The Heat of Lies (A Julian Palmer Thriller)

Rating:
Summary: I have mixed emotions....
Review: I read and enjoyed Stone's "Cold Truth", his first novel. I thought that the newest would delve deeper into his main character, Julian, and set the stage for a good series.

Well, it was a fast and interesting read, but it did not live up to my expectations in character development, nor did it tell a very good story. Stone has talent, and it will be interesting to see if he can develop it, or if he just writes more of this type to sell to beach readers & airport browsers. I hope not.

The newest relationship between Julian & Bear is implausible. The search, by Bear, for Julian's past just detracts from the Ryan murder, which could have been an excellent mystery on its own. Mr. Stone's "choppy" writing style does not bother me, as it does some of the early reviewers; in fact, I enjoy the way his mind jumps around on the page, but hope he will not use his writing methodology to plot jump again.

If Stone publishes a third, I will buy & try to read it...but he only has one more chance with me!

Rating:
Summary: The best book I've read this year
Review: I read Stone's first book, The Cold Truth, last year, and this new one is just as compelling. It kept me up very late one night, and I had to close my door and read more during my lunch break, that's how well it hooked me. Within a few pages, the Bear was back (quite plausible in the age of O.J.) and the headgames between he and Julian continued, this time with even higher stakes. Julian (now the boss - a great reversal) is so desperate to solve a murder for the sake of the victim's family, that she brings the Bear in to help. Smart? Crazy? Nothing's black & white in Stone's books. He just keeps you guessing, as he peels away layer upon layer of his characters' psyches. You just don't get psychological insight like this from most mysteries, or smart prose like this. And the plot just keeps twisting and turning right to the end. This is as good as it gets - no lie.

Rating:
Summary: Great sequel to The Cold Truth
Review: Most of Heat's negative reviews are focused on Heat as literature. OK, it's no Moby Dick. Then again, Moby was poorly reviewed too. Those who liked Heat said it was good for a plane or the beach. Right on. This isn't .... It's just a really good, fast paced, mystery. The author has envisioned the book as a movie and it shows: that could be why the ... of keeping up a quick pace, why the dialogue is more "contemporary" (sentence fragments) instead of labored. I couldn't put this down. .... Self-important, introspective, character analysis with no plot. Who cares? This book delivers on the promise of entertainment, pure and simple. Lastly, I have to add that it is less successful unless you've read Stone's first book, "The Cold Truth". As a sequel it works, but sequels rarely measure up to the original and that is true again here. Start with the "Cold Truth" Thanks Jonathan.