blacksnake@mchsi.com
Have you ever read Rick Riordan before?
This was my first experience with Rick Riordan, and an enjoyable one it was!
What did you think of SOUTHTOWN?
The book captures your attention from the start, with its action-filled opening in a prison cell. I'm not one who reads much in the way of suspense/thrillers, unless you count Stephen King who flirts with the genre.
SOUTHTOWN was a great read, that keeps one's attention and interest! Stirman is a convincing "bad guy," but still is not painted with a solid black brush. My one complaint was that there were too many characters, as it's hard to keep track of the bit players when, like me, you have to come back to a book and can't finish it in one sitting. But the main characters were strongly drawn and fascinating. I especially enjoyed the psychological study of Sam Barrow, as he copes with memory loss.
I always appreciate an author like Mr. Riordan who fills his novels with intriguing ruminations that leave you thinking long after you've put down the book. For example, "He remembered Rosa Parks. All that Civil Rights work, and the City Fathers made sure Rosa's memorial street was the geographical equivalent to the back of the bus."
The one thing the book truly made me wonder about was whether enslavement of illegal aliens is a serious problem in our country. If so, what, if anything, can be done to remedy this situation?
dadof5girls@comcast.net
Have you ever read Rick Riordan before?
I've read three of Rick Riordan's other books: BIG RED TEQUILA, THE WIDOWER'S TWO-STEP, and THE LAST KING OF TEXAS. This book differs from those three in that it relates the characters from this series to their past, giving the reader more insight into how they became the people they are.
What other suspense/thriller writers do you read?
In the past I've also enjoyed reading thriller authors such as David Morrell, Matthew Reilly, Joe R. Lansdale, Jim Brown, Andrew Vachss and Dan Brown. I hope to be kept informed of their latest releases through your newsletter.
What did you think of SOUTHTOWN?
Rick Riordan provides the novel with an excellent sense of place and time that draws the reader into the world of his characters. I think this story, more than the others of his that I've read shows the there is a fine line between right and wrong. This book was a great read that pulls you through to the end. I really enjoyed it and intend to go back and read the two novels I've missed.
daverudy@aol.com
Have you ever read Riordan before?
No.
What other suspense/thriller writers do you read?
Dan Brown (THE DA VINCI CODE), Tom Clancy (most of his books), Patricia Cornwell and John Grisham.
What did you think of SOUTHTOWN?
It was an interesting thriller that got me sucked into the plot, and I had a hard time putting it down to go to bed. Some of the twists were unexpected, and added to the story. Others, I could see coming, but they did not detract from the story (you like to think you have figured it out a bit). I did find that I got some of the characters confused in the beginning chapters, and had to go back to reread portions to see how the characters got to where they were. Also, having two characters, Pablo (the bad one) and Pacabel (the good one) as minor characters, was a bit confusing in the beginning.
Would you ever read future titles by Rick Riordan?
Yes.
EDucey@aol.com
Have you ever read Riordan before?
No, never read Riordan before.
What other suspense/thriller writers do you read?
Grisham, Kellerman, Stephen White.
What did you think of SOUTHTOWN?
I especially liked his kind treatment of the Alzheimer's patient, which offset some of the extreme violence of other scenes in the book. The plot moved along well, the characterizations were believable, and I enjoyed the background info on San Antonio. I will read the novels that preceded this one.
Would you ever read future titles by Rick Riordan?
Yes, I look forward to his next publication.
fbigham@digitas.com
Have you ever read Rick Riordan before?
No, this was my first Rick Riordan book.
What other suspense/thriller writers do you read?
Dennis Lehane, Michael Crichton, Dan Brown.
What did you think of SOUTHTOWN?
It caught my attention right at the beginning. Very fast moving. Loaded with subplots. I wanted to finish it in one sitting.
Would you ever read future titles by Rick Riordan?
Yes, definitely.
ginawjax@comcast.net
Have you ever read Rick Riordan before?
I have never read Mr. Riordan before
What other suspense/thriller writers do you read?
I read Nelson DeMille, Stephen White, Harlan Coben, Dean Koontz, Jonathan Kellerman, Nora Roberts, Scott Turow, Alistair MacLean, Donald Westlake and Stuart Woods. There are probably others too that I am forgetting.
What did you think of SOUTHTOWN?
SOUTHTOWN was a page turner. The book was action packed in a quick and terse style. The protagonist --- Tres Navarre --- was engaging. The San Antonio/Austin setting was interesting. I could follow the storyline and keep the characters straight. I wanted to find out how the story ended. Although those may seem like obvious statements, I am an impatient reader and sometimes do lose interest in finding out what happens.
Would you ever read future titles by Rick Riordan?
Not only would I like to read future books by Mr. Riordan, I would like to catch up and read his past Tres Navarre novels as well. I am now curious about the boyfriend/girlfriend relationship between Tres and Maia which has probably been developed in previous works.
DixGinny@aol.com
Have you ever read Rick Riordan before?
SOUTHTOWN was the first Rick Riordan book I'd ever read, but it won't be my last.
What other suspense/thriller writers do you read?
Most of the suspense/thrillers I read are the Harlequin Intrigues I receive every month as part of a book club.
What did you think of SOUTHTOWN?
I enjoyed SOUTHTOWN. It's fast pace kept me worried about the novel's inhabitants and events until I had to read through to the end. The author is very skilled at characterization and even made me care about the villains. Although there is violence in the plot, it's not too graphic.
Would you ever read future titles by Rick Riordan?
Since I haven't read any of Rick Riordan's previous books, I have an advantage. I can read all his previous novels while eagerly awaiting his next one.
MoM3g2b@aol.com
Have you ever read Rick Riordan before?
First time Riordan reader and now a new fan. I consider myself lucky to have been able to read a preview of this novel and to have many previous books to read by Rick Riordan.
What did you think of SOUTHTOWN?
SOUTHTOWN is a real page-turner and even found some empathy for the prison escapees. Reminiscent of the "Texas Seven" who escaped around Christmas two years ago with their desperate attempt of evading those chasing them.
A definite hit!!!!!!!
LSC6459@aol.com
Have you ever read Rick Riordan before?
No.
What other suspense/thriller writers do you read?
Harlan Coben, James Patterson, Mary Higgins Clark, although this is not my favorite genre and I read them rarely.
What did you think of SOUTHTOWN?
It was typical of its genre.
Would you ever read future titles by Rick Riordan?
Probably not, although I would recommend them to those who enjoy thrillers.
cmlanphere@JoiMail.com
Have you ever read Rick Riordan before?
No.
What other suspense/thriller writers do you read?
Dan Brown.
What did you think of SOUTHTOWN?
Did not really care for the book. It was hard to identify and sympathize with the characters. I found the plot predictable, not suspenseful.
Would you ever read future titles by Rick Riordan?
Don't believe so.
JerJanKel@aol.com
Have you ever read Rick Riordan before?
I have never read Riordan before.
What other suspense/thriller writers do you read?
I like David Lindsey, Greg Iles, Robert Crais, Stephen King (to mention a few).
What did you think of SOUTHTOWN?
I thought the storyline setup was extremely confusing and I really struggled to stay with it. The names of the main characters were not run-of-the-mill and hard to relate to. I usually like books that jump between scenes and characters but somehow the transitions in this book weren't adequate to hold my interest --- just served to irritate me. This book will not make my favorites list.
Would you ever read future titles by Rick Riordan?
I doubt that I would read other books by Rick Riordan unless I read a LOT of favorable buzz on something else he writes.
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