Community Reviews
As a big fan of Jeffrey Burton’s Mace Reid series, I was excited when I came across the second installment for his new series. So, of course, I had to read this installment first. While a lot of readers have absolutely no problem at all, reading a series out of order, I have never been like that – ever! Over the years, I have had a boatload of things to blame this quirk on, usually my day job. I can’t even imagine how terrible an administrator I would be if I didn’t start a new assignment and/or project from the beginning. In my field, I wouldn’t have a job for very long. The same attitude and practice apply to a new book series.
Anyway, the book summary basically introduces the primary storyline and MC’s. First and foremost, for those who are familiar with Burton’s Mace Reid series, Cory sounds a lot like a young(er) Mace Reid. So, if you like Mace, you’ll probably like Cory too. Crystal is the big sister, who is still trying to look out for her little brother, something she’s been doing since their parents died when Cory was in high school.
Then there is also Alice and Rex, Cory’s Bloodhound and Springer Spaniel, respectively. For me, these are two of the best characters in the story. At six years old, Alice is the mature and seasoned cadaver dog that Cory has trained since she was a puppy. At four years old, Rex is still in training and is as much Alice’s apprentice and he is Cory’s trainee. Rex is also a little bit of a scoundrel as Springers often are. I speak from experience when I say that.
Anyway, it’s not long before the Netflix connection is made and the deaths continue. However, it’s not long before the investigation becomes less focused on the Netflix connection and begins to become something altogether different with a more personal focus and much closer target. Most of the story flips back and forth between Cory and the killer, who is a successful, Chicago attorney, whose kills are in retaliation for some believed slight or injustice the killer feels the victim made towards him. The reader also gets a glimpse of the killer’s childhood that made him the wacked out psycho that he became. I guess one could have some sympathy for the killer for having really crappy parents, who most certainly screwed him up, but I simply couldn’t muster any.
The character development for Cory and Crystal and the killer was pretty good, and pretty thin for everyone else. There was also a secondary storyline of Cory and his nightmares of his parents’ deaths and his guilt over it for something he did and said that he thinks lead to their deaths. Cory and big sis Crystal live together and they support each other with their grieving. The pacing was steady to fast and the storyline interesting. I liked the writing, classic Burton where Alice and Rex have integral roles in the story. Burton makes sure that the dogs in his story are just as much heroes as the law enforcement characters. I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.2 that I will be rounding down to a 4star review. Looking forward to the next installment.
Anyway, the book summary basically introduces the primary storyline and MC’s. First and foremost, for those who are familiar with Burton’s Mace Reid series, Cory sounds a lot like a young(er) Mace Reid. So, if you like Mace, you’ll probably like Cory too. Crystal is the big sister, who is still trying to look out for her little brother, something she’s been doing since their parents died when Cory was in high school.
Then there is also Alice and Rex, Cory’s Bloodhound and Springer Spaniel, respectively. For me, these are two of the best characters in the story. At six years old, Alice is the mature and seasoned cadaver dog that Cory has trained since she was a puppy. At four years old, Rex is still in training and is as much Alice’s apprentice and he is Cory’s trainee. Rex is also a little bit of a scoundrel as Springers often are. I speak from experience when I say that.
Anyway, it’s not long before the Netflix connection is made and the deaths continue. However, it’s not long before the investigation becomes less focused on the Netflix connection and begins to become something altogether different with a more personal focus and much closer target. Most of the story flips back and forth between Cory and the killer, who is a successful, Chicago attorney, whose kills are in retaliation for some believed slight or injustice the killer feels the victim made towards him. The reader also gets a glimpse of the killer’s childhood that made him the wacked out psycho that he became. I guess one could have some sympathy for the killer for having really crappy parents, who most certainly screwed him up, but I simply couldn’t muster any.
The character development for Cory and Crystal and the killer was pretty good, and pretty thin for everyone else. There was also a secondary storyline of Cory and his nightmares of his parents’ deaths and his guilt over it for something he did and said that he thinks lead to their deaths. Cory and big sis Crystal live together and they support each other with their grieving. The pacing was steady to fast and the storyline interesting. I liked the writing, classic Burton where Alice and Rex have integral roles in the story. Burton makes sure that the dogs in his story are just as much heroes as the law enforcement characters. I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.2 that I will be rounding down to a 4star review. Looking forward to the next installment.
