Rainy City

Rating:
Summary: A Very Good Debut Novel
Review: "The Rainy City" is the debut novel from Earl Emerson and his character, private eye, Thomas Black. The atmosphere is very realistic; the series is set in Seattle. Black and his friend (in this book), Kathy Birchfield are entertaining and totally believable. The plot is good, and for anyone contemplating reading the entire series, this is the one to begin the journey. The character development throughout the entire series (the last being "Catfish Cafe") is excellent and a lot of fun to watch.

Rating:
Summary: A Very Good Debut Novel
Review: "The Rainy City" is the debut novel from Earl Emerson and his character, private eye, Thomas Black. The atmosphere is very realistic; the series is set in Seattle. Black and his friend (in this book), Kathy Birchfield are entertaining and totally believable. The plot is good, and for anyone contemplating reading the entire series, this is the one to begin the journey. The character development throughout the entire series (the last being "Catfish Cafe") is excellent and a lot of fun to watch.

Rating:
Summary: superior to most
Review: Emerson's Thomas Black Mysteries are all great BUT, up until Thomas Black finally marries Kathy, he is overly obsessed with women (including Kathy). You know what I mean. Every time a woman (kathy included) appears (not just in her initial introduction but EVERY time she steps on the page) Emerson drools over how perfectly gorgeous, sexy etc. etc. her eyes are and her hair is and her legs are. Over and over. Hey I don't need to be told over and over the color of someones eyes, hair, skin. I mean what is this? Emerson trying to fill-up the pages or is he just a shallow sexist jerk. And naturally most all the women in his books are stunning beauties all hot to trot or they are sick pathetic gutter dogs. The men are usually ugly, potbellied freaks.

Out side of that, Emerson's Thomas Black Mysteries are superior to most of what's out there. Full of fun and wit. Interesting plots that have depth and breadth. Highly recommended.

Now, his Mac Fontana Mysteries are not very good. In fact it's hard to believe Emerson wrote them.

Thomas Black Mysteries: in order, first to last The Rainy City, Poverty Bay, Nervous Laughter, Fat Tuesday, Deviant Behavior Yellow Dog Party, The Portland Laugher, The Vanishing Smile, The Million-Dollar Tattoo, Catfish Café.

Mac Fontana Mysteries: in order, first to last Black Hearts and Slow Dancing, Help Wanted: Orphans Preferred, Morons and Madmen, Going Crazy in Public, The Dead Horse Paint Company

Rating:
Summary: A hard boiled well plotted mystery with unlikable characters
Review: This is the first Thomas Black mystery I read. The book is well plotted and reads fast. The action scenes are hardboiled. I almost gave this four stars but I didn't really like any of the characters. Would it have killed the author to put in at least one normal character and some normal human emotions. Perhaps Seattle has an unusually high percentage of mentally ill and/or deranged people but I doubt it. On page 1 Black's dog is killed. Black doesn't shed a tear but rather he gives us a gardening tip--plant roses over a dog's grave--what's with that?

Rating:
Summary: A hard boiled well plotted mystery with unlikable characters
Review: This is the first Thomas Black mystery I read. The book is well plotted and reads fast. The action scenes are hardboiled. I almost gave this four stars but I didn't really like any of the characters. Would it have killed the author to put in at least one normal character and some normal human emotions. Perhaps Seattle has an unusually high percentage of mentally ill and/or deranged people but I doubt it. On page 1 Black's dog is killed. Black doesn't shed a tear but rather he gives us a gardening tip--plant roses over a dog's grave--what's with that?