|
Here are comments from our group of Advance Readers about D.W. Buffa's STAR WITNESS.
johno99@comcast.net
Have you ever read D.W. Buffa before?
Yes, I have read three Buffa novels, and loved them all. He's a crisp writer who handles dialogue as well as O'Hara and keep stories going with clean sentences and a minimum of digression.
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
I read many suspense writers ---- Greene's BRIGHTON ROCK remains my favorite. Others I like include John LeCarre, James Ellroy, Patricia Highsmith, Joseph Kanon, W.T. Taylor (THE MAN WHO LOST THE WAR), Alan Furst, Lawrence Block, Bartholomew Gill, Donna Tartt, Martin Cruz Smith (DECEMBER 6 is great). These are just some of my reading list. I don't read Parker, Patterson, et al. Too thin, too formulaic.
What did you think of STAR WITNESS?
STAR WITNESS may be Buffa's best. The characters are well-built and sturdy except for Marissa, and Antonelli's personal weaknesses are manifest. (Thank God he's not a drunk. I couldn't take one more drunk main character.) Roth and Julie are a mysterious pair, almost kaleidoscopic. The ending is satisfactorily murky to allow me to make up my own mind. But Marissa of STAR WITNESS is another of the weak females that Buffa seems to specialize in. That a woman would put up with such long absences by a handsome partner is beyond belief. But plot and dialogue make up for it again, and I couldn't wait to get to the end.
Would you like to read more Buffa titles?
Sure I'd read another Buffa, anytime.
browell@mchsi.com
Have you ever read D.W. Buffa before?
Yes, I have read one of his books (THE JUDGMENT) and really enjoyed it. I plan to read his backlist, but haven't gotten around to it yet.
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
Dean Koontz, Stephen White, Nevada Barr.
What did you think of STAR WITNESS?
I thought that the book was very interesting, although it tends to get bogged down in detail from time to time. Overall, a very interesting premise and enjoyable read end-to-end.
Would you like to read more Buffa titles?
Definitely.
ImNpieces@aol.com
Have you ever read D.W. Buffa before?
No.
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
John Grisham, Mary Higgins Clark, Phyllis Whitney, John LeCarre, Iris Johansen, James Patterson, Steven King, and Lillian Jackson Braun (yes, the cat books ARE suspenseful to me)!
What did you think of STAR WITNESS?
A bit different. I am used to much more dialog. It also rather jumps in time without tell the reader how much time has actually passed.
Would you like to read more Buffa titles?
I probably will, if for no other reason than to see if all are written in the same style.
kari18@earthlink.net
Have you ever read D.W. Buffa before?
I have never read this author before.
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
Harlan Coben, Minette Walters among others.
What did you think of STAR WITNESS?
Although legal thrillers aren't my usual interest, I did enjoy the movie/celebrity aspects of this mystery.
Would you like to read more Buffa titles?
I'm not sure. I wouldn't usually pick up a legal thriller on my own so probably not.
TeaSage@aol.com
Have you ever read D.W. Buffa before?
Star Witness is the first book by D. W. Buffa that I have read, but it will not be the last.
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
Other suspense/thriller authors I enjoy include Dean Koontz, Mary Higgins Clark, Agatha Christie, Stephen King, J. A. Jance, and Steve Martini, among others.
What did you think of STAR WITNESS?
With the opening paragraph of STAR WITNESS, I was hooked, drawn into the actions and lives of the characters. Buffa takes you inside Attorney Joseph Antonelli, seeing with his eyes, hearing with his ears, feeling his frustrations and struggles, as he attempts to defend his client, the powerful and popular movie magnate Stanley Roth, who stands accused of murdering his actress wife, Mary Margaret Flanders, who was loved by an adoring public, and by more than just her husband in private. From beginning to end, Buffa keeps you guessing, casting suspicion on several characters, while not completely removing suspicion from Roth. He sustains the tension right through the very last paragraph. Both in the story, and the story within the story, he shows how easy it is to manipulate a desired outcome, whether or not there are facts to substantiate it. STAR WITNESS would make a great film, and I hope there will be a screen adaptation in the future.
Would you like to read more Buffa titles?
I'm not usually a fan of courtroom dramas, preferring more action in the plot rather than having it told by the main character; but D. W. Buffa is an exception, and I am now definitely a fan of his and look forward to reading his other titles.
camcmichael@satx.rr.com
Have you ever read D.W. Buffa before?
This is the first D.W. Buffa novel I have ever read.
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
I have read everything written by several other authors in the suspense/thriller category: David Baldacci, John Grisham, Sandra Brown, Patricia Cornwell, Tess Gerritsen, Robin Cook, Michael Palmer, Scott Turow, etc., and am still working on the backlist for a few of them like James Patterson. A recent new author for me was Ian Rankin (RESURRECTION MEN) who is extremely well known in Britain for his Inspector Rebus books, which have not been as popular here in the United States.
What did you think of STAR WITNESS?
STAR WITNESS has characters which are very well developed and the plot was strong, complex and believable. As a would-be writer, I often see annoying holes in novels or television plots, but this one held together from beginning to end. I am usually a very fast reader, but this novel is extremely descriptive. At times it felt like I was slogging through the pages, mired down by a few too many eloquent phrases. The very descriptive style did make it very easy to envision the characters, settings, etc., but at times I felt like Clara of the old Wendy's commercials asking "Where's the beef?" It was there, but a little too adorned with lettuce for me. But the book was very well written, full of phrases I had the urge to mark and read again.
Would you like to read more Buffa titles?
I most likely will not read D.W. Buffa again soon if this is his typical writing style. My personal favorite is currently James Patterson, because a lot of my reading time is 15 minutes waiting for my son's basketball practice to finish and Patterson's terse prose and short chapters work so well for those stolen moments. I realize his work is not great literature, but it's entertaining and holds my attention. I also fully intend to read every Ian Rankin Inspector Rebus novel from the first until I am caught up to RESURRECTION MEN.
charris@pcnuthut.com
Have you ever read D. W. Buffa before?
Yes, I read THE PROSECUTION
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
Grisham, J. A. Jance, Jodi Picoult, Lilian Jackson Braun, Marcia Muller, Margaret Maron, Patricia Cornwell, David Baldacci, Sharon McCrumb, Jack Higgins, Tess Gerritsen, Sue Grafton, Dick Francis, Sara Paretsky, Ken Follett, Stuart Woods, Lisa Scottoline, Earlobe Fowler, Dana Stabenow, Tony Hillerman, and a few more
What did you think of STAR WITNESS?
I thought it was very good. Perhaps a little long, but it all had to be told. Very suspenseful. You did not really know the end even at the end.
Mimiklein43@aol.com
Have you ever read D.W. Buffa before?
This is the first time I've read books by D.W. Buffa.
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
I have a very long list of suspense/thriller authors. James Patterson, Stuart Woods, Ridley Pearson, Edna Buchanan, Steve Martini, Robert Parker, Steve Cannell, James Grippando, Kate White, Philip Margolin, Donald Westlake, Michael Connelly, Harlan Coben, John Sandford, Jonathan and Fay Kellerman etc.
What did you think of STAR WITNESS?
STAR WITNESS was an enjoyable read, but a bit too wordy for my taste. I would certainly be interested in reading other books by Buffa.
I'm an avid reader, and would enjoy reading more books of this genre. Thanks for this opportunity.
Kec200@aol.com
Have you ever read D.W. Buffa before?
No, I've never read Buffa before.
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
I read James Patterson, Jeffrey Deaver, Linda Fairstein, James Grippando.
What did you think of STAR WITNESS?
Star Witness was good but not as gripping as say Deaver. I'm not a big fan of Citizen Kane so maybe that was part of the problem. I usually don't want to put a book down but this one I had to take in small increments. It just seemed to plod along and I prefer a faster storyline.
Would you like to read more Buffa titles?
I will probably read one of his other books just to give him a fair shot but if it doesn't hold me any more than this one then I won't read any more by Mr. Buffa.
kimberly@blunschi.com
Have you ever read D.W. Buffa before?
No, this is the first D. W. Buffa book I have ever read but it is definitely not the last!!!
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
John Grisham, Michael Connelly, James Patterson, Jonathan Kellerman, Patricia Cornwell
What did you think of STAR WITNESS?
I really enjoyed the book. There were a couple of parts in the book where I was kind of left wanting more info. One such part was when Antonelli is attending the opening of the final Mary Margaret Flanders movie and her estranged father, Jack Walsh shows up. All that happened was Walsh accusing Roth of being a murderer, that is the end of the chapter and then at the beginning of Chapter 11 we are dealing with the jury selection of Roth's trial. I would have like to see a bit more development here. But all in all, an excellent book that I will definitely recommend to my fellow readers who enjoy a good thrilling book that keeps your interest until the last page.
Would you like to read more Buffa titles?
I would like to read more Buffa titles. STAR WITNESS was a great book that kept my attention and had me running around to get things done around the house so I could find time to read more. A very riveting read!!!! Even after I finished the last page I found myself still thinking about the book and the ending.
jwhiteley@herald-democrat.com
Have you ever read D.W. Buffa before?
I want to thank you for my copy of D.W. Buffa's STAR WITNESS. I had not read one of his novels before but I liked this one.
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
I read John Grisham and Patricia Cornwell a lot. I also enjoy Perry O'Shaunassy.
I really enjoyed his description of the inner workings of a Hollywood studio and the intrigue that goes on in the personal lives of the people who run such a business.
What did you think of STAR WITNESS?
His characters were vivid and fully formed and the dialogue was crisp. There were a couple of places were the descriptive paragraphs seem to slow things down a little, but that was probably just my impatience to find out what would happen next.
Thanks again for the good read!
jeannegarden@juno.com
Have you ever read D.W. Buffa before?
No.
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
Jonathan Kellerman
Joy fielding
Jeffery Deaver
James Patterson
I read many books but I do not recall all of the authors.
What did you think of STAR WITNESS?
Great. I enjoy the detail about Mary Margaret Flanders.
Would you like to read more Buffa titles?
Yes, I would like to read more Buffa titles.
ReoneK@aol.com
Have you ever read D.W. Buffa before?
NO, amazingly I had never even heard of him
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
Jonathan Kellerman, Faye Kellerman, John Grisham, Dean Koontz, etc.
What did you think of STAR WITNESS?
It was amazingly good. The language that Buffa uses is excellent. His characters are fully formed and quite intriguing. Antonelli is truly a fine character --- interesting and real. Buffa's book is very, very suspenseful and extremely well-written. His characters seem like real people. The lawyer, Antonelli, is human --- not a star-struck attorney in Hollywood. Even the producers are completely fleshed-out characters, which is a rarity in most novels of this genre. Buffa is truly a fine writer who seems totally familiar with the landscape, the ideas and the law. Usually I know who the villain is early on in this genre. However, I was sure that I knew who the murderer was about halfway through the novel, only to find out that I was totally wrong.
I recommend this fine book to everyone who enjoys a good detective story.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read the novel ahead of time.
Would you like to read more Buffa titles?
Yes, in fact I will go to the library this afternoon to find some of his other works.
smleonetti@msn.com
Have you ever read D.W. Buffa before?
This is my first exposure to Buffa.
What did you think of STAR WITNESS?
What a treat. Antonelli is so real... better than reality television!
bmcgilley@regischurch.com
Have you ever read D.W. Buffa before?
No.
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
Patterson.
What did you think of STAR WITNESS?
Too wordy, moves way too slow.
Would you like to read more Buffa titles?
Yes.
Sbanton343@aol.com
I have read three of four previous D.W. Buffa's novels, i.e., THE JUDGMENT, THE PROSECUTION and THE DEFENSE. I have not read THE LEGACY.
Most times, before I read a novel, I peek at the inside cover for a synopsis or read the cover. I want to see what the book is going to be about and where it is set. I confess I avoid mysteries based in England and have a prejudice against certain time eras and places. Hollywood reminds me of the sleazy, glittery, stereotypical "trash fiction" tales of an author whose initials are JC. Hardly literature, let alone worth reading. I would rather read the cereal box over and over again.
Seeing that STAR WITNESS was based in Hollywood, I approached this reading as an assignment and avoided starting it for about a week. I had really enjoyed Buffa's previous novels, especially his courtroom scenes, so I was willing to give it a chance.
Joseph Antonelli, a San Francisco based attorney who has a reputation of losing very few (if any) cases, is called upon to defend Stanley Roth. He is the head of Blue Zephyr which is portrayed as a leading film studio in Los Angeles. Stanley Roth is accused of murdering his wife, Mary Margaret Flanders, a well-known actress who had become an American Icon. Joseph tries to convince himself that he accepted the case because he believed in Stanley Roth's innocence and not because he was a "star struck teenager" who wanted to be around the famous people who made movies.
STAR WITNESS does not have as many courtroom scenes as his previous novels. At first I thought this was a weakness as compared to his previous works. Among other things, this work explored trial strategies, Hollywood myths, Hollywood power, Orson Welles and the making of Citizen Kane. It also mentioned Modesto, California, the very town in which I now live. How could I not start to warm up to this story even if it was based in Hollywood?
Stanley Roth, the accused film producer, says that the secret of making a film, especially a great film, is to "always know the ending before starting on the beginning." I never read the ending of a book first. I feel I shouldn't say much about the ending of this work so as to not spoil the enjoyment of the reader.
This novel had an interesting twist. Stanley Roth could have told all, but as he says, "It would ruin the movie." I thoroughly enjoyed this well thought out, well-written tale, even if it was difficult to overcome my Hollywood prejudice. I would not classify it as a thriller until the closing pages. In STAR WITNESS there is a film inside the book. I wish "Blue Zephyr" were playing in a theater near me. Then I might know the truth about Mary Margaret Flander's murder, or would I?
© Copyright 1996-2008, Bookreporter.com. All rights reserved.
Back to top.
|
