Sins of the Fathers: An Inspector Wexford Mystery (Formerly Titled : a New Lease of Death)

Book Description

It was a brutal, vicious crime -- sixteen years old. A helpless old woman battered to death with an axe. Harry Painter hung for it, and Chief Inspector Wexford is certain they executed the right man. But Reverend Archery has doubts . . . because his son wants to marry the murderer's beautiful, brilliant daughter. He begins unravelling the past, only to discover that murder breeds murder -- and often conceals even deeper secrets . . .

Customer Reviews:

As Usual, a Rendell Ending with a Twist.......2001-09-24

This is a much older Rendell, an Inspector Wexford from 1967. It probably seems a bit dated and therefore poorly reviewed. I see another example of Rendell's beautifully written and convoluted plots. The book that you think you are reading as you go along turns abruptly in the midst of the story, several times.

Having developed a relationship with Wexford, his family, and side-kick Michael Burden, I enjoyed the return to their antecedents. And in its totality, I enjoyed the book very much.

Rendell's "Sins" finds you out!.......2001-02-03

It happened over sixteen years ago--but now, like the troll under the bridge, it raises its ugly head! This was no ordinary crime--it was an axe murder, the death of an old woman. Justice was summarily served, with Harry Painter hanging for the crime. In Ruth Rendell's "Sins of the Fathers," we find Chief Inspector Wexford and assistant Mike Burden painstakingly--and painfully--reinvestigating. It's unusual, of course, in that the Reverend Archery has raised doubts about the crime--fittingly so, as his son plans to marry the daughter of Harry Painter (and, of course, "daughter of a murderer" doesn't look so good on the bridal registry at Marks and Spencers!). Rendell's very successful Wexforfd series continues with this episode, which carries its own weight. Rendell's pacing, her attention to detail, her "execution" of the police procedural is right on target here, complete with deeply held--and dangerously held--secrets and brilliant crime solving by

Wexford and Burden. (Billyjhobbs@tyler.net)

Did He or Didn't He?.......2000-12-10

A young girl who wants to marry a Reverend's son insists that her father wasn't a murderer. But Wexford is sure that the right man had hanged for the crime, and he should know because it had been his first murder case...

Book Description

"Full of fascinating dialogue, surprising twists of plot, and well-developed, memorable characters, a stunningly successful work of fiction."
NASHVILLE BANNER
This is the tumultuous novel of men and women pitted against a world of wealth, power, and privilege...the story of the powerful Van Zale clan, and the man, Cornelius Van Zale, whose dynastic struggle to control a great fortune becomes the center of his life. When the world of the Van Zales, of servants and country houses, of European summers and Bar Harbor clambakes, polite marriages and discreet affairs, suddenly begins to fall apart, we see this glamorous sphere for what it really is--rife with ruthless, power-hungry men, fortune hunters, secret sex, blackmail...and violence.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful follow-up to "Rich are Different".......2007-09-02

This book was my second novel by Susan Howatch. I read (or rather listened to an audio version) of "The Rich are Different" and was astounded. As soon as I found out there was a sequel, I immediately dove in. Be sure to read "Rich" first.

Both books are told with six narrators each. Howatch handles this with a deft skill that always moves the plot forward, but also leaves me amazed with her power to inhabit and sympathize with what you think are second-tier characters. As with any novel, you develop feelings for characters as you go along, based on the information you are presented with. But often Howatch turns the tables and makes one of these characters the narrator. The reader suddenly not only understands previous events better, but is able to sympathize with these characters. There are no "hokey" surprise twists, just a richer story.

Howatch tackles some very dark/difficult themes - adultery, murder, blackmail, impotence, alcoholism, chronic illness, perversion, revenge - with the stunning ability to focus on the humanity and foibles that drive and derive from these. A current parallel might be "The Sopranos."

I enjoy classic literature as well as NYT bestseller type of fiction. And although Howatch seems to be available mostly as mass market paperback (tends to put me off), her writing is agile yet literary, and her ability to hold a mirror to humanity speaks of a tremendous talent.

One of my all time favorite books.......2007-08-19

Susan Howatch's ability to tell a story from various character's viewpoints is such a gift. Each chapter is such a cliffhanger that even on rereading, I can't wait to turn the page. Howatch's books even make me think how each person in my family would have such a different story to tell, even of the same time periods and events. I whole heartedly recommend this (and all of her other) book(s)!!!

another great book.......2000-09-02

Cornelius is evil, because he is amoral. He does not know the difference between right and wrong He seeks always to bend the present and future to his design and his only weak spot is the past and the memory of Dinah Slade who's destiny he could not control . The point of Cornelius is precisel that he is unaware of his evilnedss and he serves as an example to us all of the corrupting poewer of money and sucess. Or was he inherantly evil?

Howatch never Disappoints.......1998-11-02

The only reason I gave this book 4 stars is because I feel Howatch's "Glamorous Powers" and "Glittering Images" are better. This book is the sequel to "The Rich are Different". My major question after finishing both is: What caused Cornelius to be so self-deluded and evil? He is totally consumed with his power and the "rightness" of his actions. In "The Rich are Different," Howatch seems to allude to his childhood isolation brought on by his asthma. However this explantion just doesn't seem to be enough to explain how he could be so warped at such an early age. Perhaps we are to assume that explanations cannot always be found to fully explain a human character so twisted. I will continue to read Howatch. The stories are complex and not easily predictable. I recommend her works to all.

Average customer rating:

Move over John Irving
Far better than Confederacy of Dunces...
Somewhat funny, but too distracting
extremely annoying
Handling Sin

Handling Sin
Michael Malone
Manufacturer: Sourcebooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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First Lady

ASIN: 1570717567

Book Description

On the Ides of March, our hero, Raleigh Whittier Hayes (forgetful husband, baffled father, prosperous insurance agent and leading citizen of Thermopylae, North Carolina), learns that his father has discharged himself from the hospital, taken all his money out of the bank and, with a young black female mental patient, vanished in a yellow Cadillac convertible. Left behind is a mysterious list of seven outrageous tasks that Raleigh must perform in order to rescue his father and his inheritance.

And so Raleigh and fat Mingo Sheffield (his irrepressibly loyal friend) set off on an uproarious contemporary treasure hunt through a landscape of unforgettable characters, falling into adventures worthy of Tom Jones and Huck Finn. A moving parable of human love and redemption, Handling Sin is Michael Malone's comic masterpiece.

Customer Reviews:

Move over John Irving .......2007-09-25

After being sorely disappointed with Irving's last epic self-indulgent bore, I came upon this book as an Amazon recommendation and now I cannot stop recommending this book to everyone I know. It is laugh out loud funny while at its heart a truely touching tale about family and self discovery. Malone amazingly creates a wonderful tale which takes its main character on a sojourn which exposes his family secrets while at the same time awakens him to his own doubts and strenghts. I hesitated to compare Malone to Irving as Malone's other novels are quite different, however this book defintely compares to Irving at his best (Garp,Widow for a Year)where humor carries the reader through the main characters trying times and road to self discovery and realization. The definitive difference being its southern roots and down home style. I have read two more of Malone's books since "Handling Sin" and have come to enjoy him immensely,

Far better than Confederacy of Dunces..........2007-09-07

I've just finished reading "A Confederacy of Dunces" for the first time. I have resisted it for many years because of its comparisons to the wonderful "Handling Sin," which I reread approximately once a year, or when going on a trip where I need something dependable to read. Well, sorry, but although "ACoD" was entertaining, it was not in the league of "Handling Sin." Almost all the main characters of "HS" engaged me on some level; I too want to know what Gates and Weeper are up to these days. This is a true buddy story, although women (and romance) are present; each new twist of the story provides something fresh and interesting. I loved the duel-and-chase scene!

Unfortunately, after I first read this book in the early 1990s, I went on a Michael Malone binge and found that nothing else he'd written up to that point had been anywhere in this league, either.

Somewhat funny, but too distracting.......2007-09-03

I think Malone is a talented writer. This book is a picaresque in the tradition of Don Quixote. But, this book fails where Don Quixote succeeded.

First, the numerous digressions from the main plot were extremely distracting. I would be reading one of these asides for two or three pages, and then suddenly get jarred back into the main plot. Some of these digressions were funny and quirky, but they often did not seem to have a point relating to the story. It seems that they were just stuck in to up the quirkiness of the book. Quirkiness just for its own sake is hollow, and a poor substitution for genuine humor.

Second, the characters were all too outlandish. Granted, in this style of book, the characters will be extreme. But, Malone didn't rein in his characters in the least. So, they end up being incomplete and unbelievable.

Perhaps Malone's fans will enjoy this. I did not.

extremely annoying.......2007-03-25

I found this book to be very annoying... The storyline goes on and on and I never got to a point where I cared about any of the characters.

Handling Sin.......2007-03-19

Mr. Malone has to be one of the most captivating authors of fiction for his era. He is definitely the master of the 'comma'. It is inspiring to recognize the power and creativity of the human mind.
Len Merson, San Diego, CA

For the Sins of My Father: A Mafia Killer, His Son, and the Legacy of a Mob Life

Average customer rating:

Roy Demeo the Gangster AND Family Man (as told by his son Albert)
There's a flip side to every coin
Albert Demeo
Poor
don't bother

For the Sins of My Father: A Mafia Killer, His Son, and the Legacy of a Mob Life
Albert Demeo
Manufacturer: Broadway
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Criminals | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Murder Machine (Onyx)
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The Last Godfather: The Rise and Fall of Joey Massino (Berkley True Crime)

ASIN: 0767906896
Release Date: 2003-09-09

Book Description

A suspenseful, emotionally charged real-life Sopranos: The son of New York's most notorious Mafia killer reveals the conflicted life he led being raised by a cold-blooded murderer, who was also a devoted family man, and the wrenching legacy of Mafia family life.

Al DeMeo will never forget the day in 1992 when a coworker, a fellow trader at the New York Stock Exchange, taunted him with a copy of the hot new book Murder Machine, chronicling the horrific criminal life of DeMeo's father, Roy, the head of the most deadly gang in organized crime. The moment sent DeMeo into a psychological tailspin: How could he have spent his life looking up to, and loving, a vicious killer?

For the Sins of My Father recounts the chilling rise and fall of the man who led the Gambino family's most fearsome killers and thieves, through the eyes of a son who had never known any other kind of life. Coming of age in an opulent Long Island house where money is abundant but its source is unclear, Al becomes Roy's confidant, sent to call in loans at age fourteen and gradually coming to understand his father's job description--loan shark, car thief, porn purveyor and, above all, murderer. But when Al is seventeen, Roy's body is found in the trunk of a car, a gangland slaying that places Al between federal prosecutors seeking his testimony and a mob crew determined to keep him quiet.

Desperate to abide by the father-son bond, but equally determined to escape his father's dangerous and doomed life, Al Demeo embarks on a courageous quest for the truth, reconciliation, and honor. With the implacable narrative drive of a thriller and the power of a painfully honest memoir, For the Sins of My Father presents a startling and unprecedented perspective on the underworld of organized crime, exposing for the first time the cruel legacy of a Mafia life.

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

Roy Demeo the Gangster AND Family Man (as told by his son Albert).......2007-08-20

Wow! If you've ever read books that involve Roy Demeo (The Ice Man, Murder Machine to name a few), you will know that his reputation is that of a ruthless, antagonistic, killer who was widely feared by many for such a reputation. However, this book is interesting in the fact that the author tell about his life with his father, Roy Demeo, as told from a son's point of view. This exposes Roy Demeo's "family Man" side, and shows how much he really did love his wife and children.

Once criticism of the book is that it has a slow start. The first few chapters are slow and a little boring, but it gets better from there.

There's a flip side to every coin.......2007-08-01

After have read Murder Machine I came over The Since of my father by accident after surfing the net...I think it's a wonderful book by Albert, that gives you the insight from a sons perspective of a mob hitman.
Murder Machine was great, but how much did they acctually "spice up" the stories??? I thought "the sins of my father" was a fantastic book, very interesting and hearthwarming. If you like me enjoy mob-books, have a big heart and haven't read this one: buy it. Don't mind the people who gives it a low rating, they were expecting Lucky Luke or something.
Great book Albert De Meo. May your father R.I.P.

Albert Demeo.......2007-07-20

We see the life of a gangster through the eyes of a young boy. A young boy who adores his father and will do anything to please him. He is slowly introduced into the workings of the Mafia. The older he gets, the more tradegy his life encounters. Very well written. My only regret was that there were not enough photos in this book.

Poor.......2007-05-19

Getting a book published merely because your daddy was a gangster is a bit of crime. Me buying it and toiling through the amateurish prose even more of a crime.

don't bother.......2007-05-07

The kid doesn't know anything about his father other then what the police knew. you can find a lot better book about Demeo

The Sins of the Fathers (Matthew Scudder Mysteries)

Average customer rating:

The First Matt Scudder Mystery
Passing the mantle from Dashiell Hammett & John D. MacDonald
Slow-paced start to the Matthew Scudder series
Nice start: showed Block improved as he wrote
Alcohol attracts depressives

The Sins of the Fathers (Matthew Scudder Mysteries)
Lawrence Block
Manufacturer: Avon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Hard-Boiled | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 038076363X

Book Description

The pretty young prostitute is dead. Her alleged murderer—a minister's son—hanged himself in his jail cell. The case is closed. But the dead girl's fatherhas come to Matthew Scudder for answers, sending the unlicensed private investigator in search of terrible truths about a life that was lived and lost in a sordid world of perversion and pleasures.

Customer Reviews:

The First Matt Scudder Mystery.......2005-11-24

I had read several of Lawrence Block's books and found the writing to be excellent, so I looked forward to reading the first (copyright 1976) of the Matt Scudder series. I was not disappointed. In Scudder, Block gives us a worn, lonely man, retired from the New York City police force, and finding consolation in alcohol. Gritty describes the man and the streets of New York that he haunts. Scudder picks up money doing investigative work, and this is the kernel of the story. Cale Hanniford hires Scudder to find why his daughter was murdered by the man that shared her apartment, a man that then hanged himself in his jail cell. As Scudder systematically peels away layer after layer of mystery surrounding the murder, we find that the crime was completely different from the initial picture. The slow, deliberate work of Scudder has a realistic feel that you don't get in many mysteries. Block is also a master at describing the streets and bars and characters in New York. The story should keep you fascinated to the end.

Passing the mantle from Dashiell Hammett & John D. MacDonald.......2005-06-12

If you're a fan of realistic, hard-boiled detective fiction, you've found a hew hero in Matthew Scudder. Scudder's character has all of the grit of Sam Spade, all of the finesse and cunning of Travis McGee, and all of the street smarts of Harry Bosch.

Block is perhaps the finest living writer of the series character in the mystery genre. His gift for dialog, characters, and credible plot lines are simply astounding. Block is really quite a discovery for those who appreciate a well crafted tale and read mysteries to steep themselves in a world where justice is always the ultimate outcome-regardless of the form it sometimes takes.

This title introduces the series character of Matthew Scudder. A former New York city police officer, Scudder has retired to a life of unlicensed private detection, where he will solve crimes as favors to newfound friends who return the favors with "gifts" of their choosing. Block's attention for detail grows with each passing episode in this series, and we watch Scudder as he develops as a detective, wrestles with chronic alcoholism, interacts with the underbelly of The Big Apple, and takes decisive-and sometimes questionable-action in the pursuit of the "solve."

This particular episode has Scudder hired by a father, who has recently lost his estranged daughter to a brutal murder. The likely suspect is incarcerated, but the father's quest is to learn *why* she was killed...not by whom. Scudder tackles the unusual assignment by means of a plodding determination and relentless pursuit of facts that reveals a credible story that invokes that most enjoyable of reading companions-the reader's own imagination.

_The Sins of the Fathers_ relies on few conventions in the genre outside of the bare minimum. It's as if Block, distrusting the currency, has coined his own, and Scudder represents one of the most wonderful discoveries for the avid mysery reader: a series character of pure gold. This first book is bound to sink the hook in deep, and that's a sweet trap for any reader to trigger. I unconditionally recommend Lawrence Block's Scudder series to anyone interested in mysteries or detective fiction. This is first-rate fiction, drafted by someone with a real genius for the written word.

Slow-paced start to the Matthew Scudder series.......2005-03-29

The first book in the Matthew Scudder series.

Prior to this first book, Scudder had been a married with kids decorated police officer (detective) for fifteen years. One night, while in a bar, Scudder stopped a robbery attempt. Unfortunately, one of his bullets hit a seven year old girl, and killed her. Scudder had retired from the police force immediately afterwards, even though he received a department commendation for the action. Scudder also is separated from his family (divorced from wife, barely sees the kids), and as much as possible, from the human race without becoming a hermit. All of this back-story occurred before this first book in the series, and Scudder has still not gotten over the death. Now Scudder does "favors" for people, though he stresses that he is not a licensed private investigator.

The book opens with a Mr. Cale Hanniford and Matthew Scudder in a bar. Hanniford wants to hire Scudder to investigate his daughter's life, though not necessarily her death. Mr. Hanniford had not had any real contact with his daughter Wendy over the past three years, and wants Scudder to fill in the details of her life. Mr. Hanniford isn't looking to find Wendy's killer, because the guy covered in blood found outside the apartment had already been caught, and had already committed suicide in jail (the roommate). Right around when Mr. Hanniford learned that his daughter was dead, the "killer" is caught and dies. He didn't have time to process his daughter dying, and get angry with the murderer. He just wants to find out about Wendy and her life. Scudder is aware of the case and agrees to look into Wendy's life.

The copy of the book that I have is a short 276 pages in paperback. The pace is relatively slow, though the action occurs over mere days. The action mostly takes place in NYC and Utica NY.

- Michael S. Briggs -

Nice start: showed Block improved as he wrote.......2004-11-20

Block's Scudder series is serious business, though his characterizations are phenomenal in all his series. The other two: Burglar/Rhodenbarr and Tanner are much lighter, fun, less serious reading. This particular Scudder was his first. This is readily apparent to readers who have read many of the others in this series before reading this one. Some of the items might seem irrelevant, but are not in light of the books that follow. Scudder is an interesting character, an alcoholic ex-cop who is empathetically portrayed as a tragic hero type. He's all too human. Block also includes many memorable lines (which I add to my quote collection) such as: "Something I learned long ago. It is not necessary to know what a person is afraid of. It is enough to know the person is afraid" on page 84. If this is your first Scudder book, please read on--they get much better.

Alcohol attracts depressives.......2004-02-22

Matt Scudder is still drinking in this yarn. He is an ex-cop and is not a licensed private investigator. He does favors for people. A father wants him to find out why his daughter died. He had not been in contact with her for three years. Scudder is no longer a police officer because he has lost faith. A ricochet bullet targeted at miscreants killed an innocent child.

Reviewing the records with the help of his police contacts, Matt concludes that it seems to be case of a murder suicide, the suicide taking place while the murderer was in custody. The persons involved in the crime were roommates. Richard Vanderpoel was a minister's son. He was employed as a clerk in the antiques business. Scudder sees the attorney who visited Richard at the Tombs. Richard's father is tall and rail thin.

Scudder arranges to see a former roommate of the victim. The victim, Wendy, is described as having a little girl quality. Both Richard and Wendy played out patterns in life representing relationships with and the loss of parents.

Customer Reviews:

Enjoyable and well read audio work........2005-12-31

Kessler details the life of Joseph P. Kennedy, the father of Robert, Teddy and Jack Kennedy and the founder of one of the largest political dynasties in America. JPK is not given a very favorable look in this book. He is listed as an adulterer, a swindler, a crook, power hungry and unscrupulous. And that was just on the first side of the first tape. Because I don't know how much of this book is truly factual, I can't give it a proper review. Frankly, I bought it out of a discount bin for a long trip I was taking. However, it's a fascinating look at one of the people that isn't closely examined in history. It is an abridgement of the source work; it runs three hours and is read perfectly by Frank Langella.

A Stunning and Tragic Family.......2004-11-04

Kessler does an excellent job writing, truly, about the sins of the father, Joseph P. Kennedy. I had heard many stories about the man, but I didn't realize to what extent these stories were myths or real. Kessler certainly dispels that these stories are myths. He tells us what a manipulative, conniving, scheming, deceitful man that Kennedy really was.

We are treated to the stories of Kennedy's manipulation of the stock market for his own personal gain; his illegal importation of scotch to pad his growing millions; his manipulation and theft of Gloria Swanson's monies. It doesn't stop there. Kessler tells about how Joe wanted to avert war since he was afraid he would lose millions of dollars.

Kessler tells us how much Joe manipulated and controlled his children so that they would conform to his standards; and how their political life was formed in order for Joe to pursue his own dreams via his children's lives.

After reading of Joe's death, one has to wonder whether Joe's cruel and deceitful life was worth it in the end - two assassinated children; Rosemary's lobotomy; a family myth built on lies. A simply incredible book - first rate from start to finish.

good investigative work !!.......2004-06-30

A very fine book exposing the Kennedys. I am somewhat surprised that such immoral things could happen in free and democratic U.S. In any event, justice has been done. No Kennedy is likely to be President in the near future. Jo's manipulative and power-hungry character did not serve him well. The early and untimely deaths of his three sons gave him more sorrow and grief than anything else.

A bit too uncharitable; okay read.......2004-04-01

I have read a few books by Ronald Kessler. It is a recurring theme that I find myself irritated by how uncharitable Kessler is...unless Kessler honestly believes that The FBI ("the Bureau") did nothing right and that Joseph Kennedy was an absolute villain. Kessler has a tough time saying anthing good about Joseph Kennedy, The FBI or most of his other topics. I think Kessler's novels need balance and fairness. Maybe only the negative and scandalous is stimulating or salable but the novels leave me feeling annoyed.

Essential to know the Kennedys.......2004-02-25

It is a good and fair book, well written and researched. To read this book is so essential to know and understand - really - an important american family like the Kennedys, apart from the mith that this cool man, Joseph Kennedy, helped much more than anybody else in the family to create and foster. There are some dark sides, but the truth is one thing and the legend is another and of course if you prefer the latter leave this book on the shelf and go on dreaming.

SINS OF THE FATHERS: The Atlantic Slave Trade 1441-1807

Average customer rating:

SINS OF THE FATHERS: The Atlantic Slave Trade 1441-1807
James Pope-Hennessy
Manufacturer: Castle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

18th Century | World | History | Subjects | Books

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Advanced Placement Edition - World Civilizations: The Global Experience

ASIN: 0785815945

Book Description

Based on journals and letters of slave traders, merchant seamen, and slaves, themselves, this is a passionate account of the Atlantic slave trade, from its origins in the fifteenth century to it's gradual dissolution in the early 1800s.

SINS OF THE FATHERS: A STUDY OF THE ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADERS 1441-1807.

Average customer rating:

SINS OF THE FATHERS: A STUDY OF THE ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADERS 1441-1807.
James. Pope-Hennessy
Manufacturer: Readers Union
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000O8UH1K

Average customer rating:

A whole lot better!
Forgiveness
Daddy Dearest
Blood is thicker than water...
Fast Paced Page Turner

Sins of the Father
Felicia Madlock
Manufacturer: Urban Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

United States | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

British | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0974363669

Book Description

Devoted, caring, and dedicated. These are the words that Sammie Jr. uses to describe his father, Samuel "Street" Jamieson. His untimely death forced Sammie to move from the tranquility of suburban living to the noise and chaos of urban dwelling in the hard streets of Chicago. Sammie lost everything that he loved: parents, friends, and his way of life. How would he survive? And could he survive?

Player, liar, and deceiver. These are words that Terrance and Malik use to describe Samuel "Street" Jamieson. They never considered him their father. They did not grieve his untimely death; they mourned his departure years ago, when he walked out of their lives unannounced, leaving their mother heartbroken. Nadine sees the same poisonous charm in her sons that she saw in Street. A father's absence is always present in the lives of his sons. Unsuppressed anger, hatred, and bitterness fester in Terrance and Malik. These emotions surface to a crescendo when they are faced with circumstances that threaten to shatter their world. Can they learn to forgive?

The path of survival will intersect the path of hate. Can they build a road of understanding?

Customer Reviews:

A whole lot better!.......2007-07-02

This book was a whole lot better than Back on the Block! It had a great yet emmotional storyline and it held my attention! great job on this one!

Forgiveness.......2006-11-04

This book had me on the ferge of tears many times. When you look at the love Sammie, had to the hate that Malik and Terrance had, for the same man it's powerful. Malik and Terrance had a good life without there father (Street) and so did Bernard. However, Sammie was the one who was hurt the most in the story. And I'm not going to talk about Nadine (I really don't know what to say). Was it love? Did she really love Howard?
It's a good book please read it for yourself.

Daddy Dearest.......2006-11-03

I thought "Sins of a Father" was well written and quite interesting. The book dealt with infidelity, fatal attraction, love, abandonment, drug abuse, sports, etc.

It was a clear example of how men who grow up without a father (even if their mother is a positive role model) tend to despise their father, yet they follow in their footsteps by misleading women or ditching their offspring.

Blood is thicker than water..........2006-08-13

"Sins of the Father" is a very good read! I thoroughly enjoyed it! Ms. Madlock speaks of the different views of four brothers and their reactions to their father's relationship with each of them.

Terrance and Malik were abandoned by their father and have nothing but resentment for him, Bernard basically is beyond any real feelings being that he had a father figure in his life, while young Sammie was being raised by a loving father until his demise. I commend Ms. Madlock for showing that there are two sides to every story! Join the three Jamison boys as they encompass you in their lives and the drama that they face on a daily basis!

Great job Ms. Madlock! Keep shining!

Fast Paced Page Turner.......2005-05-17

Some people may not agree with this review because I see many did not like this book. But once again I have to be honest this book drew me in from the first page and I could not put it down until I knew what was going to happen to Sammie. See the story goes like this Sammie's mom and dad get killed in a car crash when the story begins, he then gets shuffled to his dopefiend aunt's house. His aunt turns about to be a selfish money hungry wench who makes Sammie's life a living hell. This novel is filled with drama and much suspense it makes you want to be a speed reader just to find out the ending. Oh and what an ending it was!!!! I feel like if you buy this book you will not be losing out.

Original Sin (A Colton Parker Mystery, No. 1)

Average customer rating:

Think Magnum PI, minus the Hawaiian shirt
A winner!!
Christian Noir...
Dodson Writes a Riveting Debut Novel
A great new series begins with a bang!

Original Sin (A Colton Parker Mystery, No. 1)
Brandt Dodson
Manufacturer: Harvest House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Suspense | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

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The Lost Sheep (A Colton Parker Mystery, No. 4)
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Coral Moon (Kanner Lake Series #2)

ASIN: 0736918094

Book Description

Colton Parker was just fired from the FBI, has a teenage daughter who blames him for her mother’s death, and now that he’s hung out his shingle as a P.I., his first paying client—Angie Howe—has enough money for only one day’s worth of investigating. But Angie looks like she could use a friend, so Colton has his first case.

When the mystery is finally resolved, Colton is resigned to improve his parenting skills with his daughter—and while the pair still struggle with each other, hope finally gets a chance to grow.

First in the Colton Parker, P.I. series, from Brandt Dodson—a compelling new author with a family history in law enforcement spanning several generations.

Customer Reviews:

Think Magnum PI, minus the Hawaiian shirt.......2007-09-14

Colton Parker is a former FBI agent turned private investigator. He and his daughter are on shaky terms after his wife died following a heated argument with him. He's been called on the case by the girlfriend of the accused murderer of a beloved high school teacher. She claims that he is innocent and wants Colton to prove it. At first it seems that all evidence points to the accused but Colton delves deeper and with just a paper clip for a clue he finds a seedy shady world of pornography and sex. Non stop action makes this gritty mystery novel hard to put down.

When I think of a PI, Magnum comes to mind. The Hawaiian shirt with the fancy car going to exotic places in Hawaii and having a fun time. So I didn't know what to expect when I started this book. Well it turned out to be an unexpected awesome read. Normally I wouldn't have picked up this book because it's not in the genre I normally read. However I am so glad that I did. There is non stop action in this book. It's very gritty and I felt like I was watching an episode of Magnum (minus the cheesiness). I really like Colton's character. He's a very good detective and is able to get what he needs out of other people but he doesn't manipulate them to get info. He also cares very much for his daughter even though their relationship is strained. Dodson takes his character into places most Christian novels would never dream of going. Strip clubs are visited. Pornography is exposed. Teachers selling students for sex sales. Web cam shows. Nothing is untouched with this book. But there is nothing graphic and even though Colton's character is not a Christian in this book, he does not want anything to do with these things. He begins to show interest in the faith but the storyline is not preachy at all. This book is really an eye opener that people are not always what they seem. It makes you think twice about people you put your trust in. I was immediately hooked after I started reading this book. It's a definite page turner that you won't want to stop reading. This is a perfect book to give to a guy who doesn't like to read. Highly recommended and I have found a new favorite author.

A winner!!.......2007-04-28

Brandt's debut is fluid and engaging. Loved it. I will try to read the next one slower so I don't run through his books too fast.

Christian Noir..........2007-03-31

Six months ago, Colton Parker had it all: a wife he adored, a vivacious teenage daughter, a nice home, and a high profile position with the FBI. Now? Colton is a widower, his daughter barely talks to him and she lives with her grandparents, he lives in a run down house in a bad neighborhood, and he's starting a new career as a PI after being fired from the FBI due to an excessive force complaint.

A young woman comes to Colton's office, hoping that he can prove her boyfriend did not kill his aunt. The aunt, a high school guidance counselor seemed to be an angel on earth, beloved by students and faculty alike. The police assume the nephew is guilty because he's been in trouble practically since the day he was born. After doing some digging into the crime, Colton isn't so sure.

While he is dealing with solving this crime, he is also trying to figure out how to put one foot in front of the other every day and not succumb to the desire to shoot himself in the head. How can he raise a teenage daughter when he can barely take care of himself? How is he supposed to wake up every day knowing that the love of his life is gone...And how can he save his daughter who is slipping through his fingers and become a family again?

Can Colton solve this case and begin to rebuild his life with the help of some good friends, family, and God...Or will Colton's demons overtake him?

Christian literature has always made me nervous. However, I thought combining Christian lit with a genre I am already familiar with would be fun, and it was.

My dad passed away when I was 13, the same age as Colton's daughter Callie, in the story so it was interesting to me to read about her reaction to her mom's death. There was a lot that I could relate. It was also fascinating to get into the mind of Colton and learn about his motivations. I found myself wondering how similar he was to my mom. A major theme in the book was about starting over and rebuilding your life, even when you are not sure how to accomplish that task...Also, not letting go of the people around you (and leaning on God), even when you are tempted to end the pain. I would not say that the mystery took a backseat in this story because that was still very exciting. However, this story is as much about the resilience of the human condition. Without hesitation, I would read the other Colton Parker mysteries.

Dodson Writes a Riveting Debut Novel.......2007-03-31

Robert B. Parker, eat your heart out. There's a new sleuth-meister on the block. Brandt Dodson's Colton Parker, exFBI turned gumshoe, carries a heavy load of angst, anger, and appeal. Life's dealt him and his teenage daughter a raw deal with the death of his wife, but he's got to make a living for himself and his kid. With his skills, turning private eye is the most likely option. Too bad his first client can't pay much. At least it's a start . . . or maybe not, when the double-crossing starts, and Parker has to dig fast and deep beneath the lily-white surface to find the black sin at the core. Parker's wry first-person voice grabs the reader from the first paragraph and doesn't let loose until the last. A highly enjoyable read for mystery-buffs.

A great new series begins with a bang!.......2007-03-15

Colton Parker has just lost his job as an FBI agent after losing his temper and beating up a criminal. Colton Parker's wife has just died in a car accident because they were fighting and she left the house in anger and went out for a drive. Parker is about to lose his thirteen year old daughter because he blames himself for his wife's death, and believes he can't provide a good home or the kind of upbringing his daughter deserves. Parker, the hero of Brandt Dodson's new mystery series, is a flawed man still devestated by his wife's death. He thows all the money he can scrounge up into opening a Private Detective's office, and his first case his a real thriller.

Poor, destitute Angie wants Parker to clear boyfriend Billy who is accused of killing his aunt Emma. Billy is the kind of guy that would easily kill someone, yet Parker quickly surmises the evidence doesn't point to Billy. Investigating Aunt Emma's past, Parker finds some questions that need to be answered. Like, why would the killer steal her computer, and what his Emma's connection to a company with the initials F&F.

The novel is fast paced and is an easy fun read. The plot delves into unexpected areas such as the human cost of internet pornography and the pain surrounding the death of a loved one. Parker is a great character, flawed and sometimes out of control, yet determined to make the best of his life in spite of continuous setbacks. In additon to Parker, other solid characters include his daughter Callie who is devestated by the loss of her mom and the distance of her father, her grandparents, Parker's FBI female friend Mary and the young victimized girls, Melissa and Angie.

This is a novel you'll want to pick up. It is tough and gritty yet delivers a message of hope. As a reader, you pull for Colton Parker and relish the fact that after this first novel, there are two more books in the series. A few very minor complaints. First, the religious message throughout the book is strong, yet understated, except in one chapter when Parker gives a speech about Adam and his original sin. This didn't seem to fit. Second, Parker's relationship with a tough bookie doesn't ring as true. Those are only minor quibbles as this is a novel that is as good as any mainstream detective story you'll read. I highly recommend it.

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