Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Soft Target - Book Review
I confess I have not read a Stephen Leather book before so it comes as some surprise to me to discover there were 15 predecessors to this one.
Soft Target features Dan Shepherd, British undercover cop, widowed, one child, Liam, living with her parents. Apparently this is the third in a trilogy. It fits neatly into the current gritty realistic cop thriller genre, yes there is fairly explicit violence, a kind of cross between Martina Cole and Jack Reacher, though Dan never seems to have quite as much fun as Jack does. Yes I know I am mixing writers and characters but you get my drift.
I definitely dont like the lack of chapter breaks. Yes, this is the modern vogue, but its a horrid one, and I hope it vanishes soon. I cant be the only person who sits down or lies in bed to read two or three chapters but when there arent any, it just seems a real chore plowing on and on. Bring back chapters I say!
Along the way there are plenty of details on weaponry, gun buffs will love all that, though it wasnt for me, and snatches of modern lingo that are curiously not very modern at all. Hes a few sandwiches short of a picnic is positively Sweeney-esque, circa 1980, and there are several other examples I couldnt possibly repeat on a family show.
The plot rattles along though, and half way through I was hooked enough to stick with it to the end to find out what happens to Dan Shepherd and his mixed up chums, be they good, or be they bad.
Worth the time, worth the effort, and I may yet return.
Author: Stephen Leather
Title: Soft Target
ISBN: 0340834072
Published: 2005
Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton
David Carter's new novel "The Fish Catcher" tells the story of a group of children evacuated from London during World War II to escape the blitz bombing. It turns into a murder mystery and has been well reviewed. You can check out the first chapter on David's website at carter.eu">http://davidcarter.eu The book is available in hard copy or by instant download, and can be ordered in any bookshop quoting ISBN 978 - 1847539304
