Beyond BadI read up to page 123, then decided life is too short.I wonder if the ending does indeed redeem itself, but then I figured it can’t possibly.This is yet another story about a beautiful young woman found dead in a man’s bathtub. I think the world already has enough of those stories, so it has to say something pretty darned special for me to persevere.This is a story for the Manly Man.A few quotes will serve as vehicles for my editorial inserts:“…he gathered one more eyeful of the woman with the pink rose on her tanned and firm buttock.” [I believe this is what is called “writing under the assumption of a male sexual gaze.”]“Jack was a horrendous cook, but his wife was phenomenal, and as with all their favourite things, he fancied himself a pretty swift and eager learner…It had been an awful week, and goofing off with his wife in the kitchen was a good way to give his brain a rest.” [Because cooking is for silly females, even though Jack can’t actually do it.]“Jack sat alone at the kitchen table wearing the pajamas his mother-in-law had given him for Christmas. They were a grotesque paisley print, thee kind of garment that might ordinarily sit in a dresser drawer until old age seized his senses. So long as he and Cindy were in Mrs Paige’s house, however, he figured he’d be the good son-in-law and wear them.” [What a goddam pain in the arse mother-in-laws are, going about giving gifts all over the place. Just as well there are good men like Jacks in this world, who wear grotesque paisley despite everything.]“When Jack met Cindy she was a wimp when it came to drinking. “Tying one on” meant an extra splash of Bailey’s Irish Cream in her heaping bowl of Haagen Dazs.” [Real men drink hard liquor.]But actually I think it was when Jack ‘watched the moonlight glistening on the ripples in the brackish water alongside Mike’s boat’ that made me put the book down. Brackish? Did he taste it, or something?
Beyond Suspicion is a quick-moving book and is a sequel to Grippando's first published novel The Pardon. I read The Pardon many years ago, but reading the first book is not a necessary requirement - Grippando sets the stage very well in this book so it can be a 'stand alone' novel. I shot through this book very quickly - the plot drags you in pretty well and Grippando's writing style keeps the book moving along at a quick pace. The main character is fairly average and his world is suddenly turned upside down by one case and its connections to the underworld. Murder, mayhem and one family crisis after another keep it interesting. Grippando fills this novel with a multitude on interesting characters, any one of which would be strong enough to be the main character in a book. A good solid read - a great summertime novel.Read all of my reviews of books by James Grippando by clicking here: http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/searc...
Do You like book Beyond Suspicion (2007)?
After reading some of the reviews I was a little worried. Don't be worried. I really enjoyed Mr. Grippando's second installment of Jack's life. I liked how fast paced this novel was and I did like the concept/ideas presented. I did agree with some of the other reviewers about how it wrapped up. Just felt it wrapped up way too quickly with some plot holes. I enjoy his books so maybe I'm a little bias. I do recommend this book in the series so you can understand the future books but The Pardon has been the best one so far that I've read.
—Samantha
James Grippando is a new favorite author of mine. I love a good mystery and this book was good, just not a favorite.It started out really good, but the middle got a little dry. It would have moments of white knuckle intensity followed by a whole lot of slow moving lawyer mumbo jumbo. The ending was great, but took a long time getting there. The problem was I would look at my kindle and it would say 91% but the book still wasn't wrapping up. I found myself watching the percentage increase and wondering when the climax of the book was coming. I also felt like the ending happened too fast. I wanted a little more closure from the side characters like Theo, Cindy, and Evelyn. If book 3 picks up where this one left off than I may come back and give it 4 stars. Otherwise, I am giving this book a solid 3.There was a murder/suicide scene where the woman is naked, but no other sex scenes. The "f word" here and there, but not excessive.
—Kelly
