Ricochet; I'll Be Bouncing Back Again
Written: Mar 05 '07
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Intriguing story; lots of movement keeps it interesting.
Cons: Lack of characterization; lots of bouncing around the story may be off-putting.
The Bottom Line: Even if crime/murder mysteries aren't your preferred genre, Ricochet quickly draws the reader into the story and keeps the pages turning until the very end.
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| krissingene's Full Review: Sandra Brown - Ricochet Books |
This review reveals minor plot details.
It seems as though I used to have time to do so many things that I enjoyed...reading, knitting, writing reviews here on Epinions. Ahem, yes - reading. Not too long ago, the other moms in my daughter's playgroup decided to branch out by creating our own little book club as well. Thinking that maybe I would finish a book per month if I joined, I jumped right in - and quickly discovered an added bonus in that I would be forced to expand into genres that I rarely read...
~* The Story *~
Detective Sergeant Duncan Hatcher is a no-nonsense professional who has dedicated his life to police work. While admittedly a bit of a ladies' man, it is obvious from the first pages that he is very much married to his work, holding himself to the highest of ethical standards where his career is concerned. The same is true of his partner, DeeDee Brown - loyal and highly intuitive, with a Diet Coke habit that screams for a twelve-step program.
Duncan is less than fond of Superior Court Judge Cato Laird, who let notorious criminal and murderer Robert Savich walk free, declaring a mistrial based on a technicality. He also believes it grossly unfair that a jerk like Laird should be married to a woman as exquisite as the beautiful Elise, who Duncan is drawn to from their very first meeting. And so it is more than a little uncomfortable when the detectives are called to investigate a fatal shooting in the Laird home. Although Cato and Elise Laird give identical accounts of the night's events - Elise stumbles across an intruder in the study and shoots him in self-defense - something tells Duncan and DeeDee that there's more to the story than they're being told.
In short order, Elise attempts to secure a private conversation with Duncan, ultimately tracking him down while he's out for a morning run. Alone with him at last, she pleads for his help, insisting that her husband is trying to kill her. Duncan lends no credence to her implausible story - despite her continued methods of coercion - until the night that she turns up missing, and a common denominator between Judge Laird and Robert Savich is left dead in her car.
~* Why "Ricochet" *~
Like most books, Ricochet had it's good elements and its not-so-good elements. Characterization, for one, was sorely lacking. While you did get a feel for Duncan and DeeDee - eventually - the rest of the characters seemed to move in and out of the story without much thought past their introductions. Even Elise, who played a key role in the storyline, remains somewhat of an enigma.
Part of the reason for the shallow characterization must be the constant bouncing between scenes that the reader is subjected to in this book. You'll be in Duncan's shoes for a page, then bounce over to Elise, then to something that happened in a completely different place and time. Bounce, bounce, bounce - or Ricochet, as the case may be. While irksome in that I never felt that I spent as much time with any one character as I'd have liked to, this does at least keep the story interesting and the pages turning. You just never know where you'll wind up - or what's going to happen - next.
~* Overall *~
Not being a big fan of murder mysteries or police thrillers in general, I was less than thrilled when Ricochet was chosen as this month's book for discussion. However, having committed to taking part in the group, I dutifully trekked to the library, picked it up, and trudged through the first couple of chapters. Fully expecting it to be absolutely not my cup of tea, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself becoming engrossed in the story and unable, in several places, to put the book down.
So, based on this novel, I may have been a bit hasty in discounting the genre as a whole. Having just finished Ricochet - and enjoying it thoroughly, despite a few minor annoyances - I may even try to squeeze another Sandra Brown novel in before starting next month's book...
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
krissingene
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Member: Kristin
Location: Southern VA
Reviews written: 267
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