Scan barcode
ellelainey's review
4.0
*This review will be word-for-word as that contained within the Collection - Jeff Woods Mysteries*
For the first 20% of this story, I seriously considered not finishing it. To start with, I wasn't fond of Jeff Woods as a person or as a main character. He's very close minded and egotistical, with a very small minded view of the world. The way he thinks about and treats disabled children is disgusting. And, quite frankly, as a disabled person myself, I felt seriously degraded and furious with the story, as well as judged and classified as nothing more than some mindless idiot, incapable of looking after myself.
Though I know this wasn't the author's intention, that's how it felt to read the first half of the story. Every instance of a disabled person was followed by the implication that they were deaf, dumb, blind or completely mentally or physically useless. There was no disabled person in this story who was considered by Woods to have a redeeming quality. They were all worthless wastes of space, that should have been killed “mercifully” to save them from existence.
As such, I found it really hard to like the story or get into it. However, I understand the point the author was trying to make. As I'm already aware of the genius of Chris T. Kat's writing, I was able to respect that this was deliberate, to show growth, changing perceptions and the true prejudice against a lot of disabled people that exists in the world. I know, as I've experienced it. People looking at you like you're something less than them, even talking to you like you're an idiot. It's not unfamiliar to me.
On another note, I'm not a fan of 1st person POV, but this one worked in some weird way. Maybe because the prejudice so freely expressed towards disabled people would have seemed like the author's own personal view, without it. Which I know it's not.
As a detective story, I liked the investigation and the solving of the crime. It wasn't tied up with a neat little bow, but I have to admit that I knew who the killer was very early on. To be honest, there weren't many suspects, which made it hard not to notice.
As for editing, I barely had any problems. The only thing I noticed worth mentioning was that in one sex scene Alex removes his clothes, then does it again two pages later. Nothing really that would cause a problem in the reading or understanding.
Without giving anything away, about the plot, I'll confine myself to this – I loved Alex and Sean, as characters and their ability to communicate with each other and Jeff. They were the only normal two people in the story, for me. I also really liked Parker and David, though Parker was a real pain in the ass for a while. He's just as judgemental as Jeff, but with good reason for it. He was a character I could understand much better than Jeff.
For the first 20% of this story, I seriously considered not finishing it. To start with, I wasn't fond of Jeff Woods as a person or as a main character. He's very close minded and egotistical, with a very small minded view of the world. The way he thinks about and treats disabled children is disgusting. And, quite frankly, as a disabled person myself, I felt seriously degraded and furious with the story, as well as judged and classified as nothing more than some mindless idiot, incapable of looking after myself.
Though I know this wasn't the author's intention, that's how it felt to read the first half of the story. Every instance of a disabled person was followed by the implication that they were deaf, dumb, blind or completely mentally or physically useless. There was no disabled person in this story who was considered by Woods to have a redeeming quality. They were all worthless wastes of space, that should have been killed “mercifully” to save them from existence.
As such, I found it really hard to like the story or get into it. However, I understand the point the author was trying to make. As I'm already aware of the genius of Chris T. Kat's writing, I was able to respect that this was deliberate, to show growth, changing perceptions and the true prejudice against a lot of disabled people that exists in the world. I know, as I've experienced it. People looking at you like you're something less than them, even talking to you like you're an idiot. It's not unfamiliar to me.
On another note, I'm not a fan of 1st person POV, but this one worked in some weird way. Maybe because the prejudice so freely expressed towards disabled people would have seemed like the author's own personal view, without it. Which I know it's not.
As a detective story, I liked the investigation and the solving of the crime. It wasn't tied up with a neat little bow, but I have to admit that I knew who the killer was very early on. To be honest, there weren't many suspects, which made it hard not to notice.
As for editing, I barely had any problems. The only thing I noticed worth mentioning was that in one sex scene Alex removes his clothes, then does it again two pages later. Nothing really that would cause a problem in the reading or understanding.
Without giving anything away, about the plot, I'll confine myself to this – I loved Alex and Sean, as characters and their ability to communicate with each other and Jeff. They were the only normal two people in the story, for me. I also really liked Parker and David, though Parker was a real pain in the ass for a while. He's just as judgemental as Jeff, but with good reason for it. He was a character I could understand much better than Jeff.
cmira2027's review
3.0
This was a pretty good mystery - had a few issues with some of the charactors, but on the whole I liked it - I will read the next one when it is out.
jerseygirl2912's review
2.0
This one was a hard story to read for me and harder to rate. I ended with two stars.
I liked about the story the mystery part and the writing. I would have ended with a 4*- rating ... but there is this really unlikeable MCs.
I liked Alex and his little brother. But Jeff and his partner Parker - not so much. Insensitive, prejudiced are the two words that comes to my mind. I like MCs that have some rough edges and flaws. But this character has too much of these and I wasn't able to find any good in him. But I will give the second book of the series another try to find out.
I liked about the story the mystery part and the writing. I would have ended with a 4*- rating ... but there is this really unlikeable MCs.
I liked Alex and his little brother. But Jeff and his partner Parker - not so much. Insensitive, prejudiced are the two words that comes to my mind. I like MCs that have some rough edges and flaws. But this character has too much of these and I wasn't able to find any good in him. But I will give the second book of the series another try to find out.
suze_1624's review
4.0
I enjoyed this story about cynical cop Jeff Woods softening up enough to let people into his life.
He has worked with his partner for two years and only now is finding out what makes him tick - and that may be more than he wants to know - I liked their interactions.
Work leads Jeff back to Alex, his recent no strings attached, one night stand who has got under his skin. With Alex's brother in danger, and his heart falling for Alex, Jeff has to breakdown his prejudices against Sean's disability.
It wasn't a perfect book, but it was fast paced and got me hooked into the story quicky. I will look out for more from Jeff Woods, as it is styled book 1
31.8.14 - reread in anticipation reading book 2 soon, wanted to get the characters back in my head. Enjoyed it a lot again!
He has worked with his partner for two years and only now is finding out what makes him tick - and that may be more than he wants to know - I liked their interactions.
Work leads Jeff back to Alex, his recent no strings attached, one night stand who has got under his skin. With Alex's brother in danger, and his heart falling for Alex, Jeff has to breakdown his prejudices against Sean's disability.
It wasn't a perfect book, but it was fast paced and got me hooked into the story quicky. I will look out for more from Jeff Woods, as it is styled book 1
31.8.14 - reread in anticipation reading book 2 soon, wanted to get the characters back in my head. Enjoyed it a lot again!
More...