Second Watch

Rating:
Summary: Second Book First Rate!
Review: Officer Clausen's second book is just as good as his first, "First Avenue," but in a different way. Here he writes not one, not two, but THREE very sympathetic and believable female characters (rare for a man). He also devotes a few chapters to the interior monologues of Daniel, the 8-year old central character of this story, and these are rendered with sensitivity and insight without condescension. He even creates a character who is homeless-by-choice, whom he neither vilifies nor glorifies. These are difficult tightropes to walk, and Clausen dances fearlessly across the rope.

The Seattle locations are so accurate that I recognized most of them immediately before he even named them. I think I've even met some of the background characters who work there!

The story is a tough, gritty crime novel which has at its center some crimes which are not easy to watch transpire, so this is not a lightweight or casual book. It is, however, a very well-crafted novel which is at least as good as his first.

That's high praise indeed.

Rating:
Summary: seattle native
Review: Officer Clausen's second book is just as good as his first, "First Avenue," but in a different way. Here he writes not one, not two, but THREE very sympathetic and believable female characters (rare for a man). He also devotes a few chapters to the interior monologues of Daniel, the 8-year old central character of this story, and these are rendered with sensitivity and insight without condescension. He even creates a character who is homeless-by-choice, whom he neither vilifies nor glorifies. These are difficult tightropes to walk, and Clausen dances fearlessly across the rope.

The Seattle locations are so accurate that I recognized most of them immediately before he even named them. I think I've even met some of the background characters who work there!

The story is a tough, gritty crime novel which has at its center some crimes which are not easy to watch transpire, so this is not a lightweight or casual book. It is, however, a very well-crafted novel which is at least as good as his first.

That's high praise indeed.

Rating:
Summary: A literate and compelling mystery
Review: Two female cops patrol the distinctive Ballard Avenue neighborhood in Seattle, and they do it mostly on foot. They become involved in the murders of two children, who've both been found in places where people dump trash.

I want to meet the characters that inhabit this neighborhood again and again. (Please take the hint, Mr. Clausen!)

Clausen is not a typical shoot-em-up author, although he writes action extremely well, thank you.

However, characters and their relationships to one another provide the bedrock of his story. Many of his scenes are quiet and filled with description and emotion. He is one of the most thoughtful, intelligent mystery writers at the game today.

He created a place that I did not want to leave. While he was at it, he spun a very fine, enjoyable mystery yarn. One of the things I really appreciate about this book is that every single scene was real and believable. It all might actually have happened.

I think discerning readers like those who love Barbara Hambly, Elizabeth George and Peter Robinson would enjoy Lowen Clausen. Fans who read only the scream-ride books by James Patterson and Harlan Coben might not! I'm not a snob - I read Coben myself. But it's Clausen's next book that I'm looking forward to most.