Doug’s Book Review

Blackfly Season is a murder-mystery with plenty going on. On the whole, I found it entertaining and absorbing, although gruesome, and in truth, the ending was rather unsatisfying. On the other hand, others may enjoy it from cover to cover. I enjoyed about three quarters of it or so, and as I say, it was entertaining.

What I Like About Blackfly Season

The book is well written and descriptive, and tears along at a fair pace, as a murder mystery should. It did have me on the edge of my seat at times. Giles Blunt is definitely a skilled writer.

What I Dislike About Blackfly Season

I started to have problems with the book towards the end. It felt like Mr Blunt was up against a deadline, or just plain bored, and so came up with all sorts of contrived plot devices and impossible coincidences just so he could get to the end quickly, or so it seems to me. At the same time, there is a whole chapter which introduces a new character, and paints a picture of who he is. Having done so, the new character finds a body in the woods, then disappears from the plot.

The book has the feel of a television script, no surprise as Giles Blunt worked as a script writer for Law & Order, Street Legal and Night Heat.

You won’t mind the parts of the book which I am complaining about if you don’t mind the way in which so many television shows are tied up neatly at the end, logic not withstanding.

If only Mr. Blunt had applied the same writing skills to the end of the book as to the beginning, I would have thoroughly enjoyed it cover to cover.

ISBN: 0679314423

Last Modified : January 23rd, 2007
Filed under : General
Navigate : Previous post / Next post