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The Perk
Beck Hardin, a high-profile Chicago trial lawyer, loses his wife to breast cancer and is left alone to raise their two young children. But he's been a full-time lawyer and a part-time father, so their lives soon fall apart. To save his children, he returns to his small hometown in the Texas Hill Country, reunites with his estranged father (a goat rancher turned winemaker), and soon becomes the local judge. He finds himself trying to pay off an old debt by solving the cold case murder of his high school buddy's teenage daughter—and discovers that a small-town judge's life isn't such a simple life.
Best-seller lists:
No. 6, Ireland
No. 11, Australia
No. 17, UK
Editorial Reviews:
"Remember when John Grisham exploded on to the courtroom drama market with novels of breathtaking brilliance? Lightning just struck twice."
- The Daily Record (Scotland)
"Gimenez returns to the complex legal thrillers where he seems to be at his best. The Perk has mystery, humour and history along with well-drawn characters that the reader will actually care about. As is often the case in legal thrillers, there is a mix of those characters that take the moral high ground and those who seem just out for their own good. Unusually, there are also a few comic and slightly caricatured figures here as well—but they all fit well together in the plot. Together with great characters and a strong plot there is also lots of interesting historical information. The ending may not be what is expected but it is all the better for it and proves to be a good finish to an excellent book. As ever, Gimenez is highly recommended, impossible to put down and definitely not to be missed."
- CrimeSquad.com (UK)
"Just as well I started The Perk on the weekend, as I couldn't put down this book. . . . This one's a cracker—neatly woven subplots, a taut thriller and a wonderfully current statement on American popular culture. And yes, Gimenez may possibly be the next Grisham."
- Kerre's Book Reviews (UK)
“Gimenez fills the John Grisham hole in the legal-thriller genre so well there may be no room left for Grisham.”
– The Sunday Times (Perth)
"Gimenez's novels are gripping, intense thrillers. Guaranteed to keep you up well into the night, The Perk is an exceptionally well crafted novel, populated by a cast of characters that are realistically-drawn and appealing. As always, thought-provoking, intelligent, and addictive. Highly recommended."
- Civilian-Reader (UK)
Top Ten of 2008—"We read lots of thrillers and they can tend to merge into one another. The Perk stood out by a mile as an excellent example of the genre and a stunning, well told tale in its own right. Gimenez' stature continues to grow."
- CrimeSquad.com (UK)
Best-seller lists:
No. 6, Ireland
No. 11, Australia
No. 17, UK
Editorial Reviews:
"Remember when John Grisham exploded on to the courtroom drama market with novels of breathtaking brilliance? Lightning just struck twice."
- The Daily Record (Scotland)
"Gimenez returns to the complex legal thrillers where he seems to be at his best. The Perk has mystery, humour and history along with well-drawn characters that the reader will actually care about. As is often the case in legal thrillers, there is a mix of those characters that take the moral high ground and those who seem just out for their own good. Unusually, there are also a few comic and slightly caricatured figures here as well—but they all fit well together in the plot. Together with great characters and a strong plot there is also lots of interesting historical information. The ending may not be what is expected but it is all the better for it and proves to be a good finish to an excellent book. As ever, Gimenez is highly recommended, impossible to put down and definitely not to be missed."
- CrimeSquad.com (UK)
"Just as well I started The Perk on the weekend, as I couldn't put down this book. . . . This one's a cracker—neatly woven subplots, a taut thriller and a wonderfully current statement on American popular culture. And yes, Gimenez may possibly be the next Grisham."
- Kerre's Book Reviews (UK)
“Gimenez fills the John Grisham hole in the legal-thriller genre so well there may be no room left for Grisham.”
– The Sunday Times (Perth)
"Gimenez's novels are gripping, intense thrillers. Guaranteed to keep you up well into the night, The Perk is an exceptionally well crafted novel, populated by a cast of characters that are realistically-drawn and appealing. As always, thought-provoking, intelligent, and addictive. Highly recommended."
- Civilian-Reader (UK)
Top Ten of 2008—"We read lots of thrillers and they can tend to merge into one another. The Perk stood out by a mile as an excellent example of the genre and a stunning, well told tale in its own right. Gimenez' stature continues to grow."
- CrimeSquad.com (UK)
448 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
457 people are currently reading
1005 people want to read
About the author
Mark Gimenez
19 books496 followersMark Gimenez grew up in Galveston County, Texas, and attended Texas State University and Notre Dame Law School. He practiced law and was a partner in a large Dallas firm. He is the author of ten novels—The Color of Law, The Abduction, The Perk, The Common Lawyer, Accused, The Governor's Wife, Con Law, The Case Against William, The Absence of Guilt, and End of Days (Con Law II)—as well as a children's novel, Parts & Labor: The Adventures of Max Dugan. His books have received critical acclaim around the world. They have been bestsellers in the UK, Ireland, Australia, India, and South Africa and have been translated into fifteen foreign languages. The Perk won a spot in Books to Die For: The World's Greatest Mystery Writers on the World's Greatest Mystery Novels, edited by John Connolly and Declan Burke.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 278 reviews
November 30, 2011
This was the first of Marks books I read. I don't like tags used like "the next Grisham", so all I will say is that Mark Gimenez has his own special way of writing which really lets you understand the characters and he tells a very thrilling and engrossing story.
This book to me captured the feel of the town it depicted and was a very good in fleshing out all the main characters. The story about abuse of status, murder and the legal system is very well told (even as a Englishman, my knowledge of the American legal system is scant.
You will believe the characters he develops and be turning the pages quicker and quicker to get to the answer "will he get away with it", but try and slow down and take in the pictures he paints of the countryside, the small town atmosphere, the small town politics and petty cliques, we all know about them and have seen them in our own lives, he really nails it down.
Highly recommended, both this and all his books, he does not seem to "churn" one out every year, but when they come out, they are well worth getting.
This book to me captured the feel of the town it depicted and was a very good in fleshing out all the main characters. The story about abuse of status, murder and the legal system is very well told (even as a Englishman, my knowledge of the American legal system is scant.
You will believe the characters he develops and be turning the pages quicker and quicker to get to the answer "will he get away with it", but try and slow down and take in the pictures he paints of the countryside, the small town atmosphere, the small town politics and petty cliques, we all know about them and have seen them in our own lives, he really nails it down.
Highly recommended, both this and all his books, he does not seem to "churn" one out every year, but when they come out, they are well worth getting.
September 19, 2017
The Perk is hamstrung by some of the most blatant stereotypes and caricatures that I have come across in a legal thriller.
Mark Gimenez had a bright start with his bebut novel, The Color of Law, but since then his star has waned.
Mark Gimenez had a bright start with his bebut novel, The Color of Law, but since then his star has waned.
March 12, 2015
As always with this author I thoroughly enjoyed the story. It took me just a little longer to get completely into it but once I did I was hooked. If there is one drawback it is that there is too much detail in the description of the setting. (The town) On the other hand there is always some interesting historical fact thrown in and I do love that. This story is about Beck Hardin and his two children. He has just lost his wife, so feeling the need to go home he leaves his busy law firm in Chicago for his hometown in Texas. Once there, he is suddenly learning things about his wife that he never knew. He is impressed with the life his estranged father has made for himself, he gets drawn into an unsolved murder and becomes the new town judge. With the usual humor, tears and exciting legal drama, I once again hated for the story to end. Looking forward to the next book by Mark Gimenez!
January 20, 2016
Pros: Strong main characters.
Humor (loud Hawaiian shirts).
JB and Annie's emails.
Cons: The author went into excruciating detail about the Hill Country in the beginning.
Lots of stereotypes, although some characters moved beyond it.
Humor (loud Hawaiian shirts).
JB and Annie's emails.
Cons: The author went into excruciating detail about the Hill Country in the beginning.
Lots of stereotypes, although some characters moved beyond it.
June 17, 2023
Beck Hardin is a Chicago lawyer who returns to his hometown of Fredericksburg, Texas, after the death of his wife. He reunites with his father in an attempt to better raise his two kids. As the book tells us over and over and over again, Fredericksburg has changed in the 24 years Beck has been gone.
While there, his friend Aubrey asks him to look into the death of his daughter, Heidi, four years ago. (The prologue actually tells us what happened to Heidi: she died of a cocaine overdose after a sexual encounter with a Hollywood star.)
Beck is encouraged to run for judge, as the position is open. He gets the job (some 200 pages into the book) and finds himself caught in a looming cultural war between Fredericksburg's German settlers and its Mexican/Latino migrants. This intensifies when a white football quarterback brutally bashes a Hispanic classmate, and the quarterback's rich father and the justice system itself seem intent on letting him get away with it.
The Perk seems to think it is some sort of profound, moving character drama that explores the grey areas of the law and what justice really entails. Beck spends a lot of time lamenting how trying to do the right thing in the name of justice can brutally backfire on you, yada yada yada. The blurb of my copy labels this a legal thriller, but it's nothing of the sort. There's no real interesting legal stuff here, just various examples of Beck's noble intentions to be a fair and honest judge.
And he is noble to a fault. Beck is a complete Mary Sue (or Gary Stu). The book tries to give him a flaw in that he worked too much and sometimes neglected his wife, and doesn't know how to raise his kids. But he's otherwise perfect in every sense. He's empathetic, virtuous, dedicated, and all the women in town want to fuck him, even the lesbian. It was ridiculous.
About 30% of this book is just descriptions of the journey taken to get somewhere, entire histories of towns and buildings, and descriptions of houses. The other 70% is an obvious, navel-gazing, preachy, treacly, maudlin slog through cliche after cliche. (Don't get me started on the convenience of the "cosmic justice" that crops up throughout this, either. Ugh!) The only perk you'll get if you dive into this turd is a decent nap.
While there, his friend Aubrey asks him to look into the death of his daughter, Heidi, four years ago. (The prologue actually tells us what happened to Heidi: she died of a cocaine overdose after a sexual encounter with a Hollywood star.)
Beck is encouraged to run for judge, as the position is open. He gets the job (some 200 pages into the book) and finds himself caught in a looming cultural war between Fredericksburg's German settlers and its Mexican/Latino migrants. This intensifies when a white football quarterback brutally bashes a Hispanic classmate, and the quarterback's rich father and the justice system itself seem intent on letting him get away with it.
The Perk seems to think it is some sort of profound, moving character drama that explores the grey areas of the law and what justice really entails. Beck spends a lot of time lamenting how trying to do the right thing in the name of justice can brutally backfire on you, yada yada yada. The blurb of my copy labels this a legal thriller, but it's nothing of the sort. There's no real interesting legal stuff here, just various examples of Beck's noble intentions to be a fair and honest judge.
And he is noble to a fault. Beck is a complete Mary Sue (or Gary Stu). The book tries to give him a flaw in that he worked too much and sometimes neglected his wife, and doesn't know how to raise his kids. But he's otherwise perfect in every sense. He's empathetic, virtuous, dedicated, and all the women in town want to fuck him, even the lesbian. It was ridiculous.
About 30% of this book is just descriptions of the journey taken to get somewhere, entire histories of towns and buildings, and descriptions of houses. The other 70% is an obvious, navel-gazing, preachy, treacly, maudlin slog through cliche after cliche. (Don't get me started on the convenience of the "cosmic justice" that crops up throughout this, either. Ugh!) The only perk you'll get if you dive into this turd is a decent nap.
January 29, 2013
I got this book because I am one of those tourists who love Fredericksburg, TX, with it's German quaintness and shopping and beer and brats, all in the middle of Texas! Boy, this book makes me think of it differently! I know, it's fiction, so I'm taking it all with a grain of salt, but the story was so well written and deals with so many current issues in such a realistic way: small town living, fear of change, racism, cancer, parenting, doping, relationships, justice and trying to do the right thing.
The main character, Beck, returns home to Texas after 24 years away. He escaped after high school and never intended on coming back. He got a football scholarship to Notre Dame a became a successful lawyer in Chicago. But he returns home because his wife dies of cancer and he cannot maintain the lawyer career and all the billable hours that entails as well as being a single parent who actually raises their kids, a boy and girl. He comes home to his father who he hasn't spoken to in all those years away.
Giminez does a great job weaving in all of Beck's relationships-- realizing how much his career took precious time away from his family and what kind of marriage he really had, rebuilding relationships with his kids, dealing with grief and guilt, rebuilding a relationship with his father, old friends and new, and relearning the town he grew up in and starting a new career. The flow was a little awkward at some points, but nothing that detracted from the story and I found the humor in the conversations enjoyable.
Beck ends up becoming the county judge and struggles over doing the right thing and a reoccurring theme of what justice is and what it means to other people runs throughout. The choices he makes are not easy and end up affecting the people around him and the whole town. As in real life, there are no black & white answers. I appreciate how the different stories played out and even though I didn't get the big climactic bang with the typical Hollywood ending where justice prevails, an ending that I usually crave, this was just as satisfying. Instead of everything tying up nice and neat there were different ends, subtly giving satisfaction in their own ways that were just right for this story. I couldn't put it down and am already looking for another Gimmenez book to pick up.
The main character, Beck, returns home to Texas after 24 years away. He escaped after high school and never intended on coming back. He got a football scholarship to Notre Dame a became a successful lawyer in Chicago. But he returns home because his wife dies of cancer and he cannot maintain the lawyer career and all the billable hours that entails as well as being a single parent who actually raises their kids, a boy and girl. He comes home to his father who he hasn't spoken to in all those years away.
Giminez does a great job weaving in all of Beck's relationships-- realizing how much his career took precious time away from his family and what kind of marriage he really had, rebuilding relationships with his kids, dealing with grief and guilt, rebuilding a relationship with his father, old friends and new, and relearning the town he grew up in and starting a new career. The flow was a little awkward at some points, but nothing that detracted from the story and I found the humor in the conversations enjoyable.
Beck ends up becoming the county judge and struggles over doing the right thing and a reoccurring theme of what justice is and what it means to other people runs throughout. The choices he makes are not easy and end up affecting the people around him and the whole town. As in real life, there are no black & white answers. I appreciate how the different stories played out and even though I didn't get the big climactic bang with the typical Hollywood ending where justice prevails, an ending that I usually crave, this was just as satisfying. Instead of everything tying up nice and neat there were different ends, subtly giving satisfaction in their own ways that were just right for this story. I couldn't put it down and am already looking for another Gimmenez book to pick up.
September 8, 2013
Cliche, predictable, stereotypical, unbelievable, dumb. I am shocked to see that it has an average rating of over 4 stars. Maybe my rating will help pull it down closer to where it should be.
July 9, 2016
The Perk meets many of my requirements for a good read, but I was so turned off by the author's politics, I could hardly finish it. For that I am giving it one star. I very strongly dislike authors who use fiction to try to persuade readers to their own political point of view. If you want to write about politics, do your research and write a book based on REAL facts. Please do not write a political diatribe in which all the characters on one political side are unrelievedly evil, black-hearted, reprehensible sob's with absolutely no redeeming qualities. The only people who are truly like that are psychopaths.
Conversely, the "good-guys" in the book are self-righteous do-gooders without any faults, and have a tear-jerking, squishy-soft story surrounding them to be sure you realize these are REALLY GOOD PEOPLE!
I have read several other excellent books by this author, and have gotten whiffs of his political views that were not overly offensive, and left me wondering a little bit. But I've never read anything to rival this book for shallowly concealed, insulting, in-your-face, better-than-thou rhetoric. I'm not sure I can get through another of this author's books knowing that he views me and the legion of other conservative voters as nothing more than a bunch of unfeeling barbarians. Goodbye, Mr. Gimemez.
Conversely, the "good-guys" in the book are self-righteous do-gooders without any faults, and have a tear-jerking, squishy-soft story surrounding them to be sure you realize these are REALLY GOOD PEOPLE!
I have read several other excellent books by this author, and have gotten whiffs of his political views that were not overly offensive, and left me wondering a little bit. But I've never read anything to rival this book for shallowly concealed, insulting, in-your-face, better-than-thou rhetoric. I'm not sure I can get through another of this author's books knowing that he views me and the legion of other conservative voters as nothing more than a bunch of unfeeling barbarians. Goodbye, Mr. Gimemez.
July 2, 2018
Loved it!
I could not put this down and believe I have found a new favorite author! Excellent read! It was set locally, too, so that made it even more special!
I could not put this down and believe I have found a new favorite author! Excellent read! It was set locally, too, so that made it even more special!
August 18, 2020
I’m becoming such a fan of Gimenez. Third one of his for me. Real page turners set in Texas locales
March 23, 2015
Beck has returned to his hometown in Texas after a successful life as a lawyer in Chicago. His wife has died and he is having trouble coping with raising his two children without her. He moves home to live with his father. He finds himself drawn back into the small-town politics steeped in tradition and racism.
I wanted to really love this book. I was raised in Texas and went to college in the Hill Country. Gimenez really gets the setting right -- the descriptive passages and the tone of small town life in Texas is very realistic. He writes about grief and forgiveness and family in ways that made me care about the characters. I was disappointed, however, in the stereotypes and politics that make up the bulk of the story. I admit I could see my own hometown in much of what occurred here, it felt overdone to me.
Overall, it was a pleasant diversion, a good vacation read, it just did not live up to my expectations. I'll probably look for more of Gimenez' books, but they won't be on the top of my lists.
I wanted to really love this book. I was raised in Texas and went to college in the Hill Country. Gimenez really gets the setting right -- the descriptive passages and the tone of small town life in Texas is very realistic. He writes about grief and forgiveness and family in ways that made me care about the characters. I was disappointed, however, in the stereotypes and politics that make up the bulk of the story. I admit I could see my own hometown in much of what occurred here, it felt overdone to me.
Overall, it was a pleasant diversion, a good vacation read, it just did not live up to my expectations. I'll probably look for more of Gimenez' books, but they won't be on the top of my lists.
March 27, 2016
This is a WONDERFUL book! I'm such a FAN of this author. He is a writer who never disappoints. I've read four of his books, and will start a fifth tonight. In this boo, Mr. Gimenez brings the reader characters that you want to know, or wish you knew. The dialogue is so good in this book, it just sings on the page. There are a couple of mysteries going on, but, in addition, this is a story that makes you laugh, darn near cry, and feel sad when you read the final words...because this is a book worth reading. The people are so REAL. The story is more than just interesting INTERESTING. The pace is PERFECT. This is a story that will linger with me for a long time. It's the kind of story I will keep; I will read it again. No bother I know how it ends, it is just so good, so beautifully written; Yes, I will read it again.
Mr. Gimenez is an author I discovered this year, and it was a great gift to find him.
Mr. Gimenez is an author I discovered this year, and it was a great gift to find him.
November 6, 2013
Every one is compering Mark's books to J. Grishem.
After reading this book I think one should compere Grishem to M.Gimenez.
The book is not just about law, it is also kind of a romantic story, the way
he brings back the main character's wife back to life through her letters to his father, before she died.
How on earth there is that great author and I've never heard of him before ??
There is just one thing that needs to be mentioned. there are quite some side track stories, but
the way they are being told, just makes it even better.
After reading this book I think one should compere Grishem to M.Gimenez.
The book is not just about law, it is also kind of a romantic story, the way
he brings back the main character's wife back to life through her letters to his father, before she died.
How on earth there is that great author and I've never heard of him before ??
There is just one thing that needs to be mentioned. there are quite some side track stories, but
the way they are being told, just makes it even better.
February 18, 2015
Mark Gimenez doesn't write just superb courtroom drama. In this novel, he writes about honor, honesty, and justice, and all the shades of grey that are in life and law. This is not an adrenaline packed action thriller. It is a searing and scathing portrayal of the inequities of justice that are in our legal system and in our world. The Perk is thoughtful and thought provoking. It is a serious indictment on the judicial system set in a rural Texas town...and the thematic issues that are addressed will not soon leave the reader's conscience. Excellent.
November 17, 2015
I think this is one of the first Mark Gimenez books I have read.
There is no Whodunit in this book since we know who the murderer is within the first few pages.
This is more an emotional and soul searching experience for the hero of the book, Beck Hardin.
There are instant Karma consequences for the bad guys towards the end of the book which feels like the ending of the book was rushed.
Overall it is a 3 star book, the so called plot of the book is well written but the plot itself is not that enthralling and hence the 3 stars.
There is no Whodunit in this book since we know who the murderer is within the first few pages.
This is more an emotional and soul searching experience for the hero of the book, Beck Hardin.
There are instant Karma consequences for the bad guys towards the end of the book which feels like the ending of the book was rushed.
Overall it is a 3 star book, the so called plot of the book is well written but the plot itself is not that enthralling and hence the 3 stars.
January 30, 2014
The first novel I've read by Mark Gimenez, and I really enjoyed it. It's well written, with an engaging plot and characters, along with interesting moral conundrums posed by the cases on which Judge Beck Hardin has to decide. The novel weaves several plot and subplots together seamlessly, providing an enjoyable read. The twists were well done and surprising, but believable. There are perhaps too many irrelevant diversions into Texan history and geology, but that's a minor gripe.
April 2, 2014
This was a good, quick read. Typical of Gimenez with unsuspecting twists toward the end of the story. I almost wished that the main story for the investigation of the teenager's murderer started a little bit earlier in the book. It seemed a little rushed to reach the end of the story as this case didn't go into detail until about 60% or even 70% into the story.
September 2, 2015
The Perk by Mark Gimenez
The book starts slowly with lots of filler description of Fredericksburg but once the story gets going, it really takes off. I especially enjoyed the parts where the judge is caught between a rock and a hard place and how he wrestles with the decisions he must make.
The book starts slowly with lots of filler description of Fredericksburg but once the story gets going, it really takes off. I especially enjoyed the parts where the judge is caught between a rock and a hard place and how he wrestles with the decisions he must make.
October 25, 2016
Excellent read except for the coyote scene which isn't the way that coyotes behave... that was wolf attach behavior. You know the difference when you are a Montana rancher like me. I loved the Texan geology & plant desciptions ~ I learned a lot as well as being entertained by a major sleep deprivation page turner.
July 28, 2015
Another very good read by one of my favourite writers Mark Gimenez.
He has such a good style of writing and crafts his books expertly as he develops the plot and builds up the main characters. Lots of twists and turns.
He has such a good style of writing and crafts his books expertly as he develops the plot and builds up the main characters. Lots of twists and turns.
March 30, 2016
Oppessive
I had to put it down. Stated out well but the evil and ignorant white society and oppressed Latinos too much to swallow. Too bad,
I liked the family and was interested in how they would work things out.
I had to put it down. Stated out well but the evil and ignorant white society and oppressed Latinos too much to swallow. Too bad,
I liked the family and was interested in how they would work things out.
March 16, 2016
I am surprised this author does not get more recognition in the U.S. Highly recommend all of his books!
December 31, 2017
Had to abandon a previous book by Mark Gimenez - so was reluctant to try this one. Thoroughly enjoyed this book & the characters.
November 15, 2017
Love all of Mark Gimenez books.
Great law book with wonderful characters. Good and bad folks but you really get to know them.
Learned a lot about the hill country of Texas.
Great law book with wonderful characters. Good and bad folks but you really get to know them.
Learned a lot about the hill country of Texas.
November 16, 2020
Beck Hardin is a big city Chicago lawyer. He's also just lost his wife to cancer and is trying to raise 2 kids by himself and he knows in his heart that he's failing miserably. He packs himself and his kids and heads back to Fredericksburg, TX--a place he promised he'd never return to 24 years before. Even when his wife begs him to take her there. He left as an angry son. He left an angry young man, angry at his father who raised him alone after his Mom passed away.
He ends up becoming the Judge of this small town. The town has changed a lot, or has it? On the outside it looks like a perfect place to raise kids, to retire, and yet if you look closer and dig a little you'll find there are festering secrets, hate, fear. Beck thinks once he is on the Bench he can change things for the better, but he has no idea what he is putting into motion. He also finds his father has changed.
His father is not the same man that he left 24 years before. Can he help Beck and Beck's children heal from the loss they've suffered?
This was another awesome read from Mark Gimenez. Just when you think you know what's coming next there is another moment of "What the Hell is Happening!" His writing style, at least for me, is so descriptive that I feel I actually know these people and this town an empathize with what is happening. I needed a few tissues by the end of the book -- fair warning! A Must Read!
He ends up becoming the Judge of this small town. The town has changed a lot, or has it? On the outside it looks like a perfect place to raise kids, to retire, and yet if you look closer and dig a little you'll find there are festering secrets, hate, fear. Beck thinks once he is on the Bench he can change things for the better, but he has no idea what he is putting into motion. He also finds his father has changed.
His father is not the same man that he left 24 years before. Can he help Beck and Beck's children heal from the loss they've suffered?
This was another awesome read from Mark Gimenez. Just when you think you know what's coming next there is another moment of "What the Hell is Happening!" His writing style, at least for me, is so descriptive that I feel I actually know these people and this town an empathize with what is happening. I needed a few tissues by the end of the book -- fair warning! A Must Read!
December 31, 2020
I picked up a copy of The Perk, read the blurb and thought I was in for a good time with a typical whodunit. No, The Perk is not a typical whodunit. It is an exploration of guilt, of prejudice, and of relationships.
Beck, who recently lost his wife, realises that he is unable to manage his career and children as he did when his wife was alive. Moving to Texas to find help from his father, Beck realises that his wife was not as happy as she had seemed to be. Rethinking his life, Beck commences on a journey to know his wife, his father, his children along with dealing with his guilt about his high school friend. Through this journey he solves a homicide, grows closer to his father and children and evolves into a better lawyer and man.
The Perk is an engrossing read, giving glimpses of small town America, of inclusion and exclusion, of money, power, and justice. It is a well-researched book about local history and politics.
Though it is not a typical crime thriller, it kept me spell bound. That said, the novel did have some drawbacks. One of the minus points is that the crime is a typical one, a stereotypical perpetrator, and justice is more poetic justice and less legal justice. Many characters are stereotypical, but they do not diminish the pleasure of reading. It is not an extraordinary novel, but it isn't boring or a drag to read.
Beck, who recently lost his wife, realises that he is unable to manage his career and children as he did when his wife was alive. Moving to Texas to find help from his father, Beck realises that his wife was not as happy as she had seemed to be. Rethinking his life, Beck commences on a journey to know his wife, his father, his children along with dealing with his guilt about his high school friend. Through this journey he solves a homicide, grows closer to his father and children and evolves into a better lawyer and man.
The Perk is an engrossing read, giving glimpses of small town America, of inclusion and exclusion, of money, power, and justice. It is a well-researched book about local history and politics.
Though it is not a typical crime thriller, it kept me spell bound. That said, the novel did have some drawbacks. One of the minus points is that the crime is a typical one, a stereotypical perpetrator, and justice is more poetic justice and less legal justice. Many characters are stereotypical, but they do not diminish the pleasure of reading. It is not an extraordinary novel, but it isn't boring or a drag to read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 13, 2018
I had forgotten how much I enjoy this author's writing, so it was fun to stumble across another of his books. This one is set in Fredericksburg, TX, and the only thing that I might quibble about is he certainly doesn't portray that community well. He shows the town as still being run by the Germans (descendants of the original German founders of the town) and very prejudiced against the Hispanic
people in town, and not above abusing their power to hurt them. For all I know, it might be true, but it seems like he could have written the same story and just called the town something else. We would have known he was describing Fredericksburg, but at least it wouldn't have been an overt slam that way. Besides that though, it's a great story which tugs at your heartstrings and makes you long for justice in this world. I suspect it's a stand alone story, but if he did a sequel, I would certainly read it.
people in town, and not above abusing their power to hurt them. For all I know, it might be true, but it seems like he could have written the same story and just called the town something else. We would have known he was describing Fredericksburg, but at least it wouldn't have been an overt slam that way. Besides that though, it's a great story which tugs at your heartstrings and makes you long for justice in this world. I suspect it's a stand alone story, but if he did a sequel, I would certainly read it.
January 17, 2024
I cannot stop reading books by Mark Gimenez. Beck Hardin is a lawyer in a large city. When his wife passes away from cancer Beck is left to bring up his young son and daughter. He suddenly realizes he cannot replace his wife and everything she did for their two children while he was off on big cases. He takes the kids and returns to a small town in texas that he left 24 years ago. A town he was raised in. His father is still there, however they have not spoken in many years. His father digs right in with helping with the grandchildren he had never met. Beck immediately runs into an old high school friend who is now coaching the town football team, a team they had both played for. The coach is drinking to get over loosing his only daughter who was found dead in a ditch 4 years ago. He asks for Becks help in finding out who killed his daughter.
This is a page turner. I loved it.
This is a page turner. I loved it.
November 30, 2019
Firstly, let me tell you what this book is not. It may look like a mass market legal thriller, but it is so much more.
A small town boy with sorrows and ambitions returns to his hometown following the death of his wife. We have themes of coming of age, grief and small town politics and they combine in a very complementary way. Despite the heavy sounding themes there is plenty of humour too.
The characters are well fleshed and their actions are understandable, if not always to the letter of the law. Ethics vs doing good is covered and it makes you realise that there is no black and white in this world.
Much more than your average legal eagle storyline.
This novel has been sat on my shelves for around 10 years. Clearly, I need to review what I have urgently!
A small town boy with sorrows and ambitions returns to his hometown following the death of his wife. We have themes of coming of age, grief and small town politics and they combine in a very complementary way. Despite the heavy sounding themes there is plenty of humour too.
The characters are well fleshed and their actions are understandable, if not always to the letter of the law. Ethics vs doing good is covered and it makes you realise that there is no black and white in this world.
Much more than your average legal eagle storyline.
This novel has been sat on my shelves for around 10 years. Clearly, I need to review what I have urgently!
January 28, 2024
Awesome book
I lived in San Antonio for about 20 years, I was in the Army, went to Nursing school and I dearly love d SA and Texas everwhere. It was funny to remember all the towns you mentioned and what I remrmbered. I loved Texas and left when I was 48 to come back to Jacksonville, Fla to hang out with my mom. I never thought about coming back and left here hating it. The people were friendly and I loved the phone and my nursing buddies raise our version of hell. I still have some of those friends but not as many. I was very happy you reminded me of some great times. I worked at BAMC for about 10 years thru the Texas National Guard. You are a great writer and I wish you the best . Go Cowboys!!!!
I lived in San Antonio for about 20 years, I was in the Army, went to Nursing school and I dearly love d SA and Texas everwhere. It was funny to remember all the towns you mentioned and what I remrmbered. I loved Texas and left when I was 48 to come back to Jacksonville, Fla to hang out with my mom. I never thought about coming back and left here hating it. The people were friendly and I loved the phone and my nursing buddies raise our version of hell. I still have some of those friends but not as many. I was very happy you reminded me of some great times. I worked at BAMC for about 10 years thru the Texas National Guard. You are a great writer and I wish you the best . Go Cowboys!!!!
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