Riot Act – by Zoë Sharp, $3.49 E
Every book I read has a great endorsement by someone or other. Zoë Sharp’s first book, Killer Instinct, had a rousing Foreword by Lee Child. That caught my eye. Mr. Child reported that someone said, I love your books but Zoe Sharp is better. Interesting admission from one of my favorite authors. I’ve been rolling that one around in my head ever since. Is she really better than Lee Child?
Before I read her first book, when anyone asked, Who is your favorite author, I never hesitated. Lee Child. If they asked for more, I’d toss in James Rollins, Sue Grafton, E.L. James, a few others*. After reading her second book, I have a different answer. And it brings me back to the question: Is she really better than Lee Child?
The honest answer is, Equal. And I mean that. How is that possible? the Reacher Creatures ask. Because they are opposite characters. Jack Reacher is male, American, laconic, a loner and homeless. Charlie Fox is female, English**, talkative, a pleasant extrovert, owns an apartment and even has parents. And, more fun, Mr. Child’s writing is the opposite of Ms. Sharp’s. Where his prose is sparse and lean and masculine, hers is warm and friendly and charming. Moving from one to the other is great fun. In my case, reading Wanted Man followed by Riot Act was cathartic.
But before this review devolves into the next edition of Epic Rap Battles of History, I should wax poetic about Ms. Sharp’s writing. (Wait! Don’t run off, I’ll tone down the poetic stuff.) First, her writing is not unique or ground breaking — thank god. It just fits. It does not intrude. It amuses without distracting. It informs without analysis. It drives the story forward in a smooth and linear progression. At the same time, it’s fun to read. There is appropriate humor, downright cheeky at times, that deepens the serious scenes.
In my review of her first book, I extolled the virtues of how Ms. Sharp glues the story together. She makes those uninteresting movements from point A to point B interesting. Expanding on that theme is how she makes small scenes, even pieces of scenes, have impact with little effort. Take this bit from the early going:
It was the kind of scream that nightmares are made of. A full-blooded howling roar with the sort of breath-control an opera singer would have killed for.
See? Fun, informative, illustrative and efficient; everything you want in two sentences. And fun to read. How about this bit which happens during a tense interrogation by the police Superintendent:
Friday [the dog] padded through from sloshing the contents of his water bowl over half the kitchen floor. He slyly dried his muzzle by wiping it across my knees while pretending to offer sympathetic support.
You know that dog. You’ve been slobbered on by that dog. And the story brings you the warmth that dogs always bring. Like I said, the opposite of Lee Child. Equal to … no, the antidote to Lee Child.
More important than the writing is the story. Most impressive is the sub-plot. Most thrillers dispense with family to keep the hero focused. James Rollins dabbles in a father with Alzheimers, Lee Child killed everyone off in the first couple books, Janet Evanovich uses them for sport. But usually, authors just ignore them. Ms. Sharp introduced a strained relationship in the first book with a surprising turn of events at the end. One I did not expect but fit beautifully. A common author would have left it at that. In Riot Act, Ms. Sharp puts the uncertain relationship into the fire. These books contain one of the most real and thoughtful father-daughter relationships I’ve ever read.
I can’t tell you much about any mystery without running into spoilers, but suffice it to say that I, the most jaded and competitive mystery reader out there, didn’t get it until the writer revealed it. And I didn’t feel cheated or blindsided. The hints and clues were there. What really amazed me was one character’s firm grasp of right and wrong during that final reveal scene. It was very well played.
My recommendation is to buy this book and read it! But be sure you read Killer Instinct first. They really work well together. I can’t wait to read Hard Knocks!
Peace, Seeley James
* JUST KIDDING about EL James. I only read about thirty pages of 50 Shades. It is very well written despite what the snobs claim, but it’s just too girly for me. Plus, after raising two daughters, the concept of a guy hitting a girl makes me ill. Even if she did sign a paper saying ‘it’s OK for rich guys to beat the crap out of me’. …I honestly wonder what goes through the minds of some readers. Well, there you have it.
** If Lancaster is indeed in England. Lord knows I’ve been yelled at by my kids’ English, Irish, Welsh, Scottish, and British soccer coaches long enough to have learned the geography by now. But to me, the whole freaking island would fit inside Montana with room left over for Ireland, so who gives a flying
Special NOTE: MY REVIEWS ARE MY REACTIONS TO THE BOOKS I READ. I have no relationship, financial or familial, with the authors. I do not expect, but would not refuse, any reciprocal reviews or recommendations. Just sayin.
