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Sam Acquillo Hamptons Mystery #7
Back Lash
As Sam Acquillo tells us in the early pages of Back Lash, "Not everyone gets to live their adult lives orbiting a central mystery." But that's how it's been for Sam, whose entire existence has been defined by a single, horrific event. Now that event has reached out from the deep past, an unwanted visitor, and Sam is forced to unpack, like a Russian doll, secrets within secrets, each more ominous than the one before. What is revealed would be disturbing enough were it not also so personal--not a welcome development for a man who once said, "Avoidance, rationalization, and denial are highly underrated coping strategies."The action moves from Southampton to the Bronx, where Sam once prowled in the part-time care of his father, owner of a truck-repair business and of a temper that stood out even on the mean streets. It's here that Sam learns that evil history doesn't only repeat itself, it can improve upon the original; that no matter how things change, the world of cops and criminals, priests, power brokers, wise guys, and even wiser old bartenders stays the same--or gets much, much worse.
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Published May 31, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 21, 2016
The previous books in this series have been outstanding examples of crime fiction, but this latest entry seems somewhat unfinished, not nearly as polished as its predecessors. The plot is weakly structured and the narrative is undistinguished. At best, an average book in this otherwise exceptional series. Read our full review, here: http://www.mysteriousreviews.com/myst...
February 6, 2017
When Sam Acquillo gets the chance to solve the mystery of his father's murder from 40 years ago, he's reluctant to step up. From flashbacks we learn of how abusive his father was to both Sam and his mother. Yet despite that, he's convinced to at least follow the slim lead.
As usual things heat up and Sam ends up stirring a hornet's nest that gets him stung more than once.
I always enjoy Chris Knopf's writing and this is no exception. However, I had a few problems with this 7th book in the series. One, I couldn't understand why Sam would even bother to look into what was the murder of a man he hated even if he was his father. That was even more of a serious question when Sam is attacked and nearly killed a number of times. I guess it speaks to Sam's general stubborn character. He might have given up if he hadn't been challenged. Then it was more about defiance than caring about what really happened to the monster who was his father.
Secondly, the notion that he could go back and investigate something 40 years ago so easily, well, it just seemed incredibly far fetched.
And thirdly, his girlfriend who normally plays a big role in his books, is hardly in this one. He spends most of his time with the female cold case investigator. It felt like he was cheating, and in one instance, it becomes cheating.
Overall, it was a good read, but not as good as some of the previous books in the series. It just ends with a flatness that's unusual for these stories.
As usual things heat up and Sam ends up stirring a hornet's nest that gets him stung more than once.
I always enjoy Chris Knopf's writing and this is no exception. However, I had a few problems with this 7th book in the series. One, I couldn't understand why Sam would even bother to look into what was the murder of a man he hated even if he was his father. That was even more of a serious question when Sam is attacked and nearly killed a number of times. I guess it speaks to Sam's general stubborn character. He might have given up if he hadn't been challenged. Then it was more about defiance than caring about what really happened to the monster who was his father.
Secondly, the notion that he could go back and investigate something 40 years ago so easily, well, it just seemed incredibly far fetched.
And thirdly, his girlfriend who normally plays a big role in his books, is hardly in this one. He spends most of his time with the female cold case investigator. It felt like he was cheating, and in one instance, it becomes cheating.
Overall, it was a good read, but not as good as some of the previous books in the series. It just ends with a flatness that's unusual for these stories.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2019
Not Knopf's best, perhaps, but a good read nevertheless.
This struck me as very different from the rest of the series. It is less zany and somehow more serious, and in that sense more literary. The main difference lies in the plot. First, it is retrospective, involving Sam's father's murder decades ago. Second, it is not as directly about a crime. Although a murder, of course, is one, the focus here is much more on Sam's antecedents and unraveling the murder seems somewhat incidental. Somehow at the end, you feel like you know Sam a lot better.
I also enjoyed the sense Knopf gives of life in the Bronx, a part of NYC I do not know well. And Madelyn Wollencroft is a great character, as are some of the more peripheral ones such as Orfio Pagliero.
But I thought the ending was somewhat off base. Maybe it's because the murder was unimportant in the story. The focus of the book shifts abruptly, though I can't think of another way the story could have ended, I guess.
This struck me as very different from the rest of the series. It is less zany and somehow more serious, and in that sense more literary. The main difference lies in the plot. First, it is retrospective, involving Sam's father's murder decades ago. Second, it is not as directly about a crime. Although a murder, of course, is one, the focus here is much more on Sam's antecedents and unraveling the murder seems somewhat incidental. Somehow at the end, you feel like you know Sam a lot better.
I also enjoyed the sense Knopf gives of life in the Bronx, a part of NYC I do not know well. And Madelyn Wollencroft is a great character, as are some of the more peripheral ones such as Orfio Pagliero.
But I thought the ending was somewhat off base. Maybe it's because the murder was unimportant in the story. The focus of the book shifts abruptly, though I can't think of another way the story could have ended, I guess.
December 22, 2018
I won this preview edition through Goodreads giveaway.
Although this is my first exposure to Chris Knopf's Sam Acquillo series, it is a good stand alone. Sam's father was murdered 40 years ago and the case is still open. Joining him in the search for the killer is Madelyn Wollencroft, a cold case detective with the NYPD. The search for old time mob players in the Bronx becomes dangerous as the case begins to develop. This is a good mystery that includes some interesting characters.
Although this is my first exposure to Chris Knopf's Sam Acquillo series, it is a good stand alone. Sam's father was murdered 40 years ago and the case is still open. Joining him in the search for the killer is Madelyn Wollencroft, a cold case detective with the NYPD. The search for old time mob players in the Bronx becomes dangerous as the case begins to develop. This is a good mystery that includes some interesting characters.
November 23, 2023
Honor, vengeance, not sure where this should fall - there's a lot going on in a relatively short story. Narration was good, but this may be better as a physical read to keep count on all the characters.
November 27, 2023
Sam gets a visit from a man who says that someone wants to talk to him about his father’s unsolved murder 40 years ago. Sam makes the visit and begins the search for not only the killers, but the reason
August 15, 2017
I was worried this book would be sad, but I was wrong. It was great being with Sam again.
June 2, 2021
Another solid installment.
February 9, 2024
7th book in series. A man who knew his father comes to Sam > 40 years after his father was murdered to talk to him about the murder.
May 17, 2024
Suspenseful and with a story more cogent than the previous installment, I found this one quite enjoyable in spite of the dubious premise of solving a crime after 40 years.
March 9, 2017
With nudging from the women in his life, the ever-pragmatic Sam Acquillo has to leave Little Peconic Bay and his Adirondack chair in BACK LASH to return to the Bronx and re-visit the circumstances of his perpetually-belligerent father’s murder 40 years before. He reluctantly is immersed in “a conspiracy, conceived by a cabal of dead fathers, each having left children behind to be tormented by their mysteries, their sins…” (p200). Sam is aided once again by the frequent Batgirl to his Bat-Man – attorney Jackie Swaitkowski – as he prowls the mean streets of the city, riling up a slumbering crime family. BACK LASH also introduces a promising new supporting character: “cold case” NYPD detective Lt. Madelyn Wollencraft. After seven headlining appearances, Chris Knopf has made his irascible, relentless, fists-ready series hero a welcome presence, and the plots are a solid mix of atmospheric detail and complex criminality. Sam Acquillo rarely disappoints.
February 9, 2017
Another great entry in the Sam Aquillo series.
July 27, 2016
Sam Acquillo searches for the truth but finds evil masked by brutal power! The sixth Sam Acquillo mystery involves Sam in family affairs that he was sometimes aware of...but mostly, not. He is asked to look into the death of his father and finds out more than he expected. Using contacts provided by the South Hampton police chief, Sam follows clues and interviews people that he hasn't seen in over 40 years. He revisits neighborhoods of his youth and dredges up memories long buried...proving that sometimes, you can go home again. Fast paced with snappy dialogue and an intricate plot, this was my first Samy Acquillo mystery, but it won't be my last! Hats off to the goodreads giveaway program for bestowing a free copy of this book on me and providing me with another great author to follow!
July 4, 2016
we know sams dad was killed in a bar fight. now he is investagating why that happened. two men followed his dad into the bathroom in the bar and killed him. he thinks it might have something to do with the mob. he finds out he has a half sister and remembers her coming to the beach with her mom while he was there with his dad, not knowing that was his sister. he meets her. her mom is dead too.
the only thing i dont like about this book so far is there is very little eddy the dog! otherwise this is one of his best books!
it was one of the best sam books. he figured out who killed his dad. he was almost killed trapped underground with a female cop but they got out at the last minute. really exciting and a great book!
the only thing i dont like about this book so far is there is very little eddy the dog! otherwise this is one of his best books!
it was one of the best sam books. he figured out who killed his dad. he was almost killed trapped underground with a female cop but they got out at the last minute. really exciting and a great book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 28, 2016
A good story, but to be honest, I found his writing to be a bit tedious. I wanted him to get to the point faster than he did. Maybe I didn't rate it higher because I found so little in the main character's life (Sam Acquillo) to connect to. I found that Acquillo trying to retrace events from 40 years ago to solve his father's murder a little far fetched. My wife liked the story a lot which is why I read it.
Bruce
Bruce
December 5, 2016
Chris Knopf's books are consistently good reads, and it's great to see Sam Acquillo back. In this one, we learn about his childhood/early years as he traces what happened with his father (killed in a bar).
And a new character who presumably will continue in future books?
And a new character who presumably will continue in future books?
July 22, 2016
Chris Knopf does not disappoint!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews