Oftentimes, I begin reading books with an air of impatience. I want something to happen right away. One part of my brain knows that backstory is every bit as important as the story’s current events. The rest of my brain is very childish and wants something to happen now, now, now!
This week, I learned that grand old lesson about being careful what I wish for.
I’ve spent the week reading Kate Collins’ Flower Shop Mystery series. On Saturday, I started reading the first book in this series, Mum’s the Word. The action started right away, and I didn’t stop reading it until Other Me called to see if I was still meeting up with her that night. I was over an hour late. Oops!
Fortunately, Other Me understands about books.
Anyway. I finished the first book and then thought about it. I didn’t like it as much as I thought I would. It jumped right into the attempted murders and dramatic threats, but it wasn’t believable. There was no real suspense built.
In the end, it was explained why people were trying to kill the main heroine, but there was no suspense. The killer was exactly the most obvious person, despite the author’s attempts to cast guilt on others.
I still enjoyed the book, and the other four in the series. Except for the fact that each book has the character investigating two seemingly unrelated mysteries that end up having the same resolution. The same people are behind both schemes. Always. This would be a surprise…if you haven’t read the other books she wrote.
lisa Said:
on March 16, 2007 at 8:59 pm
I do understand about getting sucked into a book.
I’m not a fan of the whole “get down to it right away” action sequences in a book, unless it’s a prologue. And even then, not very much. I like to get to know my characters first.
Like their real people or something.