When I started this book, I didn’t realize that it was the first in a series -- the Paul Chang Mystery series. It appears the next book is Legacy Of the Dragon and the third book is Send in the Clowns. However, this book stands completely on its own -- the ending wrapped everything up.

But don’t let the word “Mystery” in the series title fool you. This is not, by my definition, a mystery. Maybe the sequels are, but this book is not. Two of the most common questions I expect to have when reading a mystery is, “Who’s the killer?” and “What’s the killer’s motive?”. Both of these questions were answered in the synopsis for the book – not much mystery there! I actually avoid reading synopses right before I read a book, so there was still some mystery for me when I started the book. But it didn’t last long. The basic motive was provided in the prologue. The name of the killer was given the next time he made an appearance, on page 36. I would instead classify this as a thriller. The book alternates between the points of view of the killer and the detective who’s trying to solve the case. We know what the characters know and we know what they’re thinking. The only real question that I was asking while I read the book was, “What will happen next?”

Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t dislike the book. I like thrillers just as much as I like mysteries, if they’re written well. This is, in fact, a very fast-paced (and short) book. The story is entertaining, and I liked the characters pretty well. Of course I didn’t like the murderer since, as a rule, I’m not fond of evil psychopaths. But he was interesting to read about. I did really like Detective Chang’s sidekick, Nelson. He was interesting and quirky; I wanted to see more of him. Chang himself, on the other hand, I never completely warmed up to. My main issue with him was his poor ethics. He did what he wanted without any regard to whether it was ethical or legal or even necessary for solving the case.

I found some aspects of the book unrealistic. For example, I don’t really know anything about investigation procedures, but wouldn’t it be standard operating procedure to run financials on murder victims? If the murder was based on money, then that would potentially shed light on the motive. The motive might, in turn, lead to the killer. If the detective had run financials on these victims, the connection between the murder victims would have been obvious much sooner and the killer might have been found more quickly.

Also, since nearly all the murder victims spent time at the same two dealerships, you would think somebody from one of those dealerships would have made the connection. At the dealership where the murderer worked, the manager and the salesmen all seemed to be pretty aware of each other’s clients – especially the more difficult ones who became the murder victims. I also think that people who work in sales, and who are expected to remember and be sociable with their clients, are likely to be pretty good at remembering faces. The serial killings were getting a lot of publicity and worrying a lot of people. It seemed implausible to me that nobody noticed several of the murder victims had been at their dealership. Would they have thought it worth mentioning to the police? Maybe not at first, and possibly not in time to help the case get solved faster, but it probably would have made them start paying more attention. That in turn would have increased the likelihood that they would recognize other victims and get freaked out enough to contact the police.

Whew – that’s a long review for a short book! In summary, the book was entertaining and held my interest. However, it had some minor flaws and there wasn’t anything that really made it stand out for me over other books in the genre. I liked it, and don’t regret the time I spent reading it, but it didn’t “wow” me. Thus I’m rating it with three stars. ( )

A slasher movie in print, maybe?
I admit to being unsure when I requested this one from Vine.
I was afraid that it would be too much. But then, it was described
as a thriller. I like a GOOD thriller. I did not like this.

Shamus is an unhappy man. He was abused as a youngster by his his grandmother.
Once she was dead and not quite gone, she continued to encourage him to
"punish" himself. He did as directed.

Chang is a homicide detective. He has some serious issues
of his own. Violence barely controlled beneath a mostly
calm exterior. His past partner, current friend Nelson is probably
the most normal of the bunch. Once you meet him, you might find that
a bit disturbing.

Shamus sold cars. Or rather, he didn't sell many cars. He consoled himself
after every failure in very unusual ways. Chang and Nelson ended up scrutinizing
the scenes. Looking for the disturbed individual creating them.

I found nothing to recommend this one. If it were not a Vine selection,
a book I had committed myself to read and review I would have put it down.
At the very least.

All scenes are described very graphically, There is no way to not see, smell and
feel the crime scenes. I do not consider this a plus in this case. I enjoy a good
creepy story, a horror story, I do not enjoy a disgusting one.

Clearly, there are others who disagree with me. Please take their reviews into
consideration and do not make a decision based on a single review in this case.. or ever.
You know what you like, so go with it. ( )

Formula Thriller

Formula - Detective with emotional baggage teams up with disgraced side-kick also with emotional baggage to solve a series of murders by a psychopathic serial killer who has rage issues because of horrific childhood with deranged mother.

Pretty average stuff - wooden characters - although the villain ain't bad ( )

Final Price by J. Gregory Smith

A quarter finalist in the 2009 Amazon Breakthrough Novel contest, this book deserves to be looked at carefully. Most of us have purchased a car at one point or another. I doubt many of us have considered the car salesman’s point of view, let alone a psychopathic car salesman. Shamus the car salesman does not take rejection well. His reaction to rejection is investigated by the largest Chinese American State Trooper in Delaware and his emotionally vulnerable sidekick.

Price paints a vivid portrait of a tortured soul inflicting his inner demons on those who he feels has wronged him. Those of us who have sold for a living recognize some of the frustrations in dealing with a fickle, often unreasonable and frequently unpredictable customer. Doing your best to please someone and feeling maligned and misunderstood is painful. Luckily most of us are able to shrug off the bad, revel in the good and move on with our life. Shamus Ryan’s soul was shriveled long before he started selling cars. Price does a nice job inferring his past without detailing it, this provides a lot of room for the imagination to flourish.

Paul Chang struggles with his own demons and endeavors to stay on the sane side of the emotional precipice that Shamus cheerfully drives over. Paul’s loyalty to his former partner his endearing and his pain is clear. I think Price painted his characters well. The book is a good mystery and provides a modicum of motivation to consider the feelings and stresses of those who sell for a living.

I recommend the book for a first effort this is outstanding. ( )