Jonathan Moore (1)

This is a police procedural and it’s a good one. I couldn’t find any fault with the investigation in technique or plausibility (except that there's a less risky way to check if a camera has film in it). Gavin Cain is a good detective. I liked the distinction Moore made between him and Nagata; he an investigator, she an administrator. Later it made her easy to suspect and that was kind of fun, too. Moore portrayed his cops in an even-handed way. Karen Fischer was drawn well and I liked show more how she and Cain played off each other. It was straight up cop work though, nothing gooey. That was saved for his relationship with Lucy which I really couldn’t stand a lot of. She’s the requisite damaged woman for him to rescue and/or fix. He’s done one and is trying to do the other. She’s annoying and distracting. As much as I liked Cain (and the reappearance of Henry Newcomb from The Poison Artist) I don’t think I’ll follow things if it becomes a series because of Lucy. And what is it with that name? I’ve only met one person named Lucy in my entire life. It’s like Jack and gray eyes - they mostly exist in fiction. show less

The first half of this sinister, surreal psychological thriller is deeply intoxicating, darkly beguiling and more than a little bewildering. It’s magnificent modern gothic which unleashes a powerful fever dream upon the familiar mechanics of the police procedural.

Reality warps as toxicologist Caleb Maddox stumbles into the seamy sidestreets of old San Francisco. His precarious research project – into the biological processes underpinning the experience of pain – falls by the wayside show more when his world is overwhelmed by green-tinged wormwood and a woman whose affections are as unpredictable as the absinthe she offers.

Author Jonathan Moore switches seamlessly from a skilful presentation of solid science – using familiar forensic methods of detection into an intriguing serial killer murder mystery – to the disorienting hallucinations of sexually-driven delirium. Why did Caleb’s girlfriend abruptly reject him so violently? What awful atrocity scarred his childhood? Who is the shadowy, sensual femme fatale? What links a series of unexplained, sadistic deaths? Gripping doesn’t begin to describe it.
And then the whole elegant edifice collapses under its own invention with a hirrobily predictable ‘plot twist. All of the brilliant build-up, the intrigue and atmosphere, led inexorably to… the inevitable. What a wasted opportunity.

The trouble with The Poison Artist is that the first half is so good, so plausible, so seductive that any ending might’ve been a disappointment. The actual ‘reveal’ seriously derails the credibility of the early narrative, and telegraphs its arrival in ten-foot high letters. Yet even though I found the finale frankly daft, I’m still thrilled that I encountered The Poison Artist.

And I have no hesitation recommending it. Seldom have I seen the subtle lure of erotic obsession so beautifully rendered in all its perfidious finery. Worth reading for that alone.
7/10

There's more detail about this book over at
https://murdermayhemandmore.wordpress.com/2016/06/06/the-poison-artist-a-cup-hal... show less

Jonathan Moore's "The Dark Room" is a police procedural featuring thirty-seven year old Gavin Cain, a senior homicide inspector based in San Francisco. Cain is looking into two cases that may be linked. One involves an exhumation of a body that has been buried for thirty years, and other concerns compromising photographs and blackmail. A key figure is Mayor Harry Castelli, who asks Cain to find and arrest the extortionist who is threatening him. The characters include: the aforementioned show more Cain, a tough and savvy police officer who has seen it all, but senses that this investigation may be his undoing; Jim Grassley, Cain's partner of three weeks; FBI Special Agent Karen Fischer; Mona, the mayor's alcoholic wife; Alexa, Harry and Mona's unstable daughter; and various forensic and computer experts.

Moore's writing is direct, vivid, and briskly paced, and he maintains a high level of suspense until the puzzle pieces finally fall into place. Cain, Fischer, and their associates are disappointed with their slow progress, and are further shaken by an unexpected act of violence that makes finding the perpetrator a top priority. San Francisco is the perfect setting for this melancholy murder mystery. There are quite a few scenes in which storm clouds loom, followed by heavy downpours that drench everyone in sight. A refreshing contrast to the misery and evil that permeate this story is Cain's tender and loving relationship with Lucy Bolet, a gifted pianist who was psychologically scarred by an experience that nearly destroyed her.

As we reach the exciting conclusion, there are surprises aplenty, and Moore ties up his plot elements dramatically. "The Dark Room" delves into the sick fantasies of disturbed people; the consequences of keeping terrible secrets; the perils of greed; family dysfunction; abuse of power; and vengeance. On a more upbeat note, the author demonstrates that caring, support, and tapping hidden reserves of emotional strength may help damaged people heal, even after they have been brought low by unspeakable losses. show less

San Francisco PD Inspector Ross Carver is called out to a crime scene in a posh neighborhood. No sooner do he and his partner discover a dead body covered in a bizarre substance than they are hustled out by FBI agents in hazmat suits, decontaminated and forced to drink something that sends him into seizures and knocks him out. Carver awakes in his own bed nearly 3 days later being read to by his neighbor Mia and missing his memory of the last 3 days. The Night Market by Jonathan Moore wastes show more no time in setting the tone for this fascinating and genre-bending book.
Carver barely knows Mia and is not sure he can trust her. He keeps her close during his attempts to recover his memory. Each step broadens the mystery and leads him toward a conspiracy that may be deeper and more far-reaching than he could have imagined.
Moore has created a near-future San Francisco that feels both familiar and disconcerting. It doesn’t feel like our world, but it only feels a beat or two off. His expertly created mood permeates the novel and keeps you off-balance throughout. Carver’s doubts become your doubts. As Carver and Mia, along with Carver’s partner Jenner, learn more about what has happened and what is going on, the story picks up momentum that runs all the way to the final page. The revelations are shocking but they feel earned. Moore leaves you with a sense of tragedy, but also hope.
The Night Market has great characters, great plot, and a very evocative setting and mood. Comparisons to the works of Blake Crouch, China Mieville and Lauren Beukes are apt. It also reminded me in some aspects of the movie Dark City. This is a standout novel and an author worth following. Highly recommended.
I was fortunate to receive an advance copy of this book from the publisher. show less