This Mass Market Paperback Book item from Ballantine Books was reviewed on 23-Oct-2008. Search ISBN:034546799X offer from Abebooks or used books from Alibris. Capital Crimes Reference Book. Classifications : Contemporary General Literature & Fiction 4-for-3 Books Store Custom Stores Specialty Stores Books General Mystery & Thrillers 4-for-3 Books Store Custom Stores Specialty Stores Books Police Procedura . Click the following link to view the cover of Capital Crimes. Related topics: Contemporary. General. 4-for-3 Books Store. Custom Stores. Specialty Stores. Books. General. Mystery & Thrillers. 4-for-3 Books Store. Custom Stores. requestid: d82814ce-6a98-4858-8650-531fefeb9ad9
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1) Mass Market Paperback Book Capital Crimes by Ballantine Books. I had read several books by either one of the authors; some of them were very good, some were OK, others less exciting. I also read their previous joint novella effort, which I enjoyed. So, when I saw this in the bookstore, I bought it, and looked forward to reading it. What a bitter disappointment! This book is supposed to be a thriller and/or a mystery, but it lacks any thrills, and the characters and situations are so pedestrian, unexciting and humdrum, they completely failed to interest me. I couldn´t care less for the victim, the police officers and investigators, or the suspects. The dialog between characters is incredibly boring and uninspired; judging from the first 90 pages of the first novella (I could not stand more of this manure-literature!) all the characters have IQs not exceeding the mid, double digits, and most of them are so racist, sexist, and/or intellectually challenged, I would not want to spend (waste...) even a minute of my life with any of them. Or, reading about them.
In summary, if you think you want to read a good mystery, this is definitely NOT it. This pathetic book is not worth your money or your time. Actually, I believe all the copies of this book should, if possible, be recycled to benefit from their most important ingredient: paper pulp.¤ 2) Mass Market Paperback Book Capital Crimes by Ballantine Books. I have read all of both Kellermans´ suspense novels and am a HUGE fan of each author.
However, I believe each Kellerman is much better alone than jointly and felt this way about their previous collaboration, Double Homicide: Boston/Sante Fe. I don´t believe either one excels at the novella form which limits character and plot development by its very length. Each author on his/her own usually does a superb job of developing both in a full-length novel. After finishing one of their novels, I feel strongly about it, positive or negative. However, after finishing Capital Crimes, I didn´t feel anything except glad that it was finally finished. This was probably due to the fact that I didn´t care much about any of the characters because I hadn´t learned much about most of them. Even Alex Delaware in the 2nd story didn´t seem like himself, almost as if Faye had written Jonathan´s main character. And the ploy of using the back story of Baker Southerby´s childhood at the very end of Music City Breakdown to explain his reactions came too late and didn´t work for me. I´d advise both authors to forego any future collaborative efforts and concentrate on their own series.¤ 3) Mass Market Paperback Book Capital Crimes by Ballantine Books. I very much enjoyed these two Kellerman novellas, one by Faye, one by Jonathan, and I zipped right through them.
The first, My Sister´s Keeper, is written by Faye Kellerman, and is full of truly surprising twists, at least for this reader. It involves the fate of a lesbian California state representative, Davida Grayson, whom we meet on the very first page, and like immediately. I know all the reviews have mentioned it, but I was shocked by what happened, as the author intended, and further shocked, GREATLY shocked, by the subsequent investigation and the secrets it uncovers. Faye´s usual hero, LAPD Detective Pete Decker, makes a cameo appearance.
Jonathan´s entry, Music City Breakdown, was not as riveting. It involves a former country/blues great, Jack Jeffries, who is on his way to a comeback appearance in Nashville when he is found murdered in his hotel room. It so happens that Jack was a patient of Alex Delawre, who accompanied him on the trip--and so the mystery unfolds. I found the plot improbable at best, but it was still a fun read and an interesting denoument.
A quick, entertaining read for fans (like me) of both Kellermans.¤ 4) Mass Market Paperback Book Capital Crimes by Ballantine Books. This is the second in a series of novels by the Kellermans, both of them serious and popular detective novelists in their own rights. As in the first book, "Double Homicide", the concept here is that there´s been a homicide in a city somewhere in the country, and two detectives investigate it. The first book had homicides in Boston and Albuquerque (if memory serves correctly); the current book has killings in Berkeley, California, and Nashville. The first crime is a rather bloody murder, the victim a lesbian activist who´s a state representative working to extend state government funding for stem cell research. As a result, she has a long list of enemies, and of course her personal life is a source of suspects also.
The second story has a couple of Nashville homicide detectives working on the killing of a fading rock star from the sixties who´s an obvious fictionalization of David Crosby, even if all the details aren´t exactly correct. He´s been stabbed, and here, anyway, it´s obvious that his personal life should be the focus of the investigation. The only question is which of the people who were angry with him became so angry that they stabbed him and left him in an empty field to die.
This is an interesting idea that the Kellermans have started up. Back when I was a kid, detective novels were about 200 pages in length, sometimes less. Longer books were unusual, to say the least. I can remember seeing the novel "The Detective" by Roderick Thorpe, and being a bit surprised that someone would write a detective novel that long. The Kellermans do their part by producing, separately, 300-400 page novels. In this current series, however, the books each contain two stories, and each of the stories would stand on its own, and runs between 175 and 220 pages.
I have to say that I like this series of books, even if there´s not much chance for character development. This is a good entry in the series, and I enjoyed it. I would also recommend it.¤ 5) Mass Market Paperback Book Capital Crimes by Ballantine Books. I had expected little from this book. Shame, that. Both of these authors had been among my favorite purveyors of brain candy back in the day. However, their books (individually) seem determined to jump increasingly bigger sharks. I tend not to notice anymore if there is a new Alex Delaware or Peter Decker book on the market.
Anyhow, I was interested in this book because I did not look very carefully and thought that it was one novel written by the two of them. Instead, it was two novellas with a theme of lifestyle and consequences that get tossed together in a single package.
Honestly difficult not to see this one as anything except a rather cynical attempt to capitalize on the Kellerman name. The novellas were not entirely bad, but certainly did not feel done. Certainly not up to the standards of either author at their best. Not even up to the more recent standards of their lesser work. Skip this one. Even for airplane rides.¤ 6) Mass Market Paperback Book Capital Crimes by Ballantine Books. Internationally bestselling husband and wife Jonathan and Faye Kellerman team up for a powerful one-two punch with Capital Crimes, a gripping pair of original crime thrillers.
MY SISTER’S KEEPER: BERKELEY
Some of progressive state representative Davida Grayson’s views have made her unpopular. Although her foes are numerous no one suspects that any buttons Davida might push could evoke deadly force.
But now Davida lies brutally murdered in her office, and Berkeley homicide detectives Will Barnes and Amanda Isis must unravel Davida’s complex, before the killer pulls off a repeat performance.
MUSIC CITY BREAKDOWN: NASHVILLE
Baker Southerby was a child prodigy performer. But something leads him to become a Nashville cop. His partner, Lamar Van Gundy, is a would-be studio bassist who earned himself a detective’s badge. As part of Nashville PD´s elite Murder Squad, they catch a homicide that’s high-profile even for a city where musical celebrity is routine.
Capital Crimes is page-turning, psychologically resonant suspense–just what we’ve come to expect from two of the world’s most successful crime writers.
From the Hardcover edition.¤ Page Updated: Robert N. Goolsby, 20-Nov-2008, 034546799X9780345467997, 660-4X0-880-9X0-3EB-KIB-IEB-KCB-8 
Capital Crimes, Book, Image © Ballantine Books
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