The Carrion Birds: A Novel

This was my first win on First Reads. This is really out of my normal zone and not a book that I would normally gravitate toward. I completed this book in two sessions. If I didn't have to work, I would have completed in one session. This is a true noir western. I had to keep looking at the picture of the author because it's hard to believe how young he is to have written such a graphic, frightening western type book that is impossible to put down! The genre reminded me of "No Country For Old Men" and it was hard, sometimes to read, I had to keep catching my breath before I could go on. I have to recommend this book as a must read. I will be ordering Mr. Waite's first book, The Terror of Living because I think he will be one of my new show more favorite authors. show less

Good thriller! Very quick paced and exciting! The plot moves right along! At first I had an uh-oh moment, when I felt like the main character, Ray, was just a copy of Clint Eastwood's character in Unforgiven, even saying things like, "I'm not like that anymore." But that passed quickly, and Ray got to business! His path of revenge and its connection with his cousin make for a rollicking ride through dusty roads and ranch lands of New Mexico. Love the vengeance and the brutality of the actions of the gunmen and the drug cartel. Urban Waite really brought it with this book!

*I was fortunate to win this novel from Goodreads' First Reads program.

The premise of The Carrion Birds was strong, but I just couldn't "get into" the books. The greatest accomplishment and the greatest downfall were the details. There were so many, and it was great to have in some scenes, but overall it slowed down the story.
My favorite part: "Day 4." It showed how good the rest of the story could have been if Urban Waite had taken out unnecessary details and added in more incidents.

This books is a real page turner, lots of twists and turns and action.
Great characters and plot from Urban Waite.

Lost interest.