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jordongreene's review
5.0
Steven's The Boat Man is a great crime thriller the comes together piece-by-piece right up to the end. You can sympathize with both the protagonist and the antagonist of the story while being astounded at the same time. I think I've found a new favorite series. Oh, and the Audible narration is great!
booknookie's review
3.0
You can read more of my reviews at my blog The Book Chick.
Flat revenge story in a mediocre beginning on a new series, more suitable for TV. That is how I would, in few words, describe The Boat man by Dustin Stevens. It is in no way a bad book really. But I cant say that it is overly good either. It is in between good and bad. An okay story with some issues when it comes to the writing but still okay. I did like it. But I have to many issues to love it or to feel the desire to continue.
First of I did feel that the beginning was pretty strong. Reed is more or less a depressed character, working with a dog because he cant stomach to have a human partner again. You do not get to know exactly what happened but you get enough clues to pretty much piece it together yourself. Mistake number one. I don’t like that kind of mystery and secrecy where you have to figure it out on your own kind of way, when it is such a huge part of the history and the future of the characters. And then in the end you do not know more than you did in the beginning. But perhaps Stevens has a ulterior motive with it, what do I know. I’m just a reader. Mistake number two I feel is how flat the book is. I’m not kidding when I say that I actually fell asleep 8 o’clock one evening (usually fall asleep around 11 – 12) because of the writing. It is quite flat and boring. And he keep repeating the names. Reed did that, then Reed went there so Reed could do that while Reed felt that and knew Reed had to get home so Reed could do that later. Then there was the boat man went there, the boat man did that, the boat man felt that, the boat man run away. Goddammit it drove me nuts.
But other than that, it is a good book. The plot is interesting, believable and has a little suspense and depth. It is probably me who is to sensitive and keep finding stuff to complain about. He has a lot of books and most of them has really high ratings, so apparently there are people who like it more than I do. Unfortunately, I just don’t feel Stevens is the author for me. A three star rating yes, but not strong enough to make me want to continue the series.
Flat revenge story in a mediocre beginning on a new series, more suitable for TV. That is how I would, in few words, describe The Boat man by Dustin Stevens. It is in no way a bad book really. But I cant say that it is overly good either. It is in between good and bad. An okay story with some issues when it comes to the writing but still okay. I did like it. But I have to many issues to love it or to feel the desire to continue.
First of I did feel that the beginning was pretty strong. Reed is more or less a depressed character, working with a dog because he cant stomach to have a human partner again. You do not get to know exactly what happened but you get enough clues to pretty much piece it together yourself. Mistake number one. I don’t like that kind of mystery and secrecy where you have to figure it out on your own kind of way, when it is such a huge part of the history and the future of the characters. And then in the end you do not know more than you did in the beginning. But perhaps Stevens has a ulterior motive with it, what do I know. I’m just a reader. Mistake number two I feel is how flat the book is. I’m not kidding when I say that I actually fell asleep 8 o’clock one evening (usually fall asleep around 11 – 12) because of the writing. It is quite flat and boring. And he keep repeating the names. Reed did that, then Reed went there so Reed could do that while Reed felt that and knew Reed had to get home so Reed could do that later. Then there was the boat man went there, the boat man did that, the boat man felt that, the boat man run away. Goddammit it drove me nuts.
But other than that, it is a good book. The plot is interesting, believable and has a little suspense and depth. It is probably me who is to sensitive and keep finding stuff to complain about. He has a lot of books and most of them has really high ratings, so apparently there are people who like it more than I do. Unfortunately, I just don’t feel Stevens is the author for me. A three star rating yes, but not strong enough to make me want to continue the series.
javamamanc's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
rojo25's review
5.0
I'm not sure what possessed me to read this book but I'm glad I did. Couldn't put it down. Starts with Reed Mattox and his K-9 partner Billie investigating a series of gruesome and unusual crimes. First, I loved the relationship between Reed and the dog as well as the background information on the dog. The book was thrilling and kept moving with no nonsense and a great dog. Characters were terrific, especially the dog. I'm not a believer in vigilante justice but it was hard not to feel something for the killer. Definitely plan to read another of Stevens' books in this series.
beth_c's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
isalaur's review
4.0
A slow start but then an exhilarating read
I really enjoyed this book and will definitely read more in the series. It got off to a slow start and there are a lot of vague references to an incident that clearly impacted the MC in a huge way which is annoying but the book picked up and was a heart racing thrill at the end.
Detective Reed Mattox has recently partnered with K9 officer Billie after the death of his previous (human) partner. He prefers isolation, working the graveyard shift. However after a gruesome murder he and Billie are put on the case. As bodies pile up and time ticks down Reed races to figure out what is going on and who the killer is.
The book drags a bit at the beginning. There are numerous references to Reed’s former partner, now deceased but no details as to what happened. That is super frustrating. We don’t get much background on Reed either. In fact, I think we get more info on Billie, his former Marine K9 partner.
When the book finally picks up and the story intensifies it becomes a really good detective/police procedural story. Towards the end it becomes a race against the clock and it is heart pounding. There are really irritating police politics at play and a move at the end that is pretty damn stupid (not by Reed) that has you yelling at the book.
The ending is bittersweet and gives us a bit of a glimpse into how things will go for Reed from here on out. I will definitely read the next book.
I really enjoyed this book and will definitely read more in the series. It got off to a slow start and there are a lot of vague references to an incident that clearly impacted the MC in a huge way which is annoying but the book picked up and was a heart racing thrill at the end.
Detective Reed Mattox has recently partnered with K9 officer Billie after the death of his previous (human) partner. He prefers isolation, working the graveyard shift. However after a gruesome murder he and Billie are put on the case. As bodies pile up and time ticks down Reed races to figure out what is going on and who the killer is.
The book drags a bit at the beginning. There are numerous references to Reed’s former partner, now deceased but no details as to what happened. That is super frustrating. We don’t get much background on Reed either. In fact, I think we get more info on Billie, his former Marine K9 partner.
When the book finally picks up and the story intensifies it becomes a really good detective/police procedural story. Towards the end it becomes a race against the clock and it is heart pounding. There are really irritating police politics at play and a move at the end that is pretty damn stupid (not by Reed) that has you yelling at the book.
The ending is bittersweet and gives us a bit of a glimpse into how things will go for Reed from here on out. I will definitely read the next book.
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