Rating: 
Summary: What a letdown!
Review: Even the master must, I guess, have a letdown. Of all the Ridley Pearson books I have read, this one was easily the dullest. His plot was uninteresting, his characters little better than cardboard figures, the sense of peril nonexistent, and the organization was haphazard at best-and those were the GOOD points. I was turning the pages, all right, but only because I wanted to finish the book quickly. I found the plot hard to follow due to the short chapters. The characters, such as Madame Lu and Stevie McNeal, were unbelie- vable and totally unappealing. There was never any real sense of danger to any of the main characters, so one really did not have to worry if they would survive or not. Lou Boldt, usually a really interesting detective, does little more than mouth one platitude after another; it almost seems that all he does is say, "Be careful," or "This could be trouble," etc. This is a classic example of an "I don't care whate happens" book. I can only hope Pearson gets back to the technique of his previous Lou Boldt novels, all classics. This one was a real waste of time.
Rating: 
Summary: Audio Tape - I was unable to listen Scott Rosema is terrible
Review: I have been listening to audio tapes for several years and have never heard such a "bad read". Scott Rosema speaks extremely fast and without emotion. I was unable to get through more than one tape.
Rating: 
Summary: Best police procedural I've read in a long time!
Review: I always look forward to Ridley Pearson books, particularly the Lou Boldt series. Wonderful characters and always a mesmerizing plot. The First Victim focuses on the illegal immigrant trade and shows us what their plight might be when hitting the shores of the country whose streets are paved with gold. Also a fascinating look at the press/news media and how it can either assist and defeat the best interests of all involved in this thorny problem.This author just keeps getting better and I always look forward to his new books. He never fails me and is among my favorite authors.
Rating:
Summary: What an exciting book! Non-stop action and suspense!
Review: Lou Boldt returns, still coping with the fears about his wife's cancer,but determined to throw himself into his work. The book combines suspense, mystery, murder and conspiracy. Some new characters are introduced and the regular ones like LaMoia are more developed. A summer reading must!
Rating: 
Summary: Transparent plot melded with some stock characters
Review: The latest Lou Boldt police procedural is a letdown from Pierson's previous books, especially The Pied Piper. Boldt's relationships with his wife and fellow police officers remain a strong point of the series, but the simplistic plot line about smuggled Chinese immigrants is a letdown. Pierson's characterization of a local Chinese-American crimelord somewhat reminds one of The Dragon Lady from Terry and The Pirates. The villain of the piece is revealed way too early, and the outcome is a fargone conclusion. Potential witnesses and leads are killed off one by one, until it becomes monotonous.
Rating:
Summary: Change the pic; get back to research . . .
Review: A tip to the author: Women don't take their usual toothbrushes on overnight trips. Submarines smell of sweat -- young man sweat -- and mildew. Mr. Pearson did what he was supposed to do: He entertained me. P. S. His picture makes him look so scary; needs something softer.
Rating:
Summary: Too Easy to Put Down
Review: I have read all of the Lou Boldt books and this one was my least favorite. I loved The Pied Piper and couldn't wait to read this. The chapters were way too short without the usual character development. I wish I had waited to buy it in paperback!
Rating: 
Summary: Another taught police procedural from the master...
Review: I stumbled upon Ridley Pearson by accident (found one of his paperbacks in a used bookstore) and he has become one of my favorite mystery writers. The First Victim, although not one of his best, is a taught thriller that keeps you guessing until the end about Melissa's fate. I was disappointed in the lack of character development between Boldt and his wife as well as Boldt and Daphne and John LaMoia. These characters are complex and very human and it would have been nice to have had a few scenes where the richness of the relationships was portrayed. I am looking forward to his next novel in the series.
Rating:
Summary: Bolt is forever exhausted
Review: I enjoy Ridley Pearson and Lou Bolt his principla character. BUT, I am sick to death of reading how tired Lou Bolt is.
Rating:
Summary: Not the Ridley Pearson I had come to look forward to!
Review: In this latest story detective Lou Boldt (a great character who features in many of Person's previous novels), is totally wasted in an esoteric plot way outside the appeal (to me) of Mr. Pearson's usual high quality crime genre. I simply couldn't finish it with the next John Sanford waiting on my night table.
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