Spiral (John Francis Cuddy Mystery)

Rating:
Summary: Spiral
Review: I loved the book and I love the character of John Cuddy, however, I was extremely disappointed that his new love, Nancy Meagher, died. I loved the interaction building between the two of them throughout the novels and will definitely miss it continuing. I think John Cuddy has enough to deal with without having to find a new love and I feel that he needs love and companionship in his life. He will now be afraid to love anyone else again in fear that he will lose her. I hope that since they did not find the body, that Nancy somehow comes back.

Rating:
Summary: I tried to believe it.........
Review: I purchased this book on the basis of the reviews I had read here. This was my first Healy novel, and I had high expectations. Knowing that a good novel, or movie, has to make one suspend disbelief, I was surprised to find in the first chapter circumstances surrounding the murder of 13 year old to be a little unbelieveable. For example, the security cameras in the mansion of her grandfather being turned off during the commission of the crime because a 15 year old friend of the victim wanted to make his own video of the party, and didn't want any competition from any other videotape. Bit of a stretch, eh? Oh, and she could sing like Janis Joplin?
Anyway, as we move along, several interesting characters develop, but weaving them all together requires so much imagination, and often re reading, that the plot development struggles as much as our hero. Although the perpetrator is a bit of surprise, the movement of the other characters is a bit shallow and predictable. I'd skip this one.

Rating:
Summary: Contemporary Noir at Its Best
Review: While I was touring for my first mystery novel, many readers compared my work to that of Jeremiah Healy's. Such comparisons pleased me greatly, and SPIRAL clearly demonstrates what I admire most about Healy's works.

John Cuddy is still mourning the death of his love, Nancy Meagher, when an old friend from his Vietnam service calls him on behalf of their wartime commander Nicolas Helides, who is now confined to a wheelchair. Helides' thirteen-year-old granddaughter was murdered. The girl's father planned to use his daughter to revitalize his old rock band. As Cuddy investigates the teengirl's death, he finds himself confronting greed, jealousy, lust, and ambition. SPIRAL is perhaps the darkest of Healy's Cuddy series, yet, in this mystery writer's opinion, it is one of his best. It is a magnificent work. Slide your mouse over to the purchase button and order it today.