The Empress File

Rating:
Summary: Intriguing thriller
Review: I love John Sandford's Prey-series, and thought I would also check out the Kidd-series. The Empress File is the second in this series, but the first one I've read.

The computer-expert/artist/con-man Kidd receives a call late at night from his online friend Bobby, asking him to go to the town of Longstreet, where a black kid has been shot by the cops. The town is covering up this shooting, as it was the wrong boy who got shot.

The town's underground hard-core black politicians are mad, about the killing of the black boy which is just the latest thing in a row of injustices, redneck racism and corruption in this small Southern town.
Kidd is asked to help developing a scheme, making the current city council fall. His on and off lover, the burglar LuEllen, is brought in as his sidekick, and the story takes off.
There were some intrigues in this story concerning political stuff and computer technicalities that I couldn't quite figure out, but the story moves quickly along, and it is overall a fast and easy read. Some of the rednecks and their methods stand out as particular bad, and the freaky new-age mayor is also a good character.
Though I am not rating this story a 5 star read, I am sure I will read the other Kidd-novels by John Sandford.

Rating:
Summary: Great characters - Great fun!
Review: If you like computer mysteries, this book is for you. It's amazing the things that these two characters, Kidd and LuEllen, go through just to hack a computer. John Sandford demonstrates in his "Prey" series that he's a good suspense writer. In this book and the previous one in the series, The Fool's Run, he also shows he has a great sense of humor. Thanks for a fast, fun and intelligent read

Rating:
Summary: Another good Kidd/LuEllen novel.
Review: Kidd, master computer hacker, and LuEllen, master burglar are hired by a local action committee to discredit the mayor of a small Mississippi town. The mayor is corrupt, along with the group of selectmen who govern with her and the honest people in town want to take their town back. Kidd and LuEllen swing into action but things go wrong and two of the honest folk are murdered. And then Kidd himself is captured. Will he die in the dreaded vacuum chamber or will LuEllen be able to rescue him before it's too late.

The Kidd and LuEllen novels were originally written by John Sandford under his own name, John Camp, and as such pre-date his more successful "Prey" novels. The Kidd novels are just as good if you can overlook the outdated computer technology Kidd uses (that was cutting edge when the novels were written). The writing is great, characterization is right on and the dialog sparkles. As others have suggested read "The Fools Run" first to get a little background on both Kidd and LuEllen. I'd recommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: Another great novel.
Review: This author is very talented. Kidd and LuEllen are back in the saddle again (read The Fool's Run first). The plot was well thought out and consistent. The action keeps drawing the reader along. Hopefully, there will be more of this series (can two books make a series?). More of a con game than a mystery thriller, this book and the Fool's Run are just as good as the Prey series. Encore.

Rating:
Summary: Kidd and LuEllen return
Review: This book follows the continued escapades of Kidd and LuEllen from the book "Fool's Run." It seems the characters have wised up a bit since the last story, and this book enjoys the same great writing and pace that the "Prey" series has.

A very enjoyable fast-paced read.

Great for Sandford fans who need something to read while waiting for the next "Prey" book to be published.

Rating:
Summary: A DIFFERNT SANDFORD!!!
Review: This is a very different Sandford book. It is nothing like the Prey series. Reminds me more of a con going on than anything. Kidd and LuEllen are very good. There is much suspense and you do not want to put the book down. I really liked the part that was at the dog pound. Kidd is great in getting people to believe what he wants them to. I think I like the Prey books better but this was pretty good.

Rating:
Summary: Kidd/LuEllen tackles a new con scheme, better than Fools Run
Review: This is the second novel starring Kidd, a computer whiz and painter and his partner in crime LuEllen, a professional burglar. After taking down a defense corporation through computer hacking in the first novel(The Fool's Run), Kidd was asked to help bring down the corrupt government of Longstreet, a small town located south of Memphis. The town's political machine consisted of the mayor, a few councilmen, and a dogcatcher who is the town bully. The town was also divided among its white and black residents. The current town government was ruled by whites (with only 1 black councilman) even though blacks were the majority. The mayor and her gang accepted bribes and stole money from the city at every chance they got. Kidd agreed to help the few black members who want to overthrow the government both as a favor to a friend and a good opportunity to steal the illegal cash the political machine members had stashed away.

With LuEllen's help, Kidd concocted a con scheme to topple the current town government and appoint new members to the council. As the plan is executed, something terrible happens. Several murders took place. Kidd and LuEllen is faced with possible danger as the mayor and her gang gets more desperate...

Overall, I like this book better than the first one because there is less computer terms therefore no confusing dialogue since the con scheme relies more on lying and planning than computers. The con scheme is fun to read about, almost brilliant. The relationship between Kidd and LuEllen gets more interesting as Kidd's feelings are brought more to the surface. Even though they enjoy an open relationship (each had other lovers), it's clear that they are devoted to each other more or less. Kidd on several instances in this book declares his love for LuEllen. However, I think it will be some time, if ever, before this couple is willing to acknowledge their feelings and settle down with each other. Hope the author doesn't disappoint us and fully develops their storyline in later novels.

Rating:
Summary: Kidd/LuEllen tackles a new con scheme, better than Fools Run
Review: This is the second novel starring Kidd, a computer whiz and painter and his partner in crime LuEllen, a professional burglar. After taking down a defense corporation through computer hacking in the first novel(The Fool's Run), Kidd was asked to help bring down the corrupt government of Longstreet, a small town located south of Memphis. The town's political machine consisted of the mayor, a few councilmen, and a dogcatcher who is the town bully. The town was also divided among its white and black residents. The current town government was ruled by whites (with only 1 black councilman) even though blacks were the majority. The mayor and her gang accepted bribes and stole money from the city at every chance they got. Kidd agreed to help the few black members who want to overthrow the government both as a favor to a friend and a good opportunity to steal the illegal cash the political machine members had stashed away.

With LuEllen's help, Kidd concocted a con scheme to topple the current town government and appoint new members to the council. As the plan is executed, something terrible happens. Several murders took place. Kidd and LuEllen is faced with possible danger as the mayor and her gang gets more desperate...

Overall, I like this book better than the first one because there is less computer terms therefore no confusing dialogue since the con scheme relies more on lying and planning than computers. The con scheme is fun to read about, almost brilliant. The relationship between Kidd and LuEllen gets more interesting as Kidd's feelings are brought more to the surface. Even though they enjoy an open relationship (each had other lovers), it's clear that they are devoted to each other more or less. Kidd on several instances in this book declares his love for LuEllen. However, I think it will be some time, if ever, before this couple is willing to acknowledge their feelings and settle down with each other. Hope the author doesn't disappoint us and fully develops their storyline in later novels.

Rating:
Summary: Popcorn
Review: This page-turner is another chapter of Kidd and LuEllen. Reading this is like eating popcorn. Can't stop, goes fast, instant gratification. What more can you ask for? Bring on the next installment.

Rating:
Summary: It Was Great!
Review: This was one of the best books I've ever read. First you should read THE FOOLS RUN, which is equally as good. That introduces the main characters, Kidd and LuEllen. Kidd is a painter/tarot card reader/computer hacker who happens to be the main character. There isn't a whole lot to say about this book. The dialogue is great, and the book is highly original. If you're familiar with his Prey novels, you will like these books, even though they are not really in the same category as the Prey books