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A review by antiauk
The Holy Thief by William Ryan
1.0
Disclaimer: Received as a free Advanced Reader Copy from the First Reads Program.
I'm afraid I'm just not a big fan of mystery novels in general, although I like to think I can pick out a good novel even in a genre I don't care for. I think perhaps The Holy Thief was just a little too ambitious for a first time novel. There are some really great things going on here, namely the Thieves, particularly the mention of their tattoos; the street kids of Russia; and the author Babel. Sadly, we don't get to see much of this, and what we do see is kind of humdrum.
There are also some fairly distracting similes in this novel, two "favorites" being, "The lie tasted like meatballs in his mouth" and someone staring at someone "like he farted during the ballet." It was distracting and completely out of tone with the rest of the novel. If Ryan wanted some comedic relief, he could have done it better by using his characters, namely Babel. Want more Babel.
I would also say that this novel is trying to spread itself into three genres. We obviously know it's a murder mystery, because there's a dead body and it's "about" a police detective even if he is Soviet Militiaman (in Soviet Russia, murder mystery solve you?). However, I would venture that Ryan is also trying to write a historical fiction novel AND a political thriller. Sadly, it just doesn't work in this case. It's a little too watered down in certain areas because of the other genre influences to really satisfy any genre reader, and definitely not strong enough to stand on its own.
Finally...I would say that the ending was a little anti-climactic, but there was really no build-up in order for there to be a climax. This book is nothing but plateau. I guess if you're into being literally frustrated this might just be for you, but I need a little more...satisfaction. I have no idea how this book review turned into entendre, but there it is.
There are things that might be fixed before the final copy is released...but I don't think it will be drastically enough for me to change my rating. And there's no way I'm re-reading this.
The reviewer is a 2009 graduate of Kent State University's Master of Library and Information Sciences program, an alumna of Antioch College, and the author of the blog A Librarian's Life in Books.
I'm afraid I'm just not a big fan of mystery novels in general, although I like to think I can pick out a good novel even in a genre I don't care for. I think perhaps The Holy Thief was just a little too ambitious for a first time novel. There are some really great things going on here, namely the Thieves, particularly the mention of their tattoos; the street kids of Russia; and the author Babel. Sadly, we don't get to see much of this, and what we do see is kind of humdrum.
There are also some fairly distracting similes in this novel, two "favorites" being, "The lie tasted like meatballs in his mouth" and someone staring at someone "like he farted during the ballet." It was distracting and completely out of tone with the rest of the novel. If Ryan wanted some comedic relief, he could have done it better by using his characters, namely Babel. Want more Babel.
I would also say that this novel is trying to spread itself into three genres. We obviously know it's a murder mystery, because there's a dead body and it's "about" a police detective even if he is Soviet Militiaman (in Soviet Russia, murder mystery solve you?). However, I would venture that Ryan is also trying to write a historical fiction novel AND a political thriller. Sadly, it just doesn't work in this case. It's a little too watered down in certain areas because of the other genre influences to really satisfy any genre reader, and definitely not strong enough to stand on its own.
Finally...I would say that the ending was a little anti-climactic, but there was really no build-up in order for there to be a climax. This book is nothing but plateau. I guess if you're into being literally frustrated this might just be for you, but I need a little more...satisfaction. I have no idea how this book review turned into entendre, but there it is.
There are things that might be fixed before the final copy is released...but I don't think it will be drastically enough for me to change my rating. And there's no way I'm re-reading this.
The reviewer is a 2009 graduate of Kent State University's Master of Library and Information Sciences program, an alumna of Antioch College, and the author of the blog A Librarian's Life in Books.