Glenn BurwellRezensionen

I received this book as part of LibraryThing’s early reviewer program in exchange for an honest review.

This is a hard book to review. I liked Robert Lui and the police procedural aspect of it, but the pace was all over the place. I felt like there was too much going on at once, and I wasn't interested enough in each story line. Plus the chapters were too chopped up and a lot didn't flow. I would try the others in the series though.

Robert Lui has his plate full of unusual occurrences in his job with the Vancouver Police Department. First there’s the unusual lobster bisque with the unexpected ingredient. Then other mysteries and bodies start piling up, all of them linked somehow to a new restaurant development in downtown Vancouver. But how? Can Robert find the answers before any more die?

And is there enough good coffee to see him though?

Robert has just transferred from the gangs department into regular detective work. He’s glad of the transfer, hoping this means his two teenaged children will be safe—he’s received threats about them in the past. But this means he’s in the same department as Camille, someone who is in his thoughts more than he thought she’d be. After all, he is still grieving his wife’s death. But it’s been two years…

A fast-paced thriller noir, set in developers Vancouver. The author’s knowledge of the wheeling and dealing in this world comes through very clearly, and adds depth to the story. Fascinating and timely. Most violence occurs off screen though there are brief references to it.

The Chapel of Retribution is part of an ongoing series. I’m looking forward to seeing the next one published!

This was a very slow starter for me. It wasn't until Robert became more present in the story that I began to thoroughly enjoy it. What is going on at City Hall? In fact, all levels of government including the police department were involved in the corruption. Leave it to Robert and his ace reporter contact to figure it all out. Great book!

Thank you to LIbraryThing and Somewhat Grumpy Press, Inc for a copy for my review.

Couldn't really get into this book. Characters were okay, story was okay, writing was okay, everything was just... okay. It was very slow to start making it hard to find the motivation to pick it up and read it. Pace picked up at the end, but by then the damage was done.

Synopsis: Detective Lui has lost his job and his girlfriend. He's drinking too much and his children are concerned for his sanity. Meanwhile, the mayor of Vancouver has embraced hydrogen as a method for providing heat to homes. It's plentiful, and doesn't pollute the atmosphere. Unfortunately, his pet project explodes, taking half an apartment house with it. This uncovers gangs, crooks, and murders along with their interests in hydrogen as a sustainable fuel. These occurrences result in Lui being offered a job as a private investigator for one of the funders of the GreenSide development.
Review: The story was interesting, but until about half way through the book the pace was rather slow. The story became more exciting, then raced to the end. I'd have liked a more detailed ending and a more exciting beginning.

The third in a series, GREENSIDE by Canadian Glenn Burwell features Robert Lui, a detective recently fired from Vancouver PD. It's an interesting reveal on politics, gangs and real estate development in British Columbia. It makes interesting use of the setting and whether government corruption plays a role in daily life. The action really develops in the final third of the book when all the parts come together. I would like less repetition of nonessential topics such as meals/coffee/sex to improve flow. Thanks to Early Reviewers and Somewhat Grumpy Press for the opportunity to read this book.

Robert Lui has his plate full of unusual occurrences in his job with the Vancouver Police Department. First there’s the unusual lobster bisque with the unexpected ingredient. Then other mysteries and bodies start piling up, all of them linked somehow to a new restaurant development in downtown Vancouver. But how? Can Robert find the answers before any more die?

And is there enough good coffee to see him though?

Robert has just transferred from the gangs department into regular detective work. He’s glad of the transfer, hoping this means his two teenaged children will be safe—he’s received threats about them in the past. But this means he’s in the same department as Camille, someone who is in his thoughts more than he thought she’d be. After all, he is still grieving his wife’s death. But it’s been two years…

A fast-paced thriller noir, set in developers Vancouver. The author’s knowledge of the wheeling and dealing in this world comes through very clearly, and adds depth to the story. Fascinating and timely. Most violence occurs off screen though there are brief references to it.

The Chapel of Retribution is part of an ongoing series. I’m looking forward to seeing the next one published!

I loved reading A Sin Offering, the second book in the Detective Robert Lui series by Glenn Burwell. It is a fast-paced and thrilling crime novel that kept me hooked from the first page to the last. The author does a great job of creating a realistic and complex plot that involves gang violence, family secrets, and political intrigue. The characters are well-developed and believable, especially Robert Lui, the protagonist, who is a dedicated and courageous detective who has to face his own demons while protecting his loved ones. The setting of Vancouver and its surrounding areas is vividly described and adds to the atmosphere of the story. The book also explores some interesting themes such as loyalty, justice, and redemption. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a gripping and suspenseful mystery with a touch of Asian culture. A Sin Offering is a sinfully good read that you won’t regret picking up!

The story was fine, but the writing could use a little work. The prose was a little dry and stilted, and the dialogue was very formal. The latter was what stood out the most to me, with beat cops and gangsters conversing like they’re partaking in high tea. Other than that, it was light on the action and drama. Nothing seemed to really light a fire under the main character who seemed unreasonable calm and collected at times. Good set-up for a (potentially tense) third book, though.

He likes coffee, he cooks, he solves cases. There was never anything exciting. Reading the book was like watching waves come ashore. Pleasant but without a whole lot of action. Even the kidnapping and rescue of his son was not more exciting than going to get his coffee.

This is a great novel. I enjoyed the action and drama. A quick read!

The first-time-author effect makes what is an interesting idea a rather middle of the road mystery. The issues of housing affordability, development, and what makes liveable communities are real ones, and the author brings a career’s worth of experience in the field to the work. But characters I couldn’t connect with and dialog that came across as writing rather than speaking made it less enjoyable. Still, there’s room for growth and I hope he keeps going!

Good first effort by the author. I liked the main character and the location the book was set in.

This is an excellent thriller and a story well worth reading for those who enjoy reading good mysteries. Thank you LibraryThing for allowing me to read this book.

A very good first book. I hope the author is planning on a series because I would like to read more.