David VanDyke

I surely enjoyed this, as much as I have the entire series (and much of BV Larson's work) but


I found it incredibly hard to feel good about the fact that the main character, at the end of the novel, has had his free will usurped by his friends and family, and the novel wants me to think this is an okay thing. I understand the point - that this is what he does to other people for the "greater good", but that that is a slippery slope. But it still feels shitty to end the book with a discussion show more between a clone of the main character and a clone of his dead wife that wonder when they'll have gone too far, with no resolution on what that might be for them.


It is fine when books challenge me - art isn't always supposed to be comfortable, after all - but reading light military scifi is usually a casual affair for me and I didn't like it. show less

I admit I've always enjoyed a good mystery, though lately they keep making them more thriller than mystery. This one tried to, but failed on that side of things. (No loss in my mind.)

Why are private detectives almost always kicked off the force in these noir type detective novels? Why can't they have left willingly or come from a different line of work (like the military) to the PI trade? It seems so cliché. And Cal Corwin is no different in that respect. She suffered under a bad leader, show more followed orders, got injured, then kicked from the force. Then sued and won. So she doesn't even have a good relationship with her former coworkers of the San Francisco Police Department ...

The initial case that begins the book offers a glimpse into who Cal is. Mom who works in pharma industry needs help because daughter kidnapped. Missing person's case to tug at the heart strings. But there's many things missing from the expected plot.The author does okay with placing red herrings in the path, which do fit expectations. The mother and father of the kidnapped girl are in on the job. The drug runners of the Tenderloin could also be involved.

Some of the book happens in The Tenderloin. What is it with writers insisting on using THIS part of San Francisco?.

Mickey as a character is a bit of an annoyance. So are all the guys hitting on the female PI. Ugh.

Some of the scenes just feel completely out of place for the book. I suspect the author was really anxious to write about car chases and show their knowledge of how vehicles handle... But it's out of place in this type of case until the very end. I had times where I wondered if Cal was maybe a transgender with the way she's written. However, we meet her mother and that thought is squashed.

The name definitely fit the title. Lot of loose ends left open by the end that leave you with questions. The prime case, the missing girl, does get solved. But this felt too ... open ended of an ending. Like many of these very prominent characters will be back again. And again... show less

The premise of the story is interesting. I enjoyed reading about all the characters. Once I entered the story, I was hooked! As I kept reading frantically - page after gripping page - I felt the suspense building with such severe intensity that I was biting my nails to the quick! As I anxiously turned the pages, the plot unexpectedly twisted. The storyline was so enticing that I couldn't put it down; I just had to know what happened next!

It’s a very well thought out story and in a way what show more happened in the book is not totally impossible, and the characters are very believable. Well written in a profession style. The pace and timing of 'events'.. Spot on. And just when I thought the 'prologue' was a harmless and innocuous little forerunner... WOW! The cover art... an image that's attractive and eye-catching. Nicely hinting at things to come.

If you want to try a new author and to step out of the box, make it this guy, you won't be disappointed. Highly recommended. show less

A twist on the zombie apocalypse. A not-quite-apocalypse where an engineered 'plague' turns its victims into healthier, youthful and somewhat more peaceful humans, but part of the rest of the world (including most of the USA) isn't quite ready to join them or even let them be.
That 'not ready to join them' part includes the lone wolf protagonist. While originally part of the group who caused the epidemic and now try to ensure the acceptance and safety of its victims, he feels very much the show more need to retain his edge as he makes his way to a potentially decisive target, also confronting a fair number of ghosts from his past.

While I wouldn't put it on par with "Use of weapons" this tale may have some appeal for those who enjoyed Cheradenine Zakalwe as a protagonist. show less