Mystery Book Club
The Quick
by Dan Vining
Buy book: $5.03
This exciting debut novel from a unique new voice in the thriller genre introduces Hollywood private investigator Jimmy Miles. The shadowy world Jimmy inhabits is full of secrets, shared with a restless few who also roam the Los Angeles night world.

Certainly didn't find anything exciting in today's first read - but it was a VERY SHORT read - so not enough to get a feel for but - pastel suede shoes ? -

Did anyone read "The Halo Effect" that Suzanne gave us a taste of today? Had not heard of that author but am definitely going to check her out - If you love a good mystery - think this is going to be a good one -

I can't get through the readings so I guess this one won't be on my to-read list. I don't like the style or the dialog which reads like a bad romance novel.

MAYBE IF ONE STARTED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BOOK,ONE MIGHT GET A GIST AS TO WHAT IT IS ABOUT. THE BEGINNING IS A PONDEROUS PLOW-THROUGH.

But I'm not sure if this scene is real or part of a staged parlor game -

Am I the only one here? - Hello out there -- maybe when something more happens will hear from you -

Read a review of this book this a.m. and was surprised to learn of the twist this book is going to take - very interesting to say the least - You may want to stay in long enough to find out before you definitely rule this one out -

I checked out reviews as well and yes, there is quite an interesting twist. Still, I'm not having much good to say about the book. The dialog thus far is choppy and somewhat annoying. I'm not "into" the characters or the scene yet. Two days - that's all that's left to capture my attention.

Doris,

What website do you use for reviews?

Thanks,
Katherine

Katherine, I usually go to my Sherlock search (I have a Mac) some go to google I think and type in name of book and amazon comes up along with others but I go to amazon first - many times there in addition to reviews you get to read an excerpt from the book -

Unless I am missing something, there is a serious plot inconsistency in this novel.

When Drew insists on returning to his house after he "dies," Jimmy says:

"They wouldn't know you. To their eyes you have a different face. It's something that happens inside their heads, the people you leave behind."

But later in the book, Jean goes to visit her father and we read the following dialog:

Jean's father: "You saw me someplace, didn't you?"

Jean "A year ago, I was down at Balboa Island. I saw Carey. I thought he was still living in Arizona. I followed him. I was about to go up to him...

Jean's father:

"And you saw me."

Barbara

I definitely don't like this one but I love the Halo Effect. It seems like a good mystery.

In the first read with the "pastel suede shoes" I immediately thought of the "Archie McNally" series by Laurence Sanders, different from his usual - but several books in the series - very funny and entertaining with a mystery thrown in -
I thoroughly enjoyed them when I read few years ago - you may want to give them a try as well -

Is anyone else bothered by the conversations these people have? It's so....so weird. Choppy and unfeeling. It's ruining the story for me.

I am having a very difficult time following this story. Everything is kind of jumping around, I feel like part of the story is being left out.

I agree with you Ella. I have to keep checking to see if I missed something. I didn't but I still don't know what is going on. I'm worn out just trying to make sense of it. Sorry, not for me.

I don't know why, but this week's selection is not something I'm going to request. I think the dialog is sort of stilted and self-conscious and the book itself doesn't flow enough to make me want to keep going. I know you mentioned a "twist", Doris, but currently I feel like I'm twisting in the wind. I think I'm going to pass on this one. But, as Scarlett would say, "Tomorrow (or next week) is another read."

Gosh, this one grabbed me on the first day. I like this smart-mouth kind of detective--kind of an LA Noir feel to it. And of course the dialogue isn't realistic--these are MENSA members trying to impress one another! How real can they be?

I agree with Ann--I like the style and am intrigued by the plot so far. I have the book reserved at the library and look forward to reading the rest of it.

While I appreciate the nonchalance that the author is trying to convey on behalf of the lead character, it leads to ambivalence on my part. By day 5 I expect to identify and/or care about the lead character on some level. Enough so that I'm obligated to follow it through to the end. I'm in no such place with this novel. Which is a shame, the clues laid out as to the story's direction so far are intriguing. This book may have been better served by including an excerpt from somewhere else in the novel. Somewhere with a little more insight into the lead character's motivation for his lack of motivation.

I agree with all of you for not really getting into this book - If I did not know the "strange twist" we are going to find out about sometime - hopefully soon - before we all leave - I would probably have given up on it before now -

It seems too choppy and jumping around all over the place with no storyline - but when the "surprise" is revealed - and we get on with solving the mystery of the woman at the party's dad's execution for a murder she says he did not commit - maybe our interest will "come alive" - (clue) -

Go to amazon.com and read a review -

Sad to say - for me though - they don't have at my library - and I'm sure not gonna buy this one - even with the promised "revelation" -