Thursday, July 27, 2006
Dead Watch
John Sandford has taken a break from his very popular Lucas Davenport series and brought us a standalone this year.
I am a big Sandford fan but this book is a little lukewarm. The plot is interesting and moves quickly but I never felt strongly about any of the characters. There isn't a singular bad guy to fear and hate and the good guy is no Lucas.
An ex-senator is missing and his wife believes the White House is involved since her husband had just made a speech that was very inflamatory to the current administration. The Chief of Staff gets their go-to guy, Jake Winter, to investigate and to find out what he can about the missing man. Jake agrees that the disappearance appears to be a kidnapping but then the man's body is found and Jake uncovers a conspiracy to take down the Vice President and his political party. He also uncovers information about this man's personal life that could be used to confuse the investigation and deflect it from the White House. But should he? Is damage control the only issue at hand?
Throughout this book, we aren't certain who is involved. Who are the bad guys? Who can we trust? There is also a certain futuristic element that I can't quite put my finger on. There are references to an organization called the Watchmen that reminds me of science fiction stories where the government polices the people with surveillance and intimidation while promising only protection. Very Big Brother.
If you are a Sandford fan, this will be required reading just as it was for me. Sandford is definitely one of the best but this book isn't his best effort. If you are new to this author, you would be better off to start with Lucas.
I am a big Sandford fan but this book is a little lukewarm. The plot is interesting and moves quickly but I never felt strongly about any of the characters. There isn't a singular bad guy to fear and hate and the good guy is no Lucas.
An ex-senator is missing and his wife believes the White House is involved since her husband had just made a speech that was very inflamatory to the current administration. The Chief of Staff gets their go-to guy, Jake Winter, to investigate and to find out what he can about the missing man. Jake agrees that the disappearance appears to be a kidnapping but then the man's body is found and Jake uncovers a conspiracy to take down the Vice President and his political party. He also uncovers information about this man's personal life that could be used to confuse the investigation and deflect it from the White House. But should he? Is damage control the only issue at hand?
Throughout this book, we aren't certain who is involved. Who are the bad guys? Who can we trust? There is also a certain futuristic element that I can't quite put my finger on. There are references to an organization called the Watchmen that reminds me of science fiction stories where the government polices the people with surveillance and intimidation while promising only protection. Very Big Brother.
If you are a Sandford fan, this will be required reading just as it was for me. Sandford is definitely one of the best but this book isn't his best effort. If you are new to this author, you would be better off to start with Lucas.
# posted by Kim Reis @ 6:11 AM 
