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Lamb and Lavagnino #1
Palindrome
Private Eye Frank Lamb's business is simple: He finds things. Be it the world’s hottest pepper seed in a South American dictator's safe or a pair of Italian art forgers sipping Prosecco in a Miami hotel room, he delivers the goods and collects his check, never with a smile. Work is work, and he doesn’t let it get in the way of the life he’s made for himself and his ten-year-old daughter, Sadie.
But when a staggeringly beautiful woman offers him a small fortune to find a cassette tape, curiosity gets the better of him. It contains, she explains, a recording her sister’s kidnapper made of her last three minutes on Earth. She conveniently fails to mention the unsettling effects the tape is rumored to have on listeners.
Frank takes the case, and enlists the help of reclusive tracker Courtney Lavagnino to pick up a trail that's been cold for five years. As their search leads them through a horrifying labyrinth of murder and madness, it becomes clear they're chasing much more than a memento.
But when a staggeringly beautiful woman offers him a small fortune to find a cassette tape, curiosity gets the better of him. It contains, she explains, a recording her sister’s kidnapper made of her last three minutes on Earth. She conveniently fails to mention the unsettling effects the tape is rumored to have on listeners.
Frank takes the case, and enlists the help of reclusive tracker Courtney Lavagnino to pick up a trail that's been cold for five years. As their search leads them through a horrifying labyrinth of murder and madness, it becomes clear they're chasing much more than a memento.
387 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 21, 2016
60 people are currently reading
808 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
June 21, 2016
Smart, creepy, and the twists and turns blew my mind. I cannot recommend this book highly enough!
February 7, 2017
This is an entertaining thriller with likable characters. The plot is bold and original. This was a pretty quick read for me. The whole idea of a tape recording what someone said after they were murdered really intrigued me. Not to mention that anyone who had listened to this tape were now strange things afterward. Instantly got me hooked.
October 3, 2017
Palindrome isn't the genre of book I usually go for, but I'd heard such good things about it that I figured I'd give it a shot and I'm glad I did. Rinsky's got a real gift for imagery and putting you in the scene without being too flowery or obvious about it. His characters and scenes come to life in a way that may want you to reconsider reading this before going to bed at night.
The story was so engaging that I ended up staying up many hours past my bedtime in order to finish it; now I'm pumped to give The Binding a go.
The story was so engaging that I ended up staying up many hours past my bedtime in order to finish it; now I'm pumped to give The Binding a go.
December 11, 2017
Crazy good!
I've had this book for sometime now, and finally got around to reading it. Man, what a creepy book! ( And I mean in a good way). This was actually one of the most truly scary books I've ever read. Talk about tense! I barreled through this thing while I kept looking over my shoulder the whole time. Who the hell is this E.Z. Rinsky? and how does he top this one? I don't know , but I plan on reading anything I can find by this author.I love it when I get blindsided by some new author like this! I loved it! It's easy to recommend this one! And I do!
I've had this book for sometime now, and finally got around to reading it. Man, what a creepy book! ( And I mean in a good way). This was actually one of the most truly scary books I've ever read. Talk about tense! I barreled through this thing while I kept looking over my shoulder the whole time. Who the hell is this E.Z. Rinsky? and how does he top this one? I don't know , but I plan on reading anything I can find by this author.I love it when I get blindsided by some new author like this! I loved it! It's easy to recommend this one! And I do!
July 6, 2017
Elmore Leonard-ish main characters with plenty of language, violence, and some sex - not for the faint of heart. Intriguing plot.
July 20, 2017
I've wanted to read this book for a while, but my library didn’t own a copy, and I’m trying not to buy any books until I read more of the books I already own… But, I found an ebook through the digital library, so it’s all good now…
This was a mystery/suspense/thriller/(kinda)horror book. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I just saw that the next book in the series would be published in the spring, which I will definitely read.
That’s my endorsement, so now; let’s get down to the nitty- gritty.
Nitty- Gritty:
A single father/ P.I.: Frank Lamb. He’s the normal PI archetype- tough with a soft side. The soft side is his daughter Sadie, whom he adores. They make ends meet, but raising a kid in The Big Apple is expensive, so when a mysterious woman shows up at Frank’s door and offers to pay him $350,000 to find a cassette tape of a murder, he’s enthusiastic, but wary. The woman’s not quite right. And her beauty is a bit much. And why does she wear gloves? But, money’s money, so Frank agrees to take the job. He knows he’ll need help so he hires an old partner, Courtney, to be the so-called “brains” of the operation. Courtney is tall, incredibly skinny, a Vegan, and a Yogi. Oh yeah, and Courtney’s a man. (Breaking the tough- guy stereotype, I like it!)
These two make a great team, and Courtney softens Frank’s hard edges a bit. I like the pair a lot, which is good because I wasn’t a huge fan of Frank at first.
Things get weird fast, and the tape becomes its own preternatural force driving a lot of people to do a lot of bad things.
At times the story becomes gruesome, but Frank and Courtney’s chemistry lighten the mood, so it’s never too heavy to handle.
I’ll stop there, because it’s best to not know anything going in to this novel.
Here’s the biggest problems for me: the plot, suspense, characters... the whole gamut was a great set- up, but the end was a bit of a let down. I feel like everything we’d been building toward got explained and solved way too quickly. My one great hope is since the next book is coming out soon, these books will be more like one long story rather then individual stories within a series.
July 29, 2021
I finished this book a couple of days ago, and each time I think on it I like it a little less.
The narrator, Frank Lamb, is a complete bozo. I cannot suspend disbelief enough to accept that he ever had any kind of success as a "finder". At one point he leaves a recorded voicemail to the dubious Greta, stating his full name and a confession about breaking into a high security facility for the criminally insane. In the very beginning he pulls a gun on a teenage clerk at an ice cream shop. This essentially sums up the dynamic of his character, and he's the protagonist.
The other characters are even worse. They are all 2-dimensional, insipid archetypes...I mean stereotypes...and clumsy at that. Any physical details or personality traits present in any of them seem to serve only as fodder to illustrate what a complete dingus Frank Lamb is.
I was forced to suspend disbelief way too many times throughout this novel. The worst one was when they broke into the mental facility and Frank Lamb dripped blood all over the place, and then as the narrator states (and I'm paraphrasing) that it's fine because no one's going to care enough to investigate this incident...and I, the reader, am just supposed to accept that. Yeah right.
The concept for the plot was intriguing enough, and the reason that I bothered to finish the book at all. However, this...like almost any story that tries to tackle the subject of life, or rather what comes after...fell short of being satisfactory.
I feel like this story both took itself too seriously, and not seriously enough, and achieved only the worst of both worlds. It could have pulled off campy, if it had gone in that direction, or else it needed more layers and the characters to be more developed. Stronger motives and objectives.
The narrator, Frank Lamb, is a complete bozo. I cannot suspend disbelief enough to accept that he ever had any kind of success as a "finder". At one point he leaves a recorded voicemail to the dubious Greta, stating his full name and a confession about breaking into a high security facility for the criminally insane. In the very beginning he pulls a gun on a teenage clerk at an ice cream shop. This essentially sums up the dynamic of his character, and he's the protagonist.
The other characters are even worse. They are all 2-dimensional, insipid archetypes...I mean stereotypes...and clumsy at that. Any physical details or personality traits present in any of them seem to serve only as fodder to illustrate what a complete dingus Frank Lamb is.
I was forced to suspend disbelief way too many times throughout this novel. The worst one was when they broke into the mental facility and Frank Lamb dripped blood all over the place, and then as the narrator states (and I'm paraphrasing) that it's fine because no one's going to care enough to investigate this incident...and I, the reader, am just supposed to accept that. Yeah right.
The concept for the plot was intriguing enough, and the reason that I bothered to finish the book at all. However, this...like almost any story that tries to tackle the subject of life, or rather what comes after...fell short of being satisfactory.
I feel like this story both took itself too seriously, and not seriously enough, and achieved only the worst of both worlds. It could have pulled off campy, if it had gone in that direction, or else it needed more layers and the characters to be more developed. Stronger motives and objectives.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2021
this book has such bad pacing, such stereotypical ways to describe "crude men" and their actions, and oh my god the way women were written... zero personality, zero capability to connote anything other than "sensuality" or whatever.
the main character is such a drag, and not even in a fun way. and the "side kick"? i guess he was kinda fun but at ¾ of the book seems to have a complete change of personality and attitude, then suddenly went back to being his original self, as if someone else got ahold of the transcript and did whatever they wanted with the story and characters.
gosh this was not fun. NAUUURRR 'CAUSE I STRUGGLED!!! AND ALSO THE ENDING AND THE R*PE??? ATTEMPTED AS A S*X SCENE? BYE!! this has such "tell me you're a male author without telling me you're a male author" vibes
the main character is such a drag, and not even in a fun way. and the "side kick"? i guess he was kinda fun but at ¾ of the book seems to have a complete change of personality and attitude, then suddenly went back to being his original self, as if someone else got ahold of the transcript and did whatever they wanted with the story and characters.
gosh this was not fun. NAUUURRR 'CAUSE I STRUGGLED!!! AND ALSO THE ENDING AND THE R*PE??? ATTEMPTED AS A S*X SCENE? BYE!! this has such "tell me you're a male author without telling me you're a male author" vibes
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2018
Best of books, worst of books
I rarely have a book that consumes me like this one did. And i mean consumes as literally as a book can. It took several days of productivity out of my life, yet was worth the time. I will look at this author's other work carefully and probably will succumb to try to read him again. I congratulate him on the skill, or magic perhaps that he possesses to write at this level. I would recommend this book to anyone who gets engaged in their reading beyond the norm and is looking for depth of thought.
I rarely have a book that consumes me like this one did. And i mean consumes as literally as a book can. It took several days of productivity out of my life, yet was worth the time. I will look at this author's other work carefully and probably will succumb to try to read him again. I congratulate him on the skill, or magic perhaps that he possesses to write at this level. I would recommend this book to anyone who gets engaged in their reading beyond the norm and is looking for depth of thought.
November 7, 2022
I read this entirely because my friend Ephy is the author. I was not expecting much, but I was beyond pleasantly surprised. It was exciting, scary, funny and even insightful. I thought the characters had depth and the story was unique. It’s not easy to write a gripping thriller but Ephy succeeded without a shadow of a doubt. I read the whole thing in two sittings and I can’t wait to read more of his work
January 30, 2019
This just wasn't for me. Lots of gratuitous violence and language, silliness and unbelievable crime story. Nothing really rang true for me. However, it was an interesting premise - that of people making a tape when someone died to try and find out what they saw on the other side.
January 3, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. The main character comes across as gritty but not unreal. Some of the tense changes were odd, ie. present, past, etc. I enjoyed the conclusion of the story and the characters arcs.
March 12, 2022
Nebylo to špatné, ale někdy se zdálo zbytečně mnoho textu...
Ztrácelo to pak na dynamice a bylo to místy trochu nudné. Nápad dobrý. Prolog byl dobře napsaný. Své čtenáře si to najde, za mě průměr, ale já nejsem cílová skupina. Takže jsem napjatá a zmrazená nebyla.
Ztrácelo to pak na dynamice a bylo to místy trochu nudné. Nápad dobrý. Prolog byl dobře napsaný. Své čtenáře si to najde, za mě průměr, ale já nejsem cílová skupina. Takže jsem napjatá a zmrazená nebyla.
May 31, 2017
Not my usual creepy far but I LIKED IT!!
July 3, 2017
Beginning to end, I simply loved it.
July 13, 2017
Gumshoe retro
It kept me interested, good twists, but very male centric. Not thought provoking. I would recommend it as a fun read.
It kept me interested, good twists, but very male centric. Not thought provoking. I would recommend it as a fun read.
December 19, 2017
This author has it
Read his 2 books in 2 weeks and I was trying to read slow to savor them.
Really good stuff!
Read his 2 books in 2 weeks and I was trying to read slow to savor them.
Really good stuff!
March 28, 2018
This is the first of two books by the brother of one of Brendan's best friends in high school. Fun!
April 14, 2018
I didn't find it as convincing as others apparently did, and clearly didn't finish the story.
May 14, 2024
This was a really wild ride. The ending is a little ambiguous, which I like, but the mystery leading up to the ending held me spellbound. Really well done.
July 15, 2016
This is my first novel from EZ Rinsky and I highly enjoyed it.
Mystery and murder, filled with lots of suspense and unnerved thrills of sleuthing around. All my favorite things put together for an adventure filled read.
Here we have Private Investigator Frank Lamb, low on funds and practically jobless, embarrassingly just got done "persuading" an overpriced ice cream seller to accept a four dollar pay for a six dollar ice cream cup with his megnun gun tied to his waist. Yes, it had came down to him frightening a seller to take his four dollars since he didn't have any other cash on him for his little girl. He should be guilty but, he had no other choice, he wasn't going to stand at the back of the long line again just for a small cup of ice cream. So, when miraculously an investigation job lands at his door, he was saved. A three hundred thousand dollar worth investigation. Cash only.
Of course he was hesitant but the thought of all that money couldn't be erased from his mind. He isn't money hungry or anything but it'll sure keep his daughter well and secure for the future. The investigation however is what worries him. It will be dangerous. And just to find a missing cassette tape.
But he has tagged along a professional tracker to help in the investigation, fellow PI Courtney Lavagnino. Don't be fooled by the name folks - I sure did- this Courtney is great at his job and can find one little seed in a bin full of corn. Yes, Courtney is a man. And to think this was going to be a murder mystery with a hint of romance between the two investigators. Ha!
Anyhow, with all the strangeness around this tape, the sleuthing becomes more than what they had bargained for but made then much more adamant to solve the case.
Frank and Courtney are perfect partners in what they do and I can absolutely see them opening their own PI operation business. They both have opposite ways of thinking and are great at what they do and one obviously can't do authorities other in investigating clients' cases.
Frank we saw as more of a laid back father, coming and going but with purpose. He has priorities but will do with whatever comes his way, even bargaining with illegal doings. He's funny and knows how things "work" in the business and can change character as circumstances needs it. He's loving and soft but can also be tough and intimidating, but mostly he's always anxious. He's the charmer of the pair.
Courtney on the other had is more of the opposite. He's younger and tall but scrawny which makes him look like an addict or just plain hungry. A hippie, says Frank. Strangely he only drinks tea, no coffee or alcohol, and he's vegan. He's the more rational one and has reasons for why he does and doesn't do things. While Frank can accept and work with a pimp/sex trafficker, Courtney will not accept payment or have anything to do with any of those stuff. He's brilliant and a bit of a history buff but it absolutely helps in what he does. However, he can also be a bit dense when it comes to certain things and can be forthright and impatient, which gets him into trouble.
The different characters we met in the story were fascinating. They were each given a personality that changed how the story and investigation moved. And gave insight on how they dealt with the knowledge of this "tape" roaming around. They also had backbone and depth to their character, and I liked how they were described through the eyes of Frank.
It was exciting and suspenseful sleuthing for answers with Frank and Courtney. With each new lead it brought on a new horizon onto the case but also dragged confusion and more mystery to the investigation. It got me on the edge of my seat waiting for something, anything to click and tie up all the loose and strange clues. There wasn't so much as danger coming towards them but they can sure stir up some hot pots sleuthing around.
The story was gripping with twists and turns and the Author is fantastic at creating some very vivid imagery. Very creative and very detailed. Lots of thinking and research were put into this novel to get the right feel for mysteries and crime, which yoy can tell from the way the story is uniquely told but also held the imagination and creativity points through the characters.
One thing I loved about this novel are the titles for the chapter sections. Play, Pause, Fast-forward, and Rewind. It's as if I was "listening" to a cassette tape of the story. Duhh- the whole investigation is looking for a cassette. It made total sense. My mind was blown.
But the outcome of the investigation? Wow!
I absolutely enjoyed this more than I expected and definitely recommend this read. With lots of suspense and unnerved thrills by the mystery and sleuthing for clues in locked away places, this is definitely fabulous for crime solvers. Plus, it has some really great laugh out loud moments, I mean come on, the POV is told from a 45 year old man, there has to be some really great humor and jokes.
*ARC provided by the publisher for honest review.
Mystery and murder, filled with lots of suspense and unnerved thrills of sleuthing around. All my favorite things put together for an adventure filled read.
Here we have Private Investigator Frank Lamb, low on funds and practically jobless, embarrassingly just got done "persuading" an overpriced ice cream seller to accept a four dollar pay for a six dollar ice cream cup with his megnun gun tied to his waist. Yes, it had came down to him frightening a seller to take his four dollars since he didn't have any other cash on him for his little girl. He should be guilty but, he had no other choice, he wasn't going to stand at the back of the long line again just for a small cup of ice cream. So, when miraculously an investigation job lands at his door, he was saved. A three hundred thousand dollar worth investigation. Cash only.
Of course he was hesitant but the thought of all that money couldn't be erased from his mind. He isn't money hungry or anything but it'll sure keep his daughter well and secure for the future. The investigation however is what worries him. It will be dangerous. And just to find a missing cassette tape.
But he has tagged along a professional tracker to help in the investigation, fellow PI Courtney Lavagnino. Don't be fooled by the name folks - I sure did- this Courtney is great at his job and can find one little seed in a bin full of corn. Yes, Courtney is a man. And to think this was going to be a murder mystery with a hint of romance between the two investigators. Ha!
Anyhow, with all the strangeness around this tape, the sleuthing becomes more than what they had bargained for but made then much more adamant to solve the case.
Frank and Courtney are perfect partners in what they do and I can absolutely see them opening their own PI operation business. They both have opposite ways of thinking and are great at what they do and one obviously can't do authorities other in investigating clients' cases.
Frank we saw as more of a laid back father, coming and going but with purpose. He has priorities but will do with whatever comes his way, even bargaining with illegal doings. He's funny and knows how things "work" in the business and can change character as circumstances needs it. He's loving and soft but can also be tough and intimidating, but mostly he's always anxious. He's the charmer of the pair.
Courtney on the other had is more of the opposite. He's younger and tall but scrawny which makes him look like an addict or just plain hungry. A hippie, says Frank. Strangely he only drinks tea, no coffee or alcohol, and he's vegan. He's the more rational one and has reasons for why he does and doesn't do things. While Frank can accept and work with a pimp/sex trafficker, Courtney will not accept payment or have anything to do with any of those stuff. He's brilliant and a bit of a history buff but it absolutely helps in what he does. However, he can also be a bit dense when it comes to certain things and can be forthright and impatient, which gets him into trouble.
The different characters we met in the story were fascinating. They were each given a personality that changed how the story and investigation moved. And gave insight on how they dealt with the knowledge of this "tape" roaming around. They also had backbone and depth to their character, and I liked how they were described through the eyes of Frank.
It was exciting and suspenseful sleuthing for answers with Frank and Courtney. With each new lead it brought on a new horizon onto the case but also dragged confusion and more mystery to the investigation. It got me on the edge of my seat waiting for something, anything to click and tie up all the loose and strange clues. There wasn't so much as danger coming towards them but they can sure stir up some hot pots sleuthing around.
The story was gripping with twists and turns and the Author is fantastic at creating some very vivid imagery. Very creative and very detailed. Lots of thinking and research were put into this novel to get the right feel for mysteries and crime, which yoy can tell from the way the story is uniquely told but also held the imagination and creativity points through the characters.
One thing I loved about this novel are the titles for the chapter sections. Play, Pause, Fast-forward, and Rewind. It's as if I was "listening" to a cassette tape of the story. Duhh- the whole investigation is looking for a cassette. It made total sense. My mind was blown.
But the outcome of the investigation? Wow!
I absolutely enjoyed this more than I expected and definitely recommend this read. With lots of suspense and unnerved thrills by the mystery and sleuthing for clues in locked away places, this is definitely fabulous for crime solvers. Plus, it has some really great laugh out loud moments, I mean come on, the POV is told from a 45 year old man, there has to be some really great humor and jokes.
*ARC provided by the publisher for honest review.
March 31, 2024
Nope. Not for me.
Didn’t like the characters. The sex scenes were odd. Really didn’t like this book. Timelines and ability to do things just didn’t make sense
Didn’t like the characters. The sex scenes were odd. Really didn’t like this book. Timelines and ability to do things just didn’t make sense
March 13, 2017
This is a refreshing take on the mystery/thriller. Don't get me wrong, I love Mitch Rapp, John Puller, and Jack Reacher, but they are all highly trained, big, strong, really smart guys with amazing memories who can pretty much dispense with the baddies at will. This guy, Frank Lamb, is not one of those. He's middle-aged private investigator raising a 10-year-old daughter on his own. He's a little soft, and although certainly not stupid, not brilliant either. You know, like most of us. His sidekick, Courtney Lavagnino, is an eccentric scarecrow of a guy, and their banter breaks up the tension as they try to get out of a mess they've gotten involved in while time is ticking... I do have questions about the ending. Just did a quick Google search and found there is to be a sequel, which Rinsky is working on now. That should answer my questions. I hope.
September 11, 2016
I'm trying to decide whether to rate this 3 or 4. It's a good book. I enjoyed it. I suspect ratings are somewhat inflated, but also a 3 doesn't quite do the book justice. This is a 3.6 for me that I'm rounding up to 4.
Overall, good book, fun mystery and I didn't guess the answer, but it totally make sense when it got there. I was concerned that an important question was going to be left unresolved (with an 'it's bad' excuse) but it was not. Instead cleverly just enough was given to make sense within the context of the story and not quite enought to drive the main character insane. The characters were generally fun and fairly likable. They were not clones. All the players, even side characters, were fully realized with their own personalities, foibles and quirks and very different voices.
The issues that keep me from giving the book a 5:
There's a few things with moral compass. The characters believe they're generally good people, but prove in some major ways that they aren't really. This just makes them human, but it kinda feels like they get away with more than they should and do less to (for example) close down a human trafficking ring than is within their power to do before the story even starts.
There's also a few fairly unrealistic things - like the effects of vitamins shot into the bloodstream. Say what? It reads like a drug. And places where general descriptions are just weird. People's faces tend to gather all kinds of color that I've never observed in real people - glowing orange? There are lots of things about how people smell (sweat and general disarray and sexual odor) but little about the environment and again some odd descriptions that put me a bit off-balance.
There's one unexplained, although not important to the story, disappearance that tends to niggle at the edge of my mind.
Finally, the main character is a bit too naive and certainly too quick to run off on a wild goose chase that he knows nothing about, without really looking for information, and with no direction to go just because he finds the person that hired him attractive, is tempted by lots of money, and, I guess, finds the mystery interesting. And way way too inclined to drop his daughter to do so. It set up the story, but also makes him rather shallow and throughout he could stand to have more agency/skills.
Overall good, solid fun book. Read if if you like mysteries with a hint of the supernatural.
Overall, good book, fun mystery and I didn't guess the answer, but it totally make sense when it got there. I was concerned that an important question was going to be left unresolved (with an 'it's bad' excuse) but it was not. Instead cleverly just enough was given to make sense within the context of the story and not quite enought to drive the main character insane. The characters were generally fun and fairly likable. They were not clones. All the players, even side characters, were fully realized with their own personalities, foibles and quirks and very different voices.
The issues that keep me from giving the book a 5:
There's a few things with moral compass. The characters believe they're generally good people, but prove in some major ways that they aren't really. This just makes them human, but it kinda feels like they get away with more than they should and do less to (for example) close down a human trafficking ring than is within their power to do before the story even starts.
There's also a few fairly unrealistic things - like the effects of vitamins shot into the bloodstream. Say what? It reads like a drug. And places where general descriptions are just weird. People's faces tend to gather all kinds of color that I've never observed in real people - glowing orange? There are lots of things about how people smell (sweat and general disarray and sexual odor) but little about the environment and again some odd descriptions that put me a bit off-balance.
There's one unexplained, although not important to the story, disappearance that tends to niggle at the edge of my mind.
Finally, the main character is a bit too naive and certainly too quick to run off on a wild goose chase that he knows nothing about, without really looking for information, and with no direction to go just because he finds the person that hired him attractive, is tempted by lots of money, and, I guess, finds the mystery interesting. And way way too inclined to drop his daughter to do so. It set up the story, but also makes him rather shallow and throughout he could stand to have more agency/skills.
Overall good, solid fun book. Read if if you like mysteries with a hint of the supernatural.
December 9, 2016
Palindrome is a thoroughly funny and highly intriguing story whether you read it forward or backward. It hooks you on the first page with a bizarre and grotesque conspiracy that will keep you turning the page until you can discover the truth in an eerie climax that’ll haunt you long after you close the book.
Frank Lamb, Palindrome’s infinitely self-deprecating hero, is a breath of fresh air. There’s a characteristic uncertainty in his observations that make it seem like you’re figuring out the mystery alongside him. Combine that with a slew of witty asides and you’ll find yourself relating to Lamb quite easily. Unlike a lot of the tough wise-cracking detectives out there, Lamb doesn’t always take the high road or produce the right answer, often reacting to desperate times with desperate measures. Seeing no other answer, you may find yourself wondering if you’d do the same things he does in his most agonizing circumstances. Rinsky doesn’t shy away from revealing the consequences, though, as Lamb’s body and his pride often take a beating along the way. Fortunately, his sense of humor never falters.
Palindrome’s pace ramps up with each macabre discovery, sending you barreling toward the end. Like me, you’ll finish it quickly and eagerly await the next adventure.
Frank Lamb, Palindrome’s infinitely self-deprecating hero, is a breath of fresh air. There’s a characteristic uncertainty in his observations that make it seem like you’re figuring out the mystery alongside him. Combine that with a slew of witty asides and you’ll find yourself relating to Lamb quite easily. Unlike a lot of the tough wise-cracking detectives out there, Lamb doesn’t always take the high road or produce the right answer, often reacting to desperate times with desperate measures. Seeing no other answer, you may find yourself wondering if you’d do the same things he does in his most agonizing circumstances. Rinsky doesn’t shy away from revealing the consequences, though, as Lamb’s body and his pride often take a beating along the way. Fortunately, his sense of humor never falters.
Palindrome’s pace ramps up with each macabre discovery, sending you barreling toward the end. Like me, you’ll finish it quickly and eagerly await the next adventure.
February 10, 2017
Really enjoyed this book! Never read anything by the author before and I was in the mood for a horror. I stumbled across this book and decided to pick it up. I don't read as much as I think I do, so it took me a little while to get through it. I read it on my kindle almost every night before falling asleep but the last two days I couldn't put it down. It's a great thriller!
June 21, 2016
I went to the author's Bar mitzvah when he was just a boy! Overall, it's pretty funny that "Rinsky" isn't a palindrome but the book is called Palindrome.
Overall, I would recommend this book for insane goof balls. This book is frankly hilarious, but also includes very serious moments. The book has a beginning, but also concludes strongly. Overall, you won't be sure if you're wiping your tears from sadness or utter hilarity when you read this book.
It's very nice to see Jewish writers finally having success after so many years. One day there will probably also be Jewish athletes in the big leagues, but I digress.
Overall, you should read Palindrome if you are looking for a quirky and bizarre tale about utterly bizzarre and wild topics spanning from love, to mystery.
Overall, I would recommend this book for insane goof balls. This book is frankly hilarious, but also includes very serious moments. The book has a beginning, but also concludes strongly. Overall, you won't be sure if you're wiping your tears from sadness or utter hilarity when you read this book.
It's very nice to see Jewish writers finally having success after so many years. One day there will probably also be Jewish athletes in the big leagues, but I digress.
Overall, you should read Palindrome if you are looking for a quirky and bizarre tale about utterly bizzarre and wild topics spanning from love, to mystery.
December 23, 2016
What an interesting book; very different. Frank "finds" things, whatever the client is looking for. A gorgeous woman hires him to find a cassette recording, made by a kidnapper, of her sister's death. She pays a lot of money and offers a lot more if Frank can recover it in a short period of time. Frank & his friend actually tie a lot of clues & ties together to figure out where the cassette is, but the trail (and the people along it) is very strange. Several deaths are involved, and the folks who've heard the cassette do strange things before they die. Frank isn't quite fast enough, so his 10-year old daughter is kidnapped by the woman to "encourage" Frank to bring the tape to her. Odd story, but it kept moving and followed a certain path that made odd sense.
June 22, 2016
I never thought I was a fan of mystery novels, but this book might make me rethink that... The story is absolutely gripping, the characters are incredibly vivid, and the prose is smooth and often very clever. More than being just a thriller, this story actually tackles some pretty heavy questions about life after death, and offers some pretty original answers. Can't recommend it highly enough--clear your weekend schedule and enjoy!
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