something, what would it be? the main character, Sam, is kind of an obnoxious, oblivious guy. He has some good friends and supporting characters, and doesn't always deserve their loyalty or efforts. I hope that over the course of the series he grows up a little.
What were your favourite parts? there is a dog named Eddie Van Halen, a mixed-breed who enjoys fetching tennis balls from the bay, taking rides in the car (even just in the driveway), and having his head scratched. He has a heightened sense for danger that is believable and contributes to the story. Book dogs can be way more enjoyable to me than are the real, live version.
Who stands out, among the characters? besides Eddie, I'm a fan of Burton Lewis, Sam's friend who happens to be an attorney and a billionaire (among other things) and Joe Sullivan, of the the Southampton PD.
What is your recommendation? generally recommended to fans of modern fiction and mystery, and specifically for those with an interest in New York and its class system, in engineering, and in psychology
5 adjectives you would use to describe these texts: fun, intriguing, irreverent, alcoholic, cool
[book review template 5 adapted from here; the title quotation is by Charles Dickens, from A Tale of Two Cities]
No comments:
Post a Comment