Peter Lynch is a monster. A sociopathic attorney hiding in plain sight behind billboards and a successful career. With the highest connections, he terrorizes the city and buries the evidence, and there’s no way to stop him. Until one discharged Green Beret decides to try...
Disappointing. I have been a hopeful Alan Lee sort-of fan for a while. I felt his enthusiasm, generosity and character ensembles were fresh enough to keep me going. However, he has not risen to the A-list. He's just not good enough. Great writers have something extra. You can't define it exactly but it's obvious when you see it. Elmore Leonard, James Elroy, Lawrence Sanders, John Sanford, Robert B. Parker, John D. MacDonald, Chandler, Poe, Dorothy Sayers, you know who I mean...Among the intangibles the language sparkles. One single word in "Sunken Graves" stuck with me as interesting: "Lovely"-as spoken by madman sociopath Peter Lynch (of all the possible names) when he refers to the female object of his obsession, Daisy Hathaway. This one word suggests such complex nuance in this multiple-murderer beast. And with a gay judge brother, to boot. Unfortunately, the possibilities of an elegant, aesthetic refinement to this character were kept superficial gloss. I am not a writer. But if I were, I would rewrite this book. As it stands, I have no idea why he wrote this book.
The setting of a newish, would be elite boarding school and the political challenges the administration faces balancing ethics, morals, and educational principles with the demands of it's financial backers touches on pervading issues at all levels of American educational institutions. This extends to sick, corrupt boards of education in major cities, criminal "repurposing" of funding, feather bedding jobs, cronyism...Lee states the obvious here and doesn't really go further. He presents the threat of the good guys losing their jobs due to pressure from the evil backer, but this never goes anywhere. As is true for the setting in general. There is nothing unique here to spark interest.
Now just a couple more points: how many times are we going to hear about returning vets with PTSD? This one checks the boxes: nightmares, check. Hasn't been laid in ages, check. Self esteem gone, check. However, somehow, miraculously, our hero can still get it up and instantly revives full function when the first hot babe shows up. With Bradley Cooper, in "American Sniper" we have something way closer to the realities of PTSD and character disintegration through combat. "Sunken Graves" presents superficial, stereotypical dross.
Do we really need serious discussions about whether evil exists? This alone guarantees to lose me as a reader. Yet Mr. Lee persists forcing his dull, unimaginative arguments down our throats, ignoring one of Elmore Leonard's 10 rules of writing: "leave out what the reader is going to skip over". Mr. Lee is apparently too in love with his hollow ideas to take this advice. Learn to write better, Mr. Lee, and leave the philosophy to those who are good at it.
Another thing that irks: apparently Mr. Lee adheres to the motto-why say something only once, when you can bludgeon the reader with it several times? This is maybe the editor's fault. Who knows?
We also have the unlovely repetitive tendency to have the characters vomit-from fear, violence, horror. At every turn someone's puking-again. I'm sure this is good for the food industry in the long run, but really.
OK. Enough out of me. I'm sure I'll be in the minority with this rather shabby review. However, my real purpose is to try to get through to Alan Lee before it's too late. He needs to find a "fire source".
I’m torn about this one. It was mostly a good read but there were long sections that just didn’t resonate. You knew what was coming so there’s no suspense.
The cameo was nice but late in the story the guest acted so out of character it was disappointing.
I dreaded having to put a one beside my review of this book by one of my new favorite authors but I just did not care for it. I thought it was entirely a little too evil, a little far-fetched and the language was just a little bit too much. I think I would like the characters in a different setting. I love August and Manny and will keep reading!!
I just completed “Sunken Graves” by Alan Lee. This is the second of Lee’s books I have read, the first being “The Desecration of All Saints” last summer. The first book was outstanding, a mystery novel featuring private eye Mackenzie August. This second book is not a mystery but more like a crime suspense novel. August does not star in this second novel but does make a couple of appearances.
In the novel, Peter Lynch is an extremely successful but morally corrupt lawyer in Roanoke, Virginia. Together with his brother Francis, a local judge, Lynch has “bought” the local police force and intimidated nearly everyone else. A major benefactor of the private academy where his son attends high school, Lynch insists his son play in the football game, even when he is academically ineligible. Further, Lynch has his lecherous eyes on young and extremely attractive Miss Hathaway, one of the newer teachers at the academy.
The class Lynch’s son is failing is taught by Daniel Jennings, a recently discharged Green Beret who decides to pursue a career as a teacher. Beloved by students, faculty, and administration at the academy, Jennings butts heads with Lynch for refusing to just give Lynch’s son a passing grade. Jennings is also disturbed by details of the sexual passes and innuendo that Miss Hathaway shares about Lynch’s interactions with her. Jennings digs into Lynch’s background via Google and finds a dead-end. But as he talks to more individuals and gains more insights, he begins to suspect there is something evil about Lynch – pure evil. And he and Hathaway are at risk.
“Sunken Graves” was good but not as outstanding as “All Saints”. There were a couple of surprises along the way, but in the broad outline, you know how things are going to end. Still, the writing style is engaging and easy to follow, making this a good beach read I think for those so inclined. The book is either self-published or boutique-published so a few grammatical errors crept in, such as misspelling a couple of homophones (“too” vs. “to”) or a word appearing twice in a sentence.
I'm a huge fan of Alan Lee, and the evilness is well defined, but I could have done with a lot less describing of weapons and the altering of weapons. The story centers around a boarding school with a "lovely" teacher who is being menaced by the psycho parent of one of her students. The new teacher on campus has noted her attractiveness, as well, and steps in when he hears her being harassed. With the nastiness that can only come from a well developed psycho, the parent works to put everyone in their place. Since he is a large benefactor who funds the school, no one is willing to put him in his place, except maybe the new teacher, a former Marine medic, who has lost a leg and some of his self-confidence. As the story progresses and relationships become revealed and more complex, a brief appearance is made by Mackenzie August and he provides some guidance, which is basically ignored. Many unnecessary deaths occur. A gruesome and disturbing story, but one I found hard to put down.
A New professor at Valley Academy Is About To Learn His First Lesson
David Jennings is loving his life, teaching history at this small boarding school and helping out on campus. Mr. Lynch has come to see him about a problem with his son Benjamin’s grades. It is not a pleasant meeting. You know how some people just have to throw their weight around for no good reason? That’s Peter Lynch. Everyone cowers before him, will David Jennings cower, too?
Alan Lee has really captured the essence of the small town bully that wants everything his way and will stop at nothing to get it. David is trying not to cause problems but he also doesn’t like the way everyone goes out of their way to please Peter. Either that, or they just disappear. Throughout the book I found myself cheering David’s reluctance to give in and hoping someone would stand with him. This is a great underdog story that you really shouldn’t miss.
Good Murder Mystery! (But not Great, and very little Mystery)
The Author wrote a good story that keeps The Reader wanting more. However, there were some flaws I didn’t like (as in, the main characters appear to have left a very important part of this tale unresolved — and it’s quite hard to believe that they would choose that path). And, the main villain was remarkably successful in social settings, but otherwise was a thug who could only get his own way — another hard-to-believe part of the book. (I have met some pretty ugly people over the years, but none of them would be in the rich/thug/demented theme presented here!)
I highly recommend this book, despite my criticisms … and I will look forward to reading more from Alan Lee, The Author. Good job!
Oh my. The real life struggles between good and evil showing up in a private school, a police department and a court room. The characters so well pictured, you cheer for them and wonder what choice you would make. Couldn’t put the book down, but sometimes feared the next step in the unfolding. Surprising, to me at least, ending, but satisfying. Alan has gone deeper into the struggle at physical, emotional and mental levels than I’d seen before. Hope these characters live on in another book.
I read a great deal of books. But seldom does one grab my attention and hold it as this book did. The characters are as diverse and interesting as you could ever expect. The villain is as evil as anyone you will come across. The story captures you from the start and holds you until the last page. There is even an old friend from another series that comes in to help. I don't remember another plot like this one that twists and turns and makes you want to keep reading so you can find out what happened. I personally couldn't ask for a more entertaining book.
I always anxiously anticipate a new Alan Lee release, but this one was a surprising delight. This guy is A really good writer, with a plot that grabbed me from the beginning. Plus a new set of characters to love ...I really like the damaged hero who persevered against a true madman, winning the love of the fair maiden. Nice cast of supporting characters. I would love to read a sequel, please!
Wow! This was a really good read. Good characters. Both the good people and the bad guys. All are developed nicely. You can understand what drives them. I liked Jennings and Hathaway. Hope to see more of them in the future. That was a subtle request to make them into a series. Lots of action. Good story line. Glad that Lynch got what he deserved. Alan Lee is one of the few authors that I will stop everything to read his latest book. Glad I did here. Recommended.
Alan Lee's new new is both a gripping thriller and a thought provoking morality tale
Alan Lee has managed to artfully combine page turning thrillers with old fashioned morality tales. Every one of his novels are both entertaining and thought provoking. Lee is willing to explore the depths of depravity while populating his novels with characters who reflect the best of human values. It makes for an entertaining read as well as a provocative and uplifting one as well.
This book introduced new characters. The story was exciting but a little unbelievable. That’s why it’s called fiction I guess. I did enjoy reading this book and appreciated the inclusion of Mac, however I hardly recognized him. Didn’t like him so much in this book. I missed the back and forth of Mac and Manny. I would recommend the book but his previous ones are better IMO.
Thank you Alan for another great book. Slightly different than your other books, and yes I've read them all. Another adventure with great characters and good story lines. Characters that you both love and hate and even a small dose of Mack, really not enough of him (My all time favourite hero) but altogether a book certainly worth reading, I really enjoyed it and so, as Alan rightly says, everyone else will too!
After an unenjoyable burning Atlanta 2 , you are back to a much more enjoyable story . ( enough of the self psychobable from Bella. And Johnny sugar. !! )Sorry just too much. ! Oh .?no more of the unrealistic healing powers. Of you know who. !! K. … Anyway glad to see your imagination has returned in a mostly believable manner. Shot gun replacing leg a bit much. But , mostly a good read. Keep these types coming.
Sometimes you fall into a story that makes you stay up way to late trying to find the next twist or turn that allows you to put it down. This one got me. I thought I would be disappointed that there was no Mackenzie to save the day but the characters in this one were strong and satisfying. Very enjoyable.
I think Alan Lee is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. Sunken Graves was another hit for me. I enjoyed the story line; Lee doesn’t get bogged down in too many details and he always keeps it dangling so you don’t want to stop reading! Keep writing and I will keep reading!
Alan has done it again! A wonderfully creative story with an exciting and satisfying ending. I've never read anything like it. The antagonist in this story is well-developed and the plot line and pacing is above par - the suspense is palpable. If you love murder mysteries, thrillers, or just good story telling, read this one today. You're welcome!
Wow! I haven't done the dishes or dusted because I just had to finish reading. Excellent story line with characters that I became invested in . I did skim a little when it became a bit wordy but once Mackenzie showed up I smiled and devoured every word. A true conflict between good and evil. Good prevailed. Thank you Mr.Lee.
I have loved everything that Alan Lee has published. This book is no exception, the plot, pacing and characters are so well done. I have two recommendations; read all of Alan Lee's books, and never start a book of his late at night or you will be reading instead of sleeping. Bravo Mr. Lee, you have done it again!
Alan Lee has created a terrible and fascinating situation in this book. As many others have already noted, I couldn't put it down! Thank heaven for creative and slightly twisted writers, who provide us with entertaining and thought provoking books. I have been a fan of Mr. Lee's since his first mystery and I plan to stick around!
I absolutely love Alan Lee's style of writing. He puts snarky (I like snarky) little comments in his work and I found myself growing very fond of the main characters; I hope they continue to show up in future work. Whenever I get a notice about a new book, I put myself in for it. and by the way, if anyone notices the Date Started and Date Finished, my dog helped me to lose my Kindle for a bit.
How does one survive in a small town which is run by a corrupt and wealthy attorney and an equally corrupt chief of police. How do murder cases go enclosed and disappear. How does all evidence and the press disappear. How do you stay alive and not disappear. Page Turner and fun read.
I am a huge fan of the Mackenzie August series as well as the Sinatra Thrillers so I was unsure how I would like this story without my favorites as the main characters. But Sunken Graves pulled me in and I was hooked (pun intended). This story kept me on the edge right to the end. Another outstanding novel by a great mystery writer!
Just a really great story. Alan Lee has got to be one of my favorite authors. His stories are always exciting. The characters are almost always likeable. Even the bad guys have to have some redeeming qualities. I just wish Lee could write as fast as I read.
I simply love a story that one can associate with the characters Emotions run deep and keeps my interests going and going. As I read I feel like I'm trying to solve a jigsaw puzzle where the puzzle keeps changing. Alan has given me another great book to read and in record time. Like I said it's difficult to put down and you don't disappoint. Thank you
Another great book by Alan Lee! Loved the characters and the story! Hope to see more if Daniel Jennings and, of course, MacKenzie August! Keep writing, Alan. I will be watching for your next book!
Another great book by Alan Lee! Can’t wait to read more about Daniel Jennings and, of course, MacKenzie August! Keep going, Alan! Love it!
I bought this book thinking it was new (because I read so much that sometimes I forget book titles). About a third of the way in I realized it seemed VERY familiar and I had a good feeling of what came next…didn’t care! Read it to completion again and loved it as much the 2nd time! Can’t put a good book down!
AROUND 19-20% I STARTED TO WORRY ABOUT WHERE THIS WAS HEADING. ALL I COULD THINK WAS OH, ALAN LEE WHERE ARE YOU GOING WITH THIS? I LOVE THIS AUTHOR BECAUSE HE CAN REALLY TELL A GREAT STORY, BUT HE HAS OUTDONE HIMSELF WRITING ABOUT A TRULY BAD, BAD CHARACTER. I HAD TO STOP READING SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE THE VILLIAN IS JUST SO BAD. ;D