tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088414462866645386.post2214827330175613111..comments2023-05-14T07:31:55.884-04:00Comments on The Drowning Machine: REVIEW: THE FIRST RULE by Robert CraisUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088414462866645386.post-23613245481552189722010-08-27T21:56:19.246-04:002010-08-27T21:56:19.246-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Naomi Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08005429772070247806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088414462866645386.post-76502832882619146002010-08-27T20:18:23.596-04:002010-08-27T20:18:23.596-04:00I'm from Mexico, my name is Iván and one thing...I'm from Mexico, my name is Iván and one thing I can say is that I have read Robert Crais' books from the beginning; I always loved Pike's character and even more in Watchmen, now that I have heard of this novel I cannot wait to get my hands on this and start reading.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088414462866645386.post-20442070086421856672009-11-20T12:53:18.096-05:002009-11-20T12:53:18.096-05:00I so agree with your assessment, Corey, with regar...I so agree with your assessment, Corey, with regard to <i>The First Rule</i>. This one is in another class compared to <i>The Watchman</i>. Thanks, Corey.le0pard13https://www.blogger.com/profile/09421175808461787862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088414462866645386.post-12156832580720173862009-11-05T10:48:41.663-05:002009-11-05T10:48:41.663-05:00I think TMR was named one of the favorite 100 myst...I think TMR was named one of the favorite 100 mysteries of the 20th century by the IMBA. I hope you enjoy it, too. <br /><br />Crais's fans seem to fall into a couple of camps: those who prefer the early books, full of a wisecracking Elvis and deadpan - and deadly - Joe Pike. And those like myself who enjoyed those books but really appreciate the deepening of the characters and the themes, starting with LA Requiem and going forward.<br /><br />Crais is given much credit for broadening the crime fic writer's scope in LA Requiem, with the use of multiple POVs and flashbacks, something that's fairly common nowadays. Someone would have done it sooner or later, I suppose, but of all such books I've read, LA Requiem is perhaps the finest in making the disconnects flow almost seamlessly, and in that the plot demands such a complex construction. Too often multiple POV is used merely to punch up a story or cloak weaknesses in the story rather than being there because the story requires it.Corey Wildehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05566740230330395590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088414462866645386.post-16638876961997059652009-11-05T07:32:19.145-05:002009-11-05T07:32:19.145-05:00OK. I've put The Monkey's Raincoat on my ...OK. I've put The Monkey's Raincoat on my list.Joe Baronehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10275991273751678636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088414462866645386.post-25633871499953649842009-11-04T18:08:00.766-05:002009-11-04T18:08:00.766-05:00All of this has the most interesting of timing. A ...All of this has the most interesting of timing. A co-worker/friend of mine (who I introduced to Cole-Pike, in series order) is about to launch in on L.A. Requiem. I envy her crossing that threshold for the first time. Thanks, Corey.le0pard13https://www.blogger.com/profile/09421175808461787862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088414462866645386.post-5575435517320941552009-11-04T17:57:01.401-05:002009-11-04T17:57:01.401-05:00I remember when I began reading Crais' books, ...I remember when I began reading Crais' books, I began with TMR but I kept hearing all this praise for LA Requiem and I was sorely tempted to skip ahead in the order and read it. I was glad I didn't cave in. And I feel really sorry for that blogger.Corey Wildehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05566740230330395590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088414462866645386.post-46236173554696823032009-11-04T17:29:29.979-05:002009-11-04T17:29:29.979-05:00Corey, you really sent me for a loop with this (I ...Corey, you really sent me for a loop with this (I was caught <i>soooo</i> off-guard with this early review). And of course, my anticipation is further stoked after I drank it all in. You automatically know that I heartily agree with your recommendation for first-time readers coming into the Cole-Pike universe to start at the beginning (recently, a blogger reviewed L.A. Requiem--and it was their first Crais novel, ever... <i>they really missed the payoff</i>). Many thanks for this, my friend. Wonderfully done, Corey.<br /><br />p.s., RC is doing the narration (abr & unabr) for the TFR (confirmed with Brilliance Audio).le0pard13https://www.blogger.com/profile/09421175808461787862noreply@blogger.com