The Ferryman Will Be There

Rating:
Summary: An enjoyable read with an different perspective
Review: Aubert's lead character gives you interesting insights into the lives of the homeless. It is nice change to have a bit of an atypical lead character, as opposed to the typical good-looking but hard-nosed cop with a heart of gold that you normally find as the lead of mystery novels.

You won't feel like you already know the answer to the mystery by the 5th page, which is great, and the hints leading up to the final chapter aren't so blatant that they knock you over the head.

The ideal target reader for this book: a Canadian living in Toronto or someone with a love of or interest in Toronto, as Aubert does a superb job of bringing Toronto to life.

Extra kudos to the author for setting this storyline in Canada!

Rating:
Summary: Great insight into the homeless, but weak characters
Review: Former Judge and former homeless person Ellis Portal descends once again into the world of the homeless to track down a girl who vanished when her father was shot. He discovers teen gangs, evil corporations, drug dealing, and the physical underbelly of Toronto.

I loved the way author Rosemary Aubert described the lifestyles of the homeless, their ability to survive and their schemes to protect themselves. Aubert is certainly a talented writer and THE FERRYMAN WILL BE THERE is a pleasant read.

The problem with this book is that although Portal and the other characters express ample emotions, the reader hears about them rather than feeling them. Aubert missed the chance to increase the reader suspense by giving Portal only a tangential direct stake in the outcome. Because Portal doesn't really care, neither does the reader. Finally, this is supposed to be a mystery. Aubert doesn't give us any misdirection to let the readers buy into the solution.

I enjoyed this book, but I could have enjoyed it so much more.