Review: The Paris Directive by Gerald Jay

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

For the travel-hungry reader whose wish list says "France," but whose wallet says "stay-cation," this tantalizing and skillfully written thriller is just the ticket.

In a Berlin hotel room in the late 1990s, two former French intelligence agents hire Klaus Reiner, a ruthlessly effective hit man, to eliminate an American industrialist vacationing in the Dordogne, in southwestern France. Reiner easily locates his target in the small village of Taziac, but the hit is compromised when three innocent people are in the wrong place at the wrong time. Enter Inspector Paul Mazarelle, formerly of Paris but now living in Taziac, charged with bringing his experience and record of success in the capital to bear on the gruesome quadruple homicide at the height of tourist season.

Both Mazarelle's investigation and Reiner's assignment become complicated when Molly, a New York City district attorney and daughter of two of the victims, arrives to identify the bodies and begins asking questions. All evidence points to Ali Sedak, a local Arab handyman, but Mazarelle and Molly have doubts, forcing Reiner to return to Taziac to ensure they see things as he arranged them.

Gerald Jay delivers a perfect vacation read that's also like going on vacation: delicious food and wine, lush countryside, and characters with panache to spare. And the wonderful cat-and-mouse game between the suave, ice-cold killer and the earthy, engaging French detective is the icing on the "gâteau."

MY TAKE:

I've always wanted to visit Paris so this novel's blurb piqued my interest.

The Paris Directive focuses on Mazarelle, an inspector, and Reiner, a hired assassin. The story is set mostly in Paris, but occasionally the location shifts to Spain and other choice places.

Mazarelle is no Poirot or Closseau, but the way he is portrayed is very realistic. He doesn't figure things out of the blue, but he reaches conclusions logically. As for the other characters, I didn't really warm up to them. Maybe that's why even though the plot was interesting and well-constructed, I didn't really get into it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday for the e-ARC. Publication date for The Paris Directive is on June 19, 2012.

THE GOOD:

1. Vivid descriptions of interesting places in Paris.
2. Interesting protagonist.
3. Well-constructed plot.

THE BAD:

1. Depending on how you like your thriller novels, you might not be too excited about this.

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

One of those stores full of interesting jars and tins of Earl Grey tea from London, biscottinos form Milan, and wonderful French mustards, jams, jellies, nuts, and pates wrapped in yellow cellophane and ribbons.

READ IT IF:

1. You like mystery, thriller novels.
2. You like Paris.
3. You are an armchair traveler.

RATING:


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Review: The Dog Walker by Corwyn Alvarez

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

If there are guardian angels among us, surely Benny is one of them. Gently challenged and benignly observant, he lives with his long-suffering mother in the quirky and charming town of Mayfield. Benny is qualified for only one job: walking dogs. At that task, he is without peer. But Benny is more than a simple friend to the town’s canines; he brings the same guileless compassion to the people around him. Sweet and honest, offering poignant loyalty, he changes their lives.

MY TAKE:

This book's summary sounded interesting, which was why I grabbed it from NetGalley.

The Dog Walker is about Benny who is, obviously, a dog walker. He lives in a small town and the book tells of his adventures there and how he interacts with his neighbors.

Benny is a somewhat endearing guy. I liked how he interacts with the dogs. It's like watching The Dog Whisperer. The thing is, though, the dogs aren't as much of a focus. Yes, he's a dog walker, but his human friends are more prominent in the book. Another thing I found odd was the fact that at the beginning of the book, it was emphasized that Benny was a special needs kid. I didn't see that at all. The narrator's voice was simple, sure, but hardly what you would expect from a special needs kid. Although, to be fair, it wasn't specified to what degree his disability was.

Plot-wise, I wasn't too keen on the whole thing. It was well-written, but I didn't feel any connection with the other characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bell Bridge Books for the e-copy.

THE GOOD:

1. Benny is endearing.
2. The plot and the characters' interactions are realistic.
3. The dogs are very sweet.

THE BAD:

1. It might be boring for some.

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

He began to acquire a varied clientele of dogs and their equally interesting owners, some of whom bore a disturbing resemblance to their dogs.

READ IT IF:

1. You like dogs.
2. You like realistic plots.
3. You like straightforward storytelling.

RATING:


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