Charles Colyott

I love a good mystery. In fact if an author can keep me guessing or enjoying the merry chase of the protagonist without me figuring it out at least 50% of the way through. It's good! If he can keep me confused happy and smiling even though I still haven't figured it out at around 75%? It's great in fact almost unheard of for me! This book literally had me caught off guard, deliriously happy in the sweet love story and eclectic music displayed by an author who I am deeming the Harry Blackstone of Mysteries!

Top it off some more and the whipped cream of this story was the addition of the Tai Chi Chuan Doctor of Traditional Chinese medicine ...an acupuncturist who has a dark secret that haunts his soul and only in solving this murder will he be able to reclaim his life back.

The sprinkles? Oh Randall's snark! I'm giddy and thrilled I spent my Saturday afternoon and evening reading this phenomenal book. I really hope and expect to see this author going places!

My cherry? I'm a huge Hard Boiled and Noir fan and any one who can make "..because i was off playing Sam-freaking-Spade" work and work well not only with humor but also in giving you an idea of style and stage he is setting up for you.

Do I have more to say? Plenty. But right now I'm craving Heineken and digging around for my Bjork t-shirt, put in some Dead Can Dance and smile some more. Hats off Charles!!

I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I love series books and I hope the llamas let him finish the next one quick.

… (mehr)

Randall Lee is one of those characters you can't help but love. He approaches life with witty humor, and his actions are more focused determination than stereotypical brave heroics. The cast of characters that accompany Randall through his travels are strong and fascinating. Many could carry a series of their own.

This, to me, is the most compelling Randall Lee Mystery so far. While there is mystery, it reads more like dark psychological suspense. Charles Colyott takes us to some uncomfortable places, but it never feels contrived for the sake of the plot. The realism is striking. Randall is forced to confront the demons of his past, and at times we wonder if he'll snap beneath the burden. This intensity is balanced well with bits of humor.

While Jianghu can be read as a stand-alone, I think the series works best when read in sequence. There is a continual undercurrent that follows through from one book to the next, and readers might miss some of the subtleties within the characters' relationships if the first two books are skipped.… (mehr)

Randall Lee is my new favorite antihero! He's not the typical tall, dark, handsome, perfect-but-damaged storybook hero. Instead, Randall is an average looking guy who excels in martial arts and gets himself in a lot of trouble while trying to do something good. Randall could lead me anywhere and I'd follow, simply because he's so much fun to hang out with.

Charles Colyott writes with a rare combination of suspense and humor. Pressure Point had me biting my nails one minute and laughing the next. Highly recommended!

** If you haven't read Changes, the first in this series, I'd recommend starting there. **… (mehr)