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Cyril Landry #1
The Shop
* * * New Kindle Edition * * *
“THE SHOP is a hair-raising thriller from start to finish. J. Carson Black draws the reader into a world where nothing is as it seems. This book is both spooky and convincing, just what a thriller should be.”
---T. Jefferson Parker, New York Times bestselling author of THE BORDER LORDS
When former Navy SEAL Cyril Landry and his team of assassins enter a chalet in Aspen, Colorado, he recognizes the pop star Brienne Cross asleep on the couch. As he is about to kill her, she wakes and looks into his eyes.
There is that one moment between them. And then she is dead. Someone with a higher pay scale than Landry has been ordering celebrities killed. Now he wants to know why.
At first glance, the shooting death of a police chief in a rundown Florida motel room appears to be an assignation gone wrong. But as detective Jolie Burke plumbs deeper into the crime’s murky undercurrents, she unveils a conspiracy shocking in its scope.
In her relentless pursuit of justice, Burke follows a byzantine path that will take her from the lottery-driven fantasies of a yard maintenance worker to a Panama City Beach missing-persons case and finally to the island compound of her estranged uncle--the Attorney General of the United States.
The death of a celebrity in Aspen has set the table for an orgy of death, destruction, and infamy. As the stakes rise, Jolie finds herself teamed with a killer. Only Jolie and her unlikely partner, Cyril Landry, can dismantle the shadowy entity known as The Shop--before it strikes again.
"Infused with an original voice and packed with compelling characters, J. Carson Black’s THE SHOP is a thriller to pay attention to."
----David Morrell, New York Times bestselling author of THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE ROSE
"Fresh and imaginative, J. Carson Black’s THE SHOP is a riveting read and a compelling tale of character. From FBI agents to local cops, from heroes to villains, THE SHOP is an exciting, sweeping crime thriller that will linger in your mind for a long time."
---Gayle Lynds, New York Times bestselling author of THE BOOK OF SPIES
“THE SHOP is a hair-raising thriller from start to finish. J. Carson Black draws the reader into a world where nothing is as it seems. This book is both spooky and convincing, just what a thriller should be.”
---T. Jefferson Parker, New York Times bestselling author of THE BORDER LORDS
When former Navy SEAL Cyril Landry and his team of assassins enter a chalet in Aspen, Colorado, he recognizes the pop star Brienne Cross asleep on the couch. As he is about to kill her, she wakes and looks into his eyes.
There is that one moment between them. And then she is dead. Someone with a higher pay scale than Landry has been ordering celebrities killed. Now he wants to know why.
At first glance, the shooting death of a police chief in a rundown Florida motel room appears to be an assignation gone wrong. But as detective Jolie Burke plumbs deeper into the crime’s murky undercurrents, she unveils a conspiracy shocking in its scope.
In her relentless pursuit of justice, Burke follows a byzantine path that will take her from the lottery-driven fantasies of a yard maintenance worker to a Panama City Beach missing-persons case and finally to the island compound of her estranged uncle--the Attorney General of the United States.
The death of a celebrity in Aspen has set the table for an orgy of death, destruction, and infamy. As the stakes rise, Jolie finds herself teamed with a killer. Only Jolie and her unlikely partner, Cyril Landry, can dismantle the shadowy entity known as The Shop--before it strikes again.
"Infused with an original voice and packed with compelling characters, J. Carson Black’s THE SHOP is a thriller to pay attention to."
----David Morrell, New York Times bestselling author of THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE ROSE
"Fresh and imaginative, J. Carson Black’s THE SHOP is a riveting read and a compelling tale of character. From FBI agents to local cops, from heroes to villains, THE SHOP is an exciting, sweeping crime thriller that will linger in your mind for a long time."
---Gayle Lynds, New York Times bestselling author of THE BOOK OF SPIES
374 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2011
361 people are currently reading
519 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
September 13, 2015
After reading J. Carson Black’s HARD RETURN, (#2 Cyril Landry thriller), was so intrigued with the characters had to purchase and read (#1 Cyril Landry), THE SHOP.
THE SHOP opens with an assassination in Aspen, Colorado of well- known actress and pop star, Brienne cross. The assassin, Cyril Landry, former SEAL, a member of a black ops unit, THE SHOP, operating within a private security firm and used by the powerful government for missions, outside the law. Landry loves his family and is devoted to them yet he is a killer (the reason I loved him in Hard Return) and he turns against The Shop.
There is also another story going on, in a motel on the gulf coast of Florida, with a dead police chief and detective Jolie Burke is assigned to the case. (loved Jolie in Hard Return). The investigation leads to a string of homicides involving higher powers which brings her in contact with Landry, and a past she has blocked out.
The tension and suspense builds with the subplots, with twists and turns at every corner with power, coverup, conspiracy, and corruption, for an intriguing and complex crime thriller. Black has a way developing her characters and connecting all the pieces of the story, seamlessly. I fell in love with Black’s writing after HARD RETURN- If you enjoyed THE SHOP, you will devour HARD RETURN.
Jolie is a dynamic character and is very different from Laundry (cop/killer); however, I hope we will see more of this duo in #3. Laundry is highly skilled, edgy, and confident, yet there is a different side to him, which draws you in. Incredible writing by Black, brilliant!
A Must Read Thriller Series, you do not want to miss!
JDCMustReadBooks
THE SHOP opens with an assassination in Aspen, Colorado of well- known actress and pop star, Brienne cross. The assassin, Cyril Landry, former SEAL, a member of a black ops unit, THE SHOP, operating within a private security firm and used by the powerful government for missions, outside the law. Landry loves his family and is devoted to them yet he is a killer (the reason I loved him in Hard Return) and he turns against The Shop.
There is also another story going on, in a motel on the gulf coast of Florida, with a dead police chief and detective Jolie Burke is assigned to the case. (loved Jolie in Hard Return). The investigation leads to a string of homicides involving higher powers which brings her in contact with Landry, and a past she has blocked out.
The tension and suspense builds with the subplots, with twists and turns at every corner with power, coverup, conspiracy, and corruption, for an intriguing and complex crime thriller. Black has a way developing her characters and connecting all the pieces of the story, seamlessly. I fell in love with Black’s writing after HARD RETURN- If you enjoyed THE SHOP, you will devour HARD RETURN.
Jolie is a dynamic character and is very different from Laundry (cop/killer); however, I hope we will see more of this duo in #3. Laundry is highly skilled, edgy, and confident, yet there is a different side to him, which draws you in. Incredible writing by Black, brilliant!
A Must Read Thriller Series, you do not want to miss!
JDCMustReadBooks
February 3, 2015
The main character here is an assassin working for The Shop. After a mission to kill a young country star weighs upon his mind he decides to find out who ordered the hit and why. And he does not care how high the body count goes to get the answers. On the flip side of the coin is a female cop digging into an old murder. With her job in jeopardy she continues digging till her path crosses with the main character. Some of the shifts between characters and settings were just a bit off for this reader but I could chalk that up to a number of other reasons. So overall a very good book and from what I understand these characters have returned in another book by this author. Something to look forward too.
May 14, 2025
The premise is solid, but the execution a bit disjointed. Without giving it away, I didn't quite buy the quick transition from very bad guy to intriguing anti-hero for one of the characters, and the some of the family interaction seemed to be pulled straight from a soap opera. An OK read, but not on par with some others in this genre.
April 23, 2015
Okay, I've got to say that for a long while this book was a balance between a 1 ans 2 star read. I did finally get "relatively" interested in it...relatively.
The synopsis tells us it's about an ex-navy seal turned assassin who discovers that "The Shop", the people he works for are not what they seem. He begins to ask why he's kill the people he's killing. The synopsis gives us the idea that a local police officer gets involved in helping in the investigation.
Now, the book is actually about the emotional struggles, family angst, and painful past of said local police officer/detective (Jolie Burke). It also involves her struggles with the superiors who don't understand her and are looking for a reason to get rid of her. She struggles with suppressed memories, family rejection an just (as I said) general angst.
The Ex-seal, assassin Cyril Landry is sort of in the back ground. We get short chapters about him and from his point of view but as befits a mysterious assassin he is very...well mysterious.
And brief.
I really spent a lot yawn time here even with Burke running solving the murder. the book does have a final climax where everyone and everything is brought together so to speak in a reveal so you'll that but I spent a lot of time rather bored by the book. 3 stars is about all I can go here.
The synopsis tells us it's about an ex-navy seal turned assassin who discovers that "The Shop", the people he works for are not what they seem. He begins to ask why he's kill the people he's killing. The synopsis gives us the idea that a local police officer gets involved in helping in the investigation.
Now, the book is actually about the emotional struggles, family angst, and painful past of said local police officer/detective (Jolie Burke). It also involves her struggles with the superiors who don't understand her and are looking for a reason to get rid of her. She struggles with suppressed memories, family rejection an just (as I said) general angst.
The Ex-seal, assassin Cyril Landry is sort of in the back ground. We get short chapters about him and from his point of view but as befits a mysterious assassin he is very...well mysterious.
And brief.
I really spent a lot yawn time here even with Burke running solving the murder. the book does have a final climax where everyone and everything is brought together so to speak in a reveal so you'll that but I spent a lot of time rather bored by the book. 3 stars is about all I can go here.
October 8, 2014
Fasten your seatbelts and hold on tight! What does a blown hostage rescue and a killing of a TV celebrity have in common? Read this fast paced thriller and find out.
January 1, 2019
Landry is a trained assassin and not a particularly likeable hero - he decides to investigate the reasons for his last high profile assignment. Simultaneously, Detective Jolie Burke from Palm County is investigating a murder or suicide in Florida - gradually their two paths begin to converge. I found the plot too far-fetched and it was only the increased pace of the narrative in the final third which squeezed it up to 3 stars.
December 26, 2012
This book opens with horrific violence, then casts the agent of this bloodletting in the role of reformed underdog. Wait: didn't this guy just butcher some innocent peeps? He did, and later, he throws the hurt down on the real bad guys. It's not an easy shift to make, and I was never quite sold on it--nor did I buy the connection between a town sheriff and a national conspiracy, but what the hell: this is thriller fiction, and it offers some fun.
December 29, 2015
Don't bother
Over the years since I got my first Kindle have been reading and found so many authors and books I enjoyed, not this one. Started out promising, listened all of the book.
Over the years since I got my first Kindle have been reading and found so many authors and books I enjoyed, not this one. Started out promising, listened all of the book.
November 30, 2018
Confusion and resolution
I did not care for the beginning of the book. I found that it did not make sense, as it seemed like a number of unrelated stories and dragged on a little too long. However the author did bring it all together so that it made perfect sense. I found the characters were cold and did not relate to each other emotionally, but the author may have done that deliberately. I did like the two main characters.
I did not care for the beginning of the book. I found that it did not make sense, as it seemed like a number of unrelated stories and dragged on a little too long. However the author did bring it all together so that it made perfect sense. I found the characters were cold and did not relate to each other emotionally, but the author may have done that deliberately. I did like the two main characters.
February 1, 2018
A good first in a,series.
This is book one, and I got to know the main characters, which is always good to keep me interested going into book two. I, personally felt this book was a bit long. I felt it could have gotten to points more quickly. I did feel the story was good. I like Jolie, one of two main characters. Cyril was also written well, which is the other main character.
This is book one, and I got to know the main characters, which is always good to keep me interested going into book two. I, personally felt this book was a bit long. I felt it could have gotten to points more quickly. I did feel the story was good. I like Jolie, one of two main characters. Cyril was also written well, which is the other main character.
June 21, 2018
Good read
Basically I liked the book. Unfortunately the premise is believable. I have no problem seeing something like that actually taking place. Landry is flawed but he acts in a consistent way. It’s hard to root for the bad guy but in this case you do. Looking forward to what will happen next to him. Recommended.
Basically I liked the book. Unfortunately the premise is believable. I have no problem seeing something like that actually taking place. Landry is flawed but he acts in a consistent way. It’s hard to root for the bad guy but in this case you do. Looking forward to what will happen next to him. Recommended.
January 29, 2024
Such a good book!
I loved the grit and personality of Cyril Landry! One of my favorite traits is his love of horseracing and how well the author constructively ties it into the book. As a Kentucky born horse gambling gal, it just made me like Cyril more. Crazy to think everything in the book is fiction after our recent political appointees.
I loved the grit and personality of Cyril Landry! One of my favorite traits is his love of horseracing and how well the author constructively ties it into the book. As a Kentucky born horse gambling gal, it just made me like Cyril more. Crazy to think everything in the book is fiction after our recent political appointees.
May 8, 2018
Good read well developed and executed
Good reading good story well developed and executed would recommend to anyone liking action and intrigue.story line well developed and characters believable
Good reading good story well developed and executed would recommend to anyone liking action and intrigue.story line well developed and characters believable
June 25, 2020
Another great story from this author!
Jolie and her extended family are caught up in an almost unsolvable web of chance, blackmail, murder and impossible circumstances that the reader struggles to keep track.
Jolie and her extended family are caught up in an almost unsolvable web of chance, blackmail, murder and impossible circumstances that the reader struggles to keep track.
May 25, 2017
This one got off to a slow start for me - glad I didn't give up on it. Looking forward to reading the next in the series. I rated this one 4.4 stars. (This was a Prime Reading selection)
July 12, 2017
Slow at first but it really heats up the last 1/3 of the book.
January 16, 2018
Pretty good. Enjoyed the characters and story.
December 18, 2019
Lynnie
Great,fast moving. A lot of twist and turns but enjoyed it. Interested to read the next in the series. Keep up the great work 👍
Great,fast moving. A lot of twist and turns but enjoyed it. Interested to read the next in the series. Keep up the great work 👍
January 16, 2022
Enjoyed this first book. I have read a couple of book by this author and enjoy the way they are written.
February 6, 2023
I have never read this author before. I found her stile to be fast paced, never boring and filled with both intrigue and enough high tech as to make this storyline totally plausable. Well done!
October 25, 2015
A secret group of assassins hired to kill a pop star in Aspen Colorado, and a Florida murder suicide have more in common than they realize. In author J. Carson Black's, "The Shop", two parallel crimes are racing to intersect with a powerful boom. Small town Sheriff's detective Jolie Burke is investigating the suicide (Murder ?) of local Police Chief Jim Akers. The murder took place in the exact room of a cheap motel where a recent hostage crisis ended badly. Jolie is continually stymied by Chief's widow, Maddy setting off red flags. Also sister of recently killed hostage taker Luke Perdue keeps setting off red flags. Did Chief Jim Akers really commit suicide and wife Maddy altered crime scene.? Somehow Maddy And Amy Perdue seem to be connected to both crimes in same motel room. Meanwhile, Black Ops leader Cyril Lanndry and his team have killed pop star Brienne Cross, and several others for unknown reasons in Aspen. The question to Landry is, what's really going on here ? Landry must leave him team to track down source of this forced mission. As Jolie battles her own department, and dodges bullets, she's making progress to where the web of lies and deceit are leading to. Former United States Attorney General Franklin Haddox, the uncle of the one surviving victim in the Aspen shootings seems to be pulling strings from his Florida home. The former A.G. is mixed up something that's way over his head. Eventually Jolie and Landry must face off and come together for a very explosive ending. Story line of the book was like reading two books at the same time. Jolie's adventures on one hand, and Landry barreling across country on the other. For a long time I wondered how two would end up coming together and complete the story. Author J. Carson black, is a very strong story teller. "The Shop" leads reader on a trail of murder, suspense, and the mystery of how all these puzzle pieces will tie together. I thought it was a thoroughly enjoyable yarn. The book is a pretty good mystery thriller. The characters complex at times, and odd at other times helped carry this book along very well. "The Shop" is the first book in a three part series. I'll soon be jumping into second book in this series. Five stars out of a possible five stars for this most enjoyable read. J. Carson black is one of my favorite authors because all of her books are top notch. Check it out, you won't be disappointed.
April 22, 2012
Not a bad thriller, one with two threads running through it.
In the first, ex-navy SEAL Cyril Landry leads a team into Aspen to kill a reality star and her entourage. He works for the Shop, a super-secret government agency protecting the country. But he's bothered by this one and starts an investigation.
It doesn't take him long to start learning things, which lead him to others, and when he learns the truth, someone is going to pay.
Across the country in Florida, a local police chief is found shot death in a seedy motel room. Detective Jolie Burke draws the case and finds several unusual things. His primary weapon, his back-up, and his cell phone are not in the room. And this very same room was the scene of a hostage situation just last month that the chief had directed, talking to the hostage taker for hours and just as he was about to surrender, a sniper got off a bad shot that took out both taker and hostage.
As one might suspect, both threads come together on a small island off the coast and the compound of a rich family, that of a former Attorney General of the United States, a family that was part of Jolie Burke's, although she was from the black sheep side and had nothing to do with them.
An ugly story as it unveils, one that, in the taut climax, forces a team-up between the killer and the cop.
Not perfect, but enough to make me want try other books by the author.
In the first, ex-navy SEAL Cyril Landry leads a team into Aspen to kill a reality star and her entourage. He works for the Shop, a super-secret government agency protecting the country. But he's bothered by this one and starts an investigation.
It doesn't take him long to start learning things, which lead him to others, and when he learns the truth, someone is going to pay.
Across the country in Florida, a local police chief is found shot death in a seedy motel room. Detective Jolie Burke draws the case and finds several unusual things. His primary weapon, his back-up, and his cell phone are not in the room. And this very same room was the scene of a hostage situation just last month that the chief had directed, talking to the hostage taker for hours and just as he was about to surrender, a sniper got off a bad shot that took out both taker and hostage.
As one might suspect, both threads come together on a small island off the coast and the compound of a rich family, that of a former Attorney General of the United States, a family that was part of Jolie Burke's, although she was from the black sheep side and had nothing to do with them.
An ugly story as it unveils, one that, in the taut climax, forces a team-up between the killer and the cop.
Not perfect, but enough to make me want try other books by the author.
January 20, 2013
A very well written thriller in the vein of David Baldacci. An assassin tires of working for faceless masters and takes revenge.
First paragraphs
PROLOGUE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND ASPEN, COLORADO Landry thought: The kid’s positively giddy. Landry had been getting comfortable with the night, watching from the woods as the party wound down at the house on Castle Creek Road, people getting into their expensive cars and driving away, leaving just the core group. Shortly after, the young man came out and made his unsteady way to the deck railing. He had spiky hair and a scarecrow frame. He looked down at the rushing water, then up at the stars. Landry could see his smile even from where he was. The kid’s skinny arms hugged his body, as if he couldn’t quite believe his good fortune. Tipsy— more than tipsy, inebriated— but something had delighted him, thrilled him. Something had gone very right for him today. The young man twirled around, looking at the stars. Mesmerized by them. He could have been the leading man in his own musical— the wonderful story of his life. He could barely contain his joy. He had less than an hour to live.
Black, J. Carson (2012-02-06). The Shop (p. 1). AmazonEncore. Kindle Edition.
First paragraphs
PROLOGUE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND ASPEN, COLORADO Landry thought: The kid’s positively giddy. Landry had been getting comfortable with the night, watching from the woods as the party wound down at the house on Castle Creek Road, people getting into their expensive cars and driving away, leaving just the core group. Shortly after, the young man came out and made his unsteady way to the deck railing. He had spiky hair and a scarecrow frame. He looked down at the rushing water, then up at the stars. Landry could see his smile even from where he was. The kid’s skinny arms hugged his body, as if he couldn’t quite believe his good fortune. Tipsy— more than tipsy, inebriated— but something had delighted him, thrilled him. Something had gone very right for him today. The young man twirled around, looking at the stars. Mesmerized by them. He could have been the leading man in his own musical— the wonderful story of his life. He could barely contain his joy. He had less than an hour to live.
Black, J. Carson (2012-02-06). The Shop (p. 1). AmazonEncore. Kindle Edition.
April 11, 2012
I had the opportunity recently to read Ms. J. Carson Black’s mystery/thriller “The Shop”. This is my first exposure to the author who has published seven other novels. This is a well written book where the characters are tightly developed and believable.
The plot revolves around ex-SEAL, Cyril Landry, who now finds himself working as a hired killer for the “The Shop”. Landry believes he is working for a black-ops organization which is sanctioned by the government, however, a particularly gruesome assignment where he kills a popular teen idol and her associates causes him to look into the legitimacy of “The Shop” and who controls it.
On another front the local police chief is found dead in a Florida hotel. The local homicide detective, Jolie Burke, is assigned to investigate what could be a suicide or a homicide. The course of her investigation will ultimately connect her to Landry (no spoilers here).
The ending is an action packed confrontation on a private island in Florida and is very well written. Readers won’t be disappointed. I look forward to reading more of Ms. Black’s novels.
The plot revolves around ex-SEAL, Cyril Landry, who now finds himself working as a hired killer for the “The Shop”. Landry believes he is working for a black-ops organization which is sanctioned by the government, however, a particularly gruesome assignment where he kills a popular teen idol and her associates causes him to look into the legitimacy of “The Shop” and who controls it.
On another front the local police chief is found dead in a Florida hotel. The local homicide detective, Jolie Burke, is assigned to investigate what could be a suicide or a homicide. The course of her investigation will ultimately connect her to Landry (no spoilers here).
The ending is an action packed confrontation on a private island in Florida and is very well written. Readers won’t be disappointed. I look forward to reading more of Ms. Black’s novels.
June 3, 2012
I had the opportunity recently to read Ms. J. Carson Black's mystery/thriller "The Shop". This is my first exposure to the author who has published seven other novels. This is a well written book where the characters are tightly developed and believable.
The plot revolves around ex-SEAL, Cyril Landry, who now finds himself working as a hired killer for the "The Shop". Landry believes he is working for a black-ops organization which is sanctioned by the government, however, a particularly gruesome assignment where he kills a popular teen idol and her associates causes him to look into the legitimacy of "The Shop" and who controls it.
On another front the local police chief is found dead in a Florida hotel. The local homicide detective, Jolie Burke, is assigned to investigate what could be a suicide or a homicide. The course of her investigation will ultimately connect her to Landry (no spoilers here).
The ending is an action packed confrontation on a private island in Florida and is very well written. Readers won't be disappointed. I look forward to reading more of Ms. Black's novels.
The plot revolves around ex-SEAL, Cyril Landry, who now finds himself working as a hired killer for the "The Shop". Landry believes he is working for a black-ops organization which is sanctioned by the government, however, a particularly gruesome assignment where he kills a popular teen idol and her associates causes him to look into the legitimacy of "The Shop" and who controls it.
On another front the local police chief is found dead in a Florida hotel. The local homicide detective, Jolie Burke, is assigned to investigate what could be a suicide or a homicide. The course of her investigation will ultimately connect her to Landry (no spoilers here).
The ending is an action packed confrontation on a private island in Florida and is very well written. Readers won't be disappointed. I look forward to reading more of Ms. Black's novels.
February 20, 2012
I disagree with a majority of the reviews on this book. The author did not dump details like too many thriller writers who wait until the very end to tie everything together. The pieces came together at regular intervals and kept me hooked to the end.
I also disagree that the conclusion was inadequate. I was left with the feeling that a series about either Jolie or Landry could follow, which leaves me hopeful that the author will take up this string in later novels.
At times, the story flipped a bit fast between characters, but overall it served to timely deliver clues to the characters' actions, motives and the ultimate unraveling of the underlying mystery. The premise regarding the function of the celebrity murders was a bit stretched, but it did not serve as the main theme, so I place this slight flaw at the bottom of my list. The good qualities far outweigh it.
I also disagree that the conclusion was inadequate. I was left with the feeling that a series about either Jolie or Landry could follow, which leaves me hopeful that the author will take up this string in later novels.
At times, the story flipped a bit fast between characters, but overall it served to timely deliver clues to the characters' actions, motives and the ultimate unraveling of the underlying mystery. The premise regarding the function of the celebrity murders was a bit stretched, but it did not serve as the main theme, so I place this slight flaw at the bottom of my list. The good qualities far outweigh it.
May 5, 2016
I have mixed feelings about this book. I read it because I had read the second book in this series, and I was trying to catch up with all the events referred to in the second book. This one starts out with the title character killing a popular singer and her retinue as part of his contract with the government, and then wondering how killing her would help the country. As he begins to investigate, he realizes he has been used by some rogues in the government to provide distraction from other events, and so he starts trying to shut them down. It´s a little hard for me to accept how casually he kills, even if he does think it´s for the good of the country, but it is an exciting story. Woven into it is the story of a police officer who is trying to investigate a murder, and gets involved because she is related to (although mostly estranged from) one of the villains.
July 11, 2011
I'm not impressed with this book. I like the genre, but this one doesn't hold my attention. I'm about 75% of the way through it, so I'll trudge on. I think part of the problem is that this male author doesn't write the lead female character well. His female character happens to be a police officer, but she is written like every other female police officer, which is either too fragile emotionally, or has abilities that suspend reality. This character is actually rather lifeless in the action department (I'm not finished, something may turn), and has some sort of weepy backstory developing. When I finish the book, I may update this review. But so far, that's my story and I'm sticking to it...
November 13, 2015
Didn't enjoy the writing style. Little differentiation between characters.
As the title says, I find the writing style choppy and abrupt. We're introduced to numerous characters, all of who think and speak in the same jarring way, so it's hard to differentiate between them.
Here's a paraphrased example of what I mean by the style:
"She knew Jane worked for Linda. Linda liked candy. Candy was found at the crime scene. She needed to talk to Jane about Linda's candy."
"He knew he shouldn't have survived. But he didn't know why. Maybe he could find out who that guy was. The mysterious man who saved him."
This kept me from connecting to the characters and the story. If you like this style, great. It's just not working for me.
As the title says, I find the writing style choppy and abrupt. We're introduced to numerous characters, all of who think and speak in the same jarring way, so it's hard to differentiate between them.
Here's a paraphrased example of what I mean by the style:
"She knew Jane worked for Linda. Linda liked candy. Candy was found at the crime scene. She needed to talk to Jane about Linda's candy."
"He knew he shouldn't have survived. But he didn't know why. Maybe he could find out who that guy was. The mysterious man who saved him."
This kept me from connecting to the characters and the story. If you like this style, great. It's just not working for me.
August 28, 2011
I sampled The Shop and could tell instantly that J. Carson Black could write. The full novel didn't disappoint on that score, but I found myself wishing I'd been her editor. The parallel structure, bouncing back and forth between an assassin's quest for revenge and a homicide detective's investigation of a suspicious death, gave me the sense of reading two books at once...maybe one of those wonderful old Ace Doubles. Eventually the storylines come together, but too late.
I'm definitely going to read more J. Carson Black, and I did enjoy The Shop, but I don't think the structure worked to the author's advantage.
I'm definitely going to read more J. Carson Black, and I did enjoy The Shop, but I don't think the structure worked to the author's advantage.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews