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רצח בין קני הסוכר
"לא ייאמן, זה היה הביטוי הכי מתאים לתאר אותה. יופייה של סמנתה ויין היה לא ייאמן. לא ייאמן שהיא התחתנה איתי. ולגמרי לא ייאמן שהיא מתה."
התובע הציבורי הבכיר במיאמי, אייב בקהאם, עבר תקופה קשה בעקבות מות אשתו האהובה סמנתה. כיום הוא נשוי לאנג'לינה התומכת, ומשקיע את רוב זמנו ומרצו בעבודתו.
כאשר גופת אישה מתגלה בביצות האוורגליידס מוזעק אייב לדרום פלורידה כדי לפקח על החקירה.
במסגרת החקירה מנסה האף-בי-איי ללכוד רוצח סדרתי שזכה לכינוי "הקוצר" בגלל שיטותיו האכזריות; רמז לעברה האפל של פלורידה שבה פועלים עם מצ'טות קצרו קני סוכר בשמש הקופחת.
ולפתע פתאום אנג'לינה נעלמת, והחשדות אופפים את אייב. חבריו הקרובים, משפחתו, עמיתיו והתקשורת כולה מטילים ספק במניעיו. האם נישואיו לא התנהלו כפי שקיווה משום שאהב את סמנתה יותר מדי?
או שמא יש אישה אחרת... ובעל עם צד אפל שרוצה שאשתו החדשה תיעלם?
התובע הציבורי הבכיר במיאמי, אייב בקהאם, עבר תקופה קשה בעקבות מות אשתו האהובה סמנתה. כיום הוא נשוי לאנג'לינה התומכת, ומשקיע את רוב זמנו ומרצו בעבודתו.
כאשר גופת אישה מתגלה בביצות האוורגליידס מוזעק אייב לדרום פלורידה כדי לפקח על החקירה.
במסגרת החקירה מנסה האף-בי-איי ללכוד רוצח סדרתי שזכה לכינוי "הקוצר" בגלל שיטותיו האכזריות; רמז לעברה האפל של פלורידה שבה פועלים עם מצ'טות קצרו קני סוכר בשמש הקופחת.
ולפתע פתאום אנג'לינה נעלמת, והחשדות אופפים את אייב. חבריו הקרובים, משפחתו, עמיתיו והתקשורת כולה מטילים ספק במניעיו. האם נישואיו לא התנהלו כפי שקיווה משום שאהב את סמנתה יותר מדי?
או שמא יש אישה אחרת... ובעל עם צד אפל שרוצה שאשתו החדשה תיעלם?
376 pages, Paperback
First published January 20, 2015
116 people are currently reading
1852 people want to read
About the author
James Grippando
50 books1,185 followers The first thing you should know about bestselling author James Grippando is that he is no longer clueless—or so they say, after “A James Grippando Novel” was a clue for #38 Across in the New York Times crossword puzzle. James is the winner of the Harper Lee Prize for legal fiction and a New York Times bestselling author with more than 30 novels to his credit, including the popular series featuring Miami criminal defense attorney Jack Swyteck. His latest, "Goodbye Girl" (HarperCollins 2024), is the 18th in the Swyteck series. His novels are enjoyed worldwide in 28 languages. As an adjunct professor he teaches "The Law & Lawyers in Modern Literature" at the University of Miami School of Law. He is also counsel at one of the nation’s leading law firms, where he specializes in entertainment and intellectual property law, representing clients who have won more than 40 Tony Awards. He writes in south Florida with Atlas at his side, a faithful golden retriever who has no idea he’s a dog.
Series:
* Jack Swyteck
Series:
* Jack Swyteck
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 348 reviews
October 25, 2021
Abe Beckham, a prosecutor in the Miami State's Attorney Office, is attached to the case of a serial killer operating in the area. The murderer - dubbed 'Cutter' by the media - uses a machete to slaughter white women involved with black men. He then smears their faces with dark ashes and leaves their bodies in sugar cane fields in the Florida Everglades. The darkened faces are considered Cutter's signature. Thus, when the body of a black woman missing it's head is found in the Everglades, authorities aren't sure if Cutter is responsible or if it's the work of a copycat. The body is soon identified as Tyla Tomkins, an attorney that represents a huge sugar cane grower.
Most of the story is narrated in the first person by Abe Beckham, who tells investigators that he knows Tyla Tomkins, and last saw her about 10 years ago.
Because he's acquainted with a possible victim, Abe is removed from the Cutter case. Turns out that Abe is a little more than just 'acquainted' with Tyla and he's forced to admit he had a one-night-stand with the beautiful lawyer all those years ago. Then - when surveillance photos from a classy restaurant come to light - Abe has to fess up that he had dinner with Tyla pretty recently. At this point, I start to think of Abe as "liar liar, pants on fire." So does FBI agent Victoria Santos, who becomes convinced that Abe killed Tyla.
Things get even worse for Abe when someone sends the restaurant photos to his wife, Angelina. The troubled couple have a blowout and the next day Angelina disappears.
Agent Santos now thinks Abe killed his wife as well as Tyla. Santos, in addition to pursuing Cutter, takes it on herself to try to pin a couple of crimes on Abe. This forms the jist of the story.
Through it all, Abe has to deal with JT, the bipolar brother of his first wife Samantha, who died of cancer. JT is under house arrest for acting out in public and is constantly calling Abe in desperation, needing food, reassurance, and company. JT is one of the most vividly drawn characters in the book, and though I can't say I like him, he is compelling.
By the end, who did what is revealed and there are some surprises. There are also some revelations that might not be so surprising.
All in all this is a good suspense story that I'd recommend to mystery fans.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
January 20, 2015
1/20/15: Now Available!
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from Harper Collins Publishers and Edelweiss for the purpose of providing an honest review.
5 Stars!
I absolutely loved this book. I simply could not put it down and found myself guess right up until the very end. I have been a huge fan of James Grippando since I read his 2006 novel while on vacation that year. I have read quite a few of his books but I will admit that I have not read all of them at this point. I have yet to be disappointed in any of his work that I have had the chance to read.
Abe Beckham is a prosecuting attorney at the Miami State Attorney's Office. Abe's first wife Samantha died young and Abe is still very involved with her brother, J. T. and her father, Luther. Abe has recently married Angelina and is moving forward in his life. As part of his work, Abe finds himself involved in a murder case that may be part of a string of murders. All of the previous victims have been white women dating black men and the newest victim is a black woman. Are the murders connected? Is it a copycat murder?
Abe and Angelina have hit a rough patch in their marriage. Angelina does not like how involved Abe is with J. T. and Abe's fidelity is in question when it becomes known that he is connected to the latest victim. Angelina goes missing and is feared to be the newest victim. Abe goes from star prosecutor to the main suspect in his wife's disappearance.
The writing in this book is fantastic. It is told mostly from Abe's point of view who I found to be a likable albeit imperfect character. All of the characters felt realistic to me. The pacing of the story was perfect and I found myself having a very difficult time putting it down.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fast paced book full of twists and turns. This newest book from James Grippando is not part of a series so it is a fantastic place to sample this consistently good author's writing. I plan to look for future works from this author and catch up on a few of his past books as well.
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from Harper Collins Publishers and Edelweiss for the purpose of providing an honest review.
5 Stars!
I absolutely loved this book. I simply could not put it down and found myself guess right up until the very end. I have been a huge fan of James Grippando since I read his 2006 novel while on vacation that year. I have read quite a few of his books but I will admit that I have not read all of them at this point. I have yet to be disappointed in any of his work that I have had the chance to read.
Abe Beckham is a prosecuting attorney at the Miami State Attorney's Office. Abe's first wife Samantha died young and Abe is still very involved with her brother, J. T. and her father, Luther. Abe has recently married Angelina and is moving forward in his life. As part of his work, Abe finds himself involved in a murder case that may be part of a string of murders. All of the previous victims have been white women dating black men and the newest victim is a black woman. Are the murders connected? Is it a copycat murder?
Abe and Angelina have hit a rough patch in their marriage. Angelina does not like how involved Abe is with J. T. and Abe's fidelity is in question when it becomes known that he is connected to the latest victim. Angelina goes missing and is feared to be the newest victim. Abe goes from star prosecutor to the main suspect in his wife's disappearance.
The writing in this book is fantastic. It is told mostly from Abe's point of view who I found to be a likable albeit imperfect character. All of the characters felt realistic to me. The pacing of the story was perfect and I found myself having a very difficult time putting it down.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fast paced book full of twists and turns. This newest book from James Grippando is not part of a series so it is a fantastic place to sample this consistently good author's writing. I plan to look for future works from this author and catch up on a few of his past books as well.
March 17, 2017
this is a take on 'gone girl'. there's a racial angle, a mental illness angle, but petty much, it's 'gone girl' redone. i read to the end, thinking surely, it's not going to end that way. but it did. i'm shocked at the positive reviews.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2015
I'll be honest, I was a bit underwhelmed by this book. Cane and Abe is supposed to be a "spellbinding novel of suspense". Instead, I felt like it was a frustrating mess. The story involves Abe Beckham, a prosecutor for the state of Florida. He is called out the scene of a crime that may include a body left by a serial killer known as Cutter. It turns out that the body was a woman who he had a one night stand with years before. Soon, he is a suspect in the killing.
I had a few things I didn't like about the story. First, I didn't like that way it waffled between Abe's first person past tense POV and everyone else's third person POV. I found that disorienting. Second, I think I would have liked to read about either the serial killer or that murder of Tyla. The serial killer case is solved in a kind out of the blue way and I felt a bit cheated. As for the Tyla murder case, I found myself wanting to throw that book across the room. All of the characters and their decisions were frustrating and exhausting. I could only take so much of it in one sitting. There are a couple of twists in the end, but those didn't make me stop hating the ending. But then I'm not a fan of open-ended endings to begin with so a bit more closure would have been nice. I like my suspense wrapped up in a neat bow and I didn't get that.
The one thing that I did find interesting was the history of the sugar industry and the can cutters. I found myself actually wishing the author would have gone into it more in depth with that story line. Maybe if it had been more about the serial killer, he would have.
I had a few things I didn't like about the story. First, I didn't like that way it waffled between Abe's first person past tense POV and everyone else's third person POV. I found that disorienting. Second, I think I would have liked to read about either the serial killer or that murder of Tyla. The serial killer case is solved in a kind out of the blue way and I felt a bit cheated. As for the Tyla murder case, I found myself wanting to throw that book across the room. All of the characters and their decisions were frustrating and exhausting. I could only take so much of it in one sitting. There are a couple of twists in the end, but those didn't make me stop hating the ending. But then I'm not a fan of open-ended endings to begin with so a bit more closure would have been nice. I like my suspense wrapped up in a neat bow and I didn't get that.
The one thing that I did find interesting was the history of the sugar industry and the can cutters. I found myself actually wishing the author would have gone into it more in depth with that story line. Maybe if it had been more about the serial killer, he would have.
April 13, 2015
Terrible! This book vexed me greatly. I was annoyed because there was a "did he or didn't he" aspect that went on forever regarding Abe, our main character but the drama moved quickly and I thought the book would have a satisfying conclusion. Alas, it did not.
Spoiler Alert:
The last two chapters wrap up in a tidy conclusion with Abe's wife turning out to be crazy and pregnant a la Gone Girl. But Abe Is Still With Her. I don't get it. I'm not a fan of crazy relationships gone bad -- even in literary form. At least in Gone Girl they were both a little wacky. In this book the guy can't figure out if he loves his dead wife more than the crazy current wife who runs off and makes him think she's been kidnapped by a serial killer. That shouldn't be a tough call to make!
Spoiler Alert:
The last two chapters wrap up in a tidy conclusion with Abe's wife turning out to be crazy and pregnant a la Gone Girl. But Abe Is Still With Her. I don't get it. I'm not a fan of crazy relationships gone bad -- even in literary form. At least in Gone Girl they were both a little wacky. In this book the guy can't figure out if he loves his dead wife more than the crazy current wife who runs off and makes him think she's been kidnapped by a serial killer. That shouldn't be a tough call to make!
April 8, 2015
Disappointing book from a respected author whose other books I have enjoyed. I did not find any of the characters particularly engaging and definitely none who were well developed. After a convoluted plot development, the book ended quickly and ambiguously. Part of it seemed like a rip off of Gone Girl.
August 2, 2015
This started fairly promising before diminishing into a hodgepodge mess. 1 of 10 stars
October 14, 2017
Audio book Throughout my listening to this story I felt confused, at loss, and suspended in an unending nightmare. I was thinking that author cleverly put me in the same emotional state as Abe. Then came the ending; which for me did not fit. So a possible 4 became 2.
I recommend this book (audio) to those listeners who appreciate the fine work of narrator Jonathan Davis.
I recommend this book (audio) to those listeners who appreciate the fine work of narrator Jonathan Davis.
April 15, 2019
איזה בלאגן. ספר שמאד לא נעים לקרוא, מאחר שהסופר לא ארגן לעצמו את קווי העלילה לפני הכתיבה.
התובע הציבורי הבכיר במיאמי, אייב בקאהם, נשוי לכלבה תככנית בשם אנג'לינה. אשתו הראשונה סמנתה, נפטרה מסרטן, ולמורת רוחה של אנג'לינה, הוא ממשיך לטפל בגיסו חולה הנפש, שמעסיק אותו מסביב לשעון.
בזירה המקצועית, אייב מנסה לתפוס רוצח סדרתי שקוטל נשים לבנות שהתרועעו עם שחורים, אך הראיות מובילות אליו.
עד כאן הכל נשמע נהדר, אבל מפה מסתעפים המון קווי עלילה נוספים שמסתבכים זה בזה, ובשלב די מוקדם הסופר מאבד את הידיים והרגליים, שוכח איך לצאת מכל קווי העלילה ולא מצליח לסגור את כולם. בסוף יש סמטוכה אחת שלמה וסיום מבאס.
רצח בין קני הסוכר/ג'יימס גריפנדו
התובע הציבורי הבכיר במיאמי, אייב בקאהם, נשוי לכלבה תככנית בשם אנג'לינה. אשתו הראשונה סמנתה, נפטרה מסרטן, ולמורת רוחה של אנג'לינה, הוא ממשיך לטפל בגיסו חולה הנפש, שמעסיק אותו מסביב לשעון.
בזירה המקצועית, אייב מנסה לתפוס רוצח סדרתי שקוטל נשים לבנות שהתרועעו עם שחורים, אך הראיות מובילות אליו.
עד כאן הכל נשמע נהדר, אבל מפה מסתעפים המון קווי עלילה נוספים שמסתבכים זה בזה, ובשלב די מוקדם הסופר מאבד את הידיים והרגליים, שוכח איך לצאת מכל קווי העלילה ולא מצליח לסגור את כולם. בסוף יש סמטוכה אחת שלמה וסיום מבאס.
רצח בין קני הסוכר/ג'יימס גריפנדו
October 1, 2019
Very quick read. Finished in a few hours. Had great potential. But the ending was awful. Did not fit with the pace of the story or the trajectory. And frankly, it is not a believable ending. Prior to chapter 36, I'd have rated it 4 stars. But the ending seriously killed the entire book for me.
July 4, 2015
I have long been a fan of James Grippando. He's a Florida lawyer and was admitted to the Bar about 9 months before I was. When his first book came out, The Pardon, I grabbed it because it was based in Florida and was written by a Florida lawyer. He's an awesome story-teller and I was hooked with that first book. I've read them all and he has always, always met my reader expectations.
Until now. 22 books in. I never, ever would've believed I'd be so upset over a book by an author I adore. But here it is, I am there. Hate, hate the book I just read. It's called Cane and Abe. It starts out great and in the style I am accustomed to with Mr. Grippando's signature élan. For a while, it rocks on in a satisfactory way.
Eventually, less than half-way through, it goes off the rails. Utterly. Now, I know this man, who's books are in hardback and sell outrageously well, has heard of the mythic story structure of The Hero's Journey. I also am sure he's heard that the hero should grow over the course of the book- I know he has because I've read his work for years and this happens. Until now.
The main character in this book basically does the Hero's Journey in reverse. He starts out strong, likable and no-nonsense. During the course of the book, he's treated like crap by an FBI agent (Who has been in another of Mr. Grippando's books- and I liked the character in that book). This FBI agent starts out as the character she was in the long-ago book she was in but as the story progresses, she oversteps her bounds, tries to entrap the main character, and becomes something of a rogue. I hated her by the second half of the book and kept waiting for her to get her comeuppance.
Not only did we not get to see her get what was coming to her, Mr. Grippando drops clues in the book that he never goes back to address and leaves us hanging there. By close to the end of the book, the main character is half the man he was at the beginning. He gives in to the pressure put on him by the FBI witch and even lets them conduct a strip-search. The man at the beginning of the book would have NEVER stood for that.
The ending was horrible. The main character ends up living in the worst situation he could be in. The hero's journey is over and the man is a shell of who he used to be and this is not cool. NOT COOL AT ALL.
My reader expectation from this author is for the hero to come out on top. Didn't happen. I'm angry. I feel abused as a reader.
I feel used, manipulated and unhappy.
Until now. 22 books in. I never, ever would've believed I'd be so upset over a book by an author I adore. But here it is, I am there. Hate, hate the book I just read. It's called Cane and Abe. It starts out great and in the style I am accustomed to with Mr. Grippando's signature élan. For a while, it rocks on in a satisfactory way.
Eventually, less than half-way through, it goes off the rails. Utterly. Now, I know this man, who's books are in hardback and sell outrageously well, has heard of the mythic story structure of The Hero's Journey. I also am sure he's heard that the hero should grow over the course of the book- I know he has because I've read his work for years and this happens. Until now.
The main character in this book basically does the Hero's Journey in reverse. He starts out strong, likable and no-nonsense. During the course of the book, he's treated like crap by an FBI agent (Who has been in another of Mr. Grippando's books- and I liked the character in that book). This FBI agent starts out as the character she was in the long-ago book she was in but as the story progresses, she oversteps her bounds, tries to entrap the main character, and becomes something of a rogue. I hated her by the second half of the book and kept waiting for her to get her comeuppance.
Not only did we not get to see her get what was coming to her, Mr. Grippando drops clues in the book that he never goes back to address and leaves us hanging there. By close to the end of the book, the main character is half the man he was at the beginning. He gives in to the pressure put on him by the FBI witch and even lets them conduct a strip-search. The man at the beginning of the book would have NEVER stood for that.
The ending was horrible. The main character ends up living in the worst situation he could be in. The hero's journey is over and the man is a shell of who he used to be and this is not cool. NOT COOL AT ALL.
My reader expectation from this author is for the hero to come out on top. Didn't happen. I'm angry. I feel abused as a reader.
I feel used, manipulated and unhappy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2020
Miami State Attorney prosecutor Abe Beckham becomes involved in a case where a woman's headless body is found and tries to determine if this one is the work of a serial killer dubbed the "Cutter". Turns out the woman is a lawyer who had a one night stand with Abe. He swears he hasn't seen her in a number of years but then pictures of them sharing a meal surface. So he begins having problems with his wife but then she disappears. He is convinced she is the next victim of the Cutter. Plus, he must continue to deal with the promise he gave to his dead first wife that he would always take care of her bipolar brother. Perhaps the Cutter has some connection to Abe's first wife's family and Abe is running around in circles trying to find out the truth and stay out of being a suspect too.
I must say this book didn't end the way I thought it might and I was surprised a couple of times. I did manage to figure out correctly what happened to the phone calls from the dead lawyer to Abe that he swore he never received. Of course, he also said they had no recent contact and that was a lie, so I was conflicted about the truth in this book until the end was revealed.
I just read this book a second time. Funny how I don't remember reading it over 4 years ago.
I must say this book didn't end the way I thought it might and I was surprised a couple of times. I did manage to figure out correctly what happened to the phone calls from the dead lawyer to Abe that he swore he never received. Of course, he also said they had no recent contact and that was a lie, so I was conflicted about the truth in this book until the end was revealed.
I just read this book a second time. Funny how I don't remember reading it over 4 years ago.
May 12, 2016
Lang geleden dat een boek me wat betreft de identiteit van de dader zo lang deed blijven gissen. Het motief blijft ook aan de ontknoping een beetje vaag, maar dat neem ik er in dit geval graag bij. Het verhaal kwam wat traag op gang, maar is intrigerend genoeg geschreven om het nodige geduld uit te oefenen. De wereld van de openbaar aanklagers bleek boeiender dan verwacht.
June 24, 2015
A disappointing book from an author I really like, the characters were annoying, the plot was all over the place & very drawn out. So disappointed with this book
January 18, 2022
I have mixed feelings on this book. I was looking forward to a good story but feel let down. None of the characters were very likable, including the ever bumbling Abe. For an attorney, he made some of the dumbest decisions. This seemed more a story about a FBI agent who was already demoted still abusing her power. So many unlawful searches and an agent who couldn't seem to have an open mind on who the criminal might be. I found the catching of "Cutter" less than exciting. I would have expected more action or drama for the capture of a serial killer. I just feel like this story left me wanting so much more.
March 30, 2015
So many things wrong with this book! Where to begin? Mr. Grippando tries to capture the funny quirky voice of Carl Hiaasen but only comes across sounding like a semi-intelligent clown. Are readers supposed to believe that he actually works for the state attorney general's office? Even worse, this seems to be a very poor copy of "Gone Girl".
His descriptions of women leave little doubt that they fall into clearly defined rolls:either hot sex objects or whining and/or deceitful ball-busters. His trivializing and inane running joke involving those with mental issues wears thin and hits ludicrous speed with an insane plot twist. Haphazard incorporation of a machete wielding serial killer is clumsily dealt with and lacks a sense of closure. Had such high hopes for this one, but it was so bad that what should have taken two days to read took over a week. It was THAT painful.
His descriptions of women leave little doubt that they fall into clearly defined rolls:either hot sex objects or whining and/or deceitful ball-busters. His trivializing and inane running joke involving those with mental issues wears thin and hits ludicrous speed with an insane plot twist. Haphazard incorporation of a machete wielding serial killer is clumsily dealt with and lacks a sense of closure. Had such high hopes for this one, but it was so bad that what should have taken two days to read took over a week. It was THAT painful.
March 31, 2015
Decent read. I appreciated the plot that used the 'big sugar' industry (think dodgy like 'big tobacco') and thought that bit was interesting enough. Shades of Gone Girl though. The main character's wife did a disappearing act, staged it all and the two not only remained married but were expecting a child at the end (again, how Gone Girl ended... leaving it wide open for a sequel). I didn't particularly like any of the characters. The tenacious detective Santos became an irritant and the main characters. Abe Beckham (assistant D.A) seemed kind of hapless. His friend, Ridley ( veteran cop) was a little more likable but overall it was decent. The pros: dialogue wasn't awkward, no cheesy clichés or 'asides' which many authors of this genre fall prey to. The plot moved along pretty seamlessly and there were no loose ends. Entertaining read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 12, 2015
Wow, that went fast! This defines the term "page turner" for me. Fans of Gone Girl will love it. Abe Beckham lost his wife Samantha to cancer. He remarried, a woman named Angelina whom he knew before. He's involved in the investigation of a serial killer down around the Everglades. But his role as prosecutor starts to morph into a role as suspect when a body turns up that has ties to him. Abe certainly has some problems, problems that even his good friends in law enforcement wonder how he solved. Don't start this book unless you're willing to finish it right away!
September 26, 2018
Cane and Abe has two separate plots going on. One involves a serial killer, who kills black women who date/marry white men. The other involves the death of a lawyer investigating the stereotypically evil big corporation (in this case a sugar corporation) who has ties to a Miami prosecuting attorney, Abe Beckham. Fortunately, the serial killer portion of the story is the lesser of the story lines because I am utterly sick of serial killer stories and I’m not sure if I could stomach another.
For about four fifths of the novel, I was highly engaged. I found the story to be gripping and well written. There was tension and drama, and a lot to like. Unfortunately, the novel unravels at the end. First, when the murderer is revealed, the motivation was too flimsy for it to be believable. The epilogue is even worse than the ending. I won’t go into details so as not to spoil the story, but it was weak and really hurt Abe Beckham’s character. Finally, they do a big reveal at the end that felt like cheating the audience. When the narration is done in first person point of view, you can’t selectively withhold information from the reader and then choose to have a big reveal at the end. It’s illogical that the story can be told in Abe’s viewpoint, and that he withholds crucial information in the narrative that would have been naturally part of the narrative flow. It’s cheesy, and I didn’t like it a bit. This doesn’t kill the novel. It’s still an entertaining read, but it definitely takes away from what could have been a really good novel.
Carl Alves – author of Conjesero
For about four fifths of the novel, I was highly engaged. I found the story to be gripping and well written. There was tension and drama, and a lot to like. Unfortunately, the novel unravels at the end. First, when the murderer is revealed, the motivation was too flimsy for it to be believable. The epilogue is even worse than the ending. I won’t go into details so as not to spoil the story, but it was weak and really hurt Abe Beckham’s character. Finally, they do a big reveal at the end that felt like cheating the audience. When the narration is done in first person point of view, you can’t selectively withhold information from the reader and then choose to have a big reveal at the end. It’s illogical that the story can be told in Abe’s viewpoint, and that he withholds crucial information in the narrative that would have been naturally part of the narrative flow. It’s cheesy, and I didn’t like it a bit. This doesn’t kill the novel. It’s still an entertaining read, but it definitely takes away from what could have been a really good novel.
Carl Alves – author of Conjesero
January 23, 2023
Ugh!, Normally, I'm a big fan of James Grippando, especially, the Jack Swyteck series, but this stand-alone I could barely finish...Unlikable characters and dubious plotting fail to grab any interest from me...A Florida prosecutor is called to a crime scene of white women involved with black men...It turns out that the body is of a woman he had an earlier relationship, and as a result, he becomes a suspect in the killing...It feels like this was an earlier rejected manuscript, that has been updated and resurrected, to take advantage of Grippando's later success...Meh!
November 2, 2025
Loved listening to this book. It was confusing but still gripping. So many times I heard myself say “what on earth?!” Out loud - surprising many around me shopping for groceries. So yes, I definitely recommend this book. I do have so many questions for the author and I really hope he writes a sequel so I can get some answers. Most pressing: how could Abe live with his wife despite his suspicions?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2018
Enjoyed the book.
January 27, 2023
Great story. There are a lot of twists and turns. Just when you think you've got an idea of what is really happening, something else is uncovered. And the ending? 🤐
March 7, 2017
James Grippando is an author I just discovered even though he has written numerous thriller stories. I will say that Cane And Abe is one of the best thrillers I have read over the past several months, so I gave it a five-star rating. One thing for certain is that I will seek out and read more of his stories in the weeks to come. One of the things I liked most about this story was the setting, which is around the southern border of Lake Okeechobee, an area I am very familiar with in Florida. I live in Florida and have been to the Everglades several times, visited with friends and stayed in Clewiston, and even been to Belle Glade a few times. I am familiar with the sugar cane harvest areas and methods down there. So once you have been in an area and know its layout, and a little about its most famous crop, the story jumps to life more easily, or so it was with me.
The story plot itself is flawless as it works its way from beginning to end, and of course as with any great thriller, the ending is what matters more than anything else. This one ends in a manner that leaves one slightly breathless, realizing it was a shock. It causes one to realize that maybe there is yet more to come in another story by Grippando--or maybe not.
The story plot itself is flawless as it works its way from beginning to end, and of course as with any great thriller, the ending is what matters more than anything else. This one ends in a manner that leaves one slightly breathless, realizing it was a shock. It causes one to realize that maybe there is yet more to come in another story by Grippando--or maybe not.
February 3, 2015
'Cane and Abe' is an intense psychological thriller/mystery that will have readers on the edges of their seats and guessing until the very end. The story is a seemingly simple one: One of Miami's best prosecutor's - Abe Beckham - suffered a horrible tragedy when his young wife Samantha died some years ago. Abe struggled to pick up the pieces of his life and eventually married again. Now, he's on the case of a serial killer nicknamed "Cutter" because of the brutal ways in which he kills his victims - in a manner that goes back to Florida's sugar cane history, where men were basically slaves even though it was in the 1900s. Strangely, Abe has an intimate history of these events because Samantha's father was one of the slaves that worked the sugar cane fields. A strange coincidence - right? But then the FBI and Abe realize that he had spoken to the victim after Samantha's death, and then the unthinkable happens: Angelina, Abe's new wife, goes missing. Suspicion is growing around Abe and his possible involvement in the case. Could he possibly be the Cutter? Was he the one that has taken Angelina because of their failing and miserable marriage?
I love thrillers and mysteries, and I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical about this book after reading the description. I'm not really one who enjoys police procedural crime novels, but I thought I'd give it a shot. I'm extremely glad that I did because it's one of the best mystery/thrillers that I've ever read. From the beginning words of the novel, I was immediately inside Abe's world. The writing was magnificent and showcased the author's talent so much - it was incredible. The story is written with such detail and vivid imagery along with a certain conversational point of view - that it took mere moments for me to slip inside the world the author created - feeling as if I was experiencing the story alongside Abe. The plot was extremely intricate and complex with a ton of twists and turns that you don't see coming. I love thrillers and mysteries where I can try to figure out who's behind it all and what's really happening - especially before the characters themselves do. I was nowhere near the mark with this book. I kept building up (what I thought) were good theories, just to have a huge twist in the story knock me back to square one. That ability - to keep a reader completely engaged and questioning until the very end - is one that marks a truly talented writer. I loved the book and every part of it - every aspect of the book was intricately detailed and written - and they came together to create one masterpiece of a novel. The plot, the characters, the setting, writing style, dialogue - they all wove together seamlessly to create a stunning piece of fiction. There's absolutely no way I can do this book justice with a review. Suffice it to say that this was a fast paced, edgy, and intense thriller that will keep you reading as fast as you can to see what will happen next. It by far surpasses any expectations or hopes I had for it, and luckily for me, the author has written a large number of novels previously - so now I can dive into those stories for more of the magnificent writing and gripping plots that had me so enthralled during this book. I couldn't recommend this book more highly to fans of mysteries, thrillers, suspense novels and police/crime fiction. You need to read this book NOW - it's sure to be a bestseller and an enormous success when released.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I love thrillers and mysteries, and I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical about this book after reading the description. I'm not really one who enjoys police procedural crime novels, but I thought I'd give it a shot. I'm extremely glad that I did because it's one of the best mystery/thrillers that I've ever read. From the beginning words of the novel, I was immediately inside Abe's world. The writing was magnificent and showcased the author's talent so much - it was incredible. The story is written with such detail and vivid imagery along with a certain conversational point of view - that it took mere moments for me to slip inside the world the author created - feeling as if I was experiencing the story alongside Abe. The plot was extremely intricate and complex with a ton of twists and turns that you don't see coming. I love thrillers and mysteries where I can try to figure out who's behind it all and what's really happening - especially before the characters themselves do. I was nowhere near the mark with this book. I kept building up (what I thought) were good theories, just to have a huge twist in the story knock me back to square one. That ability - to keep a reader completely engaged and questioning until the very end - is one that marks a truly talented writer. I loved the book and every part of it - every aspect of the book was intricately detailed and written - and they came together to create one masterpiece of a novel. The plot, the characters, the setting, writing style, dialogue - they all wove together seamlessly to create a stunning piece of fiction. There's absolutely no way I can do this book justice with a review. Suffice it to say that this was a fast paced, edgy, and intense thriller that will keep you reading as fast as you can to see what will happen next. It by far surpasses any expectations or hopes I had for it, and luckily for me, the author has written a large number of novels previously - so now I can dive into those stories for more of the magnificent writing and gripping plots that had me so enthralled during this book. I couldn't recommend this book more highly to fans of mysteries, thrillers, suspense novels and police/crime fiction. You need to read this book NOW - it's sure to be a bestseller and an enormous success when released.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
February 13, 2015
There’s a love triangle – sort of. Abe Beckman had married the love of his life. But, Samantha died of cancer at an early age. He remarried Angelina who he’d actually dated prior to Samantha. It was a love triangle in that he never really released Samantha. He thought of her often. He held onto things from their marriage. He still took care of her brother, JT and her father, Luther. Angelina didn’t come right out and say she had a problem with all that – but, yeah, she did.
All of this revolves itself around and behind the main story line. Abe is a prosecutor with Miami State Attorney’s Office. The FBI and Miami-Dade police are working together to investigate a serial killer. He is known as ‘Cutter’ because of the brutal means by which he kills his victims. He used a machete like those that had been used historically to harvest sugar cane on the plantations of National Sugar Corporation. The body they just found was number five. She was Tyla Tompkins; another former fling of Abe’s. Then, when Angelina disappears, the FBI begins looking much more closely at Abe. They don’t think Tyla is Cutter’s victim; they think it’s a copy cat.
While most of the chapters are told by Abe, we are given a few that are a third person account of the FBI investigation. This is as much a mystery and it is about relationships – strange relationships like that of Gone Girl. Comparatively speaking, most people came to really know Amy Dunne of Gone Girl at about the half way point of the novel. In Cane and Abe, little bits like bread crumbs are dropped along the way. But, you don’t really get to know her until the tippy end. This is not a historical fiction, but some historical background is thrown in as it affects the story. Back in 1941, Samantha’s father had been one of the employees whose rights had been violated before a Federal Grand Jury indicted National Sugar under the Thirteenth Amendment. He was a cane cutter. He’s now in a nursing home. The author held my interest quite well as the pace moves faster as the reader proceeds closer to the end. I enjoyed the character of Abe, although at times, I’m not sure I liked him. Angelina was a most interesting character as was JT, Abe’s brother-in-law. I rated Cane and Abe at 4 out of 5.
All of this revolves itself around and behind the main story line. Abe is a prosecutor with Miami State Attorney’s Office. The FBI and Miami-Dade police are working together to investigate a serial killer. He is known as ‘Cutter’ because of the brutal means by which he kills his victims. He used a machete like those that had been used historically to harvest sugar cane on the plantations of National Sugar Corporation. The body they just found was number five. She was Tyla Tompkins; another former fling of Abe’s. Then, when Angelina disappears, the FBI begins looking much more closely at Abe. They don’t think Tyla is Cutter’s victim; they think it’s a copy cat.
While most of the chapters are told by Abe, we are given a few that are a third person account of the FBI investigation. This is as much a mystery and it is about relationships – strange relationships like that of Gone Girl. Comparatively speaking, most people came to really know Amy Dunne of Gone Girl at about the half way point of the novel. In Cane and Abe, little bits like bread crumbs are dropped along the way. But, you don’t really get to know her until the tippy end. This is not a historical fiction, but some historical background is thrown in as it affects the story. Back in 1941, Samantha’s father had been one of the employees whose rights had been violated before a Federal Grand Jury indicted National Sugar under the Thirteenth Amendment. He was a cane cutter. He’s now in a nursing home. The author held my interest quite well as the pace moves faster as the reader proceeds closer to the end. I enjoyed the character of Abe, although at times, I’m not sure I liked him. Angelina was a most interesting character as was JT, Abe’s brother-in-law. I rated Cane and Abe at 4 out of 5.
March 21, 2015
James Grippando has a new hero and I hope we see more of him. This book was a crime thriller that I could not put down until the end. I did not figure it out at all and I was surprised at the end.
Abe Beckham is the assistant prosecuter of Miami State Attorney. His first wife, Samantha, died of cancer and her has recently remarried Angelina. He is still involved with J.T., Samantha's brother as he is bi-polar and had a recent scrape with the law where he has ended up wearing an ankle bracelet and under house arrest. He shops for him, take him to visit his father Luther, and runs over whenever he is having a meltdown. The background of the story also teaches us about "Big Sugar" and how they have cheated their workers, contaminated areas, bought off politicians etc.
The story itself is about a serial killer the press have dubbed Cutter. They have found several bodies in the sugar cane fields of white females who are married or dating black men. They have black ash on their faces and are horribly cut up. The last body found was in the everglades and was a lawyer named Tyla Tompkins. Is she a victim of Cutter? She is not white so does not fit the profile. When the FBI find out that Abe knew her, they begin to suspect he was having an affair with her and he is thrown off the task force. His wife receives pictures of Abe and Tyla having dinner together and then finds out he has gone to her memorial service without telling her. She kicks him out of the house. Sometime that night, Angelina disappears without taking anything. Samantha's engagement ring, which was kept in a strong box in the house winds up at a pawn shop. Did Abe kill Tyla? Did Angelina kill Tyla? What happened to Angelina? Did Abe hire J.T. to kill Tyla and Angelina? A lot of questions and no answers until the end. A gripping story.
Abe Beckham is the assistant prosecuter of Miami State Attorney. His first wife, Samantha, died of cancer and her has recently remarried Angelina. He is still involved with J.T., Samantha's brother as he is bi-polar and had a recent scrape with the law where he has ended up wearing an ankle bracelet and under house arrest. He shops for him, take him to visit his father Luther, and runs over whenever he is having a meltdown. The background of the story also teaches us about "Big Sugar" and how they have cheated their workers, contaminated areas, bought off politicians etc.
The story itself is about a serial killer the press have dubbed Cutter. They have found several bodies in the sugar cane fields of white females who are married or dating black men. They have black ash on their faces and are horribly cut up. The last body found was in the everglades and was a lawyer named Tyla Tompkins. Is she a victim of Cutter? She is not white so does not fit the profile. When the FBI find out that Abe knew her, they begin to suspect he was having an affair with her and he is thrown off the task force. His wife receives pictures of Abe and Tyla having dinner together and then finds out he has gone to her memorial service without telling her. She kicks him out of the house. Sometime that night, Angelina disappears without taking anything. Samantha's engagement ring, which was kept in a strong box in the house winds up at a pawn shop. Did Abe kill Tyla? Did Angelina kill Tyla? What happened to Angelina? Did Abe hire J.T. to kill Tyla and Angelina? A lot of questions and no answers until the end. A gripping story.
January 24, 2016
POSSIBLE SPOILERS:
Have you ever ordered a Big Mac Combo and were served, instead, an undercooked Filet 'O Fish? That's how I'm feeling about now in regard to Cane and Abe. And, by the way, that fish is served with a side order of "Gone Girl".
This book had so much potential in the beginning. I was all set for a serial killer, corporate corruption, the backstory of the sugar cane industry, and how everything would mesh together into a can't-put-down thriller. None of these came to fruition except for the desire for a roll of Tums afterwards.
What could have been a brilliant storyline was kicked to the curb in favor of a missing egotistical wife and a weak attempt to encase the husband/lawyer in a mesh of circumstantial evidence drummed up by the worst FBI Agent known to humanity. Right out of the gate, we question how Abe could have down-sized to the vapid Angelina after the death of his beautiful wife Samantha. After the descriptors of the first few pages, no earthly woman could have come close to Samantha, let alone the short-tempered, dissatisfied Angelina. And that brings us to the "cheatin' side of town". And we're suppose to buy into how that went down?
The character of Abe was clueless throughout the story. It was like banking shots in a pinball game. We wanted a take charge guy who would have gone after the higher-ups in the sugar cane industry, uncovered Tyla's murder, and latched onto the serial killer all in one swoop. Instead, he was side-lined by the Gone Girl trail that led to a deadend of who cares. Poor JT deserved more.....
I was generous with the 3 stars. Perhaps Grippando can do justice to the character of Abe in a future book after he dumps Angelina and is injected with a far better storyline in the future. He may want to hang out with Luther who has the makings of an exciting thriller within.
Have you ever ordered a Big Mac Combo and were served, instead, an undercooked Filet 'O Fish? That's how I'm feeling about now in regard to Cane and Abe. And, by the way, that fish is served with a side order of "Gone Girl".
This book had so much potential in the beginning. I was all set for a serial killer, corporate corruption, the backstory of the sugar cane industry, and how everything would mesh together into a can't-put-down thriller. None of these came to fruition except for the desire for a roll of Tums afterwards.
What could have been a brilliant storyline was kicked to the curb in favor of a missing egotistical wife and a weak attempt to encase the husband/lawyer in a mesh of circumstantial evidence drummed up by the worst FBI Agent known to humanity. Right out of the gate, we question how Abe could have down-sized to the vapid Angelina after the death of his beautiful wife Samantha. After the descriptors of the first few pages, no earthly woman could have come close to Samantha, let alone the short-tempered, dissatisfied Angelina. And that brings us to the "cheatin' side of town". And we're suppose to buy into how that went down?
The character of Abe was clueless throughout the story. It was like banking shots in a pinball game. We wanted a take charge guy who would have gone after the higher-ups in the sugar cane industry, uncovered Tyla's murder, and latched onto the serial killer all in one swoop. Instead, he was side-lined by the Gone Girl trail that led to a deadend of who cares. Poor JT deserved more.....
I was generous with the 3 stars. Perhaps Grippando can do justice to the character of Abe in a future book after he dumps Angelina and is injected with a far better storyline in the future. He may want to hang out with Luther who has the makings of an exciting thriller within.
November 20, 2022
Quick read. Entertaining mystery.
February 8, 2016
It's been a while since I have read a murder mystery and this book was decent. It took me a while to get involved with what was going on but the last 150 pages or so really peaked my interest. The writing wasn't bad and the story line was good, I think it was just me in regards to my rating. It was good enough to recommend this book to friends and I would say that towards the end it kind of had a Gone Girl similarity but only a tiny tiny bit. There wasn't near enough crazy but the ending does have you wondering what will happen down the road.
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