Monthly Archives: July 2015

BAD DECISIONS by E.M. Smith (review)

review by VJ Miller, Sr.

Bad discisionsBad Decisions is over the top is how it is described. It certainly is and full of action but the protagonist, Jamie Kendrick is not believable. Dragged into a covert plot to rescue his niece and nephew with only basic training and a few hours prep time. Anyone who has suffered the beatings he has taken at the hands of the Law before the Agents stepped in, would not be ready to go on a sorte the following day, adrenaline rush not withstanding. The plot is interesting but the story suffers from too much description and slows the action.

Kendrick’s success has relied on luck; more luck than I can accept. It is not a bad story, far from it. There is plenty of action, enough to satisfy any reader of the genre. All it needs is to be tightened up and let the reader use their imagination more.

The book is meant to be the first of a series and can be much greater if the descriptions are not allowed to slow the action.

Three Stars

©Copyright Realms Uncharted and VJ Miller, Sr. 2015

 

WRONG QUARRY by Max Allan Collins (review)

 review by VJ Miller, Sr.

The Wrong QuarryThe plot was superb, very interesting that a hitman should take out a war on other hitmen. I look forward to reading the other quarry novels. Why only four stars for such a good story? I was dismayed at having to wade through all the descriptions of: every room, every person, in every setting, every automobile, every, everything. Mr. Collins actually told me more than I really needed to know. I would’ve preferred less description and let my own imagination fill in the rest. I feel that all this extra description actually slowed down the pace of the story. At times it appears Mr. Collins was giving descriptions to an illustrator for a graphic novel rather than setting the scene for a book.

This was a great story even though I did figure out the end before it happened. Too many clues maybe but still a good book. Anyone who enjoys good hard-boiled stories should pick this book up, they’ll really enjoy it. I

Four Stars

©Copyright Realms Uncharted and VJ Miller, Sr. 2015