G439 Book Review of Misdirection by Austin Williams
Author: Austin Williams
ISBN: 978-1-62681-355-7
Publisher: Diversion Books
Part of a Series: Rusty Diamond Trilogy
Type of book: street drugs, mystery, narcotics, death, solving, science, street magician, going back home, ex relationships, modern times
Year it was published: 2014
Summary:
A street magician needs more than sleight-of- hand to survive getting embroiled in a murder case in this blistering novel of suspense, perfect for fans of Harlan Coben and George Pelecanos.
After years of chasing fame and hedonistic excess in the bright lights of Las Vegas, Rusty "The Raven" Diamond has returned home to Ocean City to piece his life back together. When he finds himself an innocent suspect in his landlord's brutal murder, Rusty abandons all hope of maintaining a tranquil existence. Acting on impulse, he digs into the investigation just enough to anger both the police and a local drug cartel.
As the unsolved case grows more complex, claiming new victims and inciting widespread panic, Rusty feels galvanized by the adrenaline he's been missing for too long. But his newfound excitement threatens to become an addiction, leading him headfirst into an underworld he's been desperately trying to escape.
Austin Williams creates an unforgettable protagonist in Rusty, a flawed but relatable master of illusion in very real danger. As the suspense builds to an explosively orchestrated climax, Williams paints a riveting portrait of both a city—and a man—on the edge.
Some of the characters did stand out but they felt flat rather than rounded, and it seemed as if only a single personality trait defined them, at least that's the way I remember them: Rusty Diamond is a former street magician with a heart of gold along with intelligence; then there is his friend Jim who happens to be on the police force and the times we meet him is he often recalls Rusty. Other characters include Kenny Dixon and then the teenage boy who used narcotics and accidentally gave Rusty a lead for solving crime. The women that were there, Rusty's former ex girlfriend as well as the dead woman's niece weren't very memorable and weren't very complex.
Theme:
Sometimes the best people that can solve a crime are not police
Plot:
The story is in third person narrative from Rusty Diamond's point of view. At times I am curious as to why the point of view jumped to other characters when it often seemed that they added little to the story, and jumping was without a warning. I also would have wanted to get a bit more into Rusty's characters and emotions instead of simply inferring that he's a misunderstood rebel.
Author Information:
(From Book Junkie Promotions)
Buy the Book
About the Author
The new thriller by Austin Williams, Misdirection, is now available from Diversion Books. It is the first novel of The Rusty Diamond Trilogy. Williams is the author of the acclaimed suspense novels Crimson Orgy and The Platinum Loop. He is the co-author (with Erik Quisling) of Straight Whisky: A Living History of Sex, Drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll on the Sunset Strip. He lives in Los Angeles.Opinion:
I'm really not sure why, but I'm pretty ambivalent towards the book. It did promise to have something special, in that of a street magician trying to solve a crime and it did have that, but neither the characters nor the story had a strong pull on me. The story itself also feels a bit incomplete, but it could be because its going to be part of a trilogy.
This is for Book Junkie Promotions
Misdirection Blog Tour Schedule
3 out of 5
(0: Stay away unless a masochist 1: Good for insomnia 2: Horrible but readable; 3: Readable and quickly forgettable, 4: Good, enjoyable 5: Buy it, keep it and never let it go.)
Comments
Post a Comment