Sample Book Review Plus Private Comments
Book Being Reviewed: The Desert Saint by AM Pascarella
Title and Cover:At first, I found the title to be a little underwhelming, especially considering how effective the cover is. But after reading the book all the way through and hearing the explanation from the characters, the title made sense. Still, it might have been more effective to come up with a different name for the serial killer in the book because the title was a little confusing and could make the book difficult to sell.
Structure: Fitting for a thriller, the book has separate point of view characters. The use of the “you” POV to put the reader inside the killer’s perspective as well as hide the character from the reader was generally effective. The use of POV to show rather than tell flashbacks was also effectively done. The switching of POVs in the climactic scene with the protagonist and the villain was particularly well executed as a means of heightening the emotional heft of the scene.
Applicability of Genre Expectations: The location, Las Vegas, and some aspects of the investigation meet genre expectations for a gritty crime thriller. Some aspects of the investigation were believable, such as the brother’s crime scene investigation. Others felt thin, and the author might want to spend some time doing more research on investigative techniques and police jargon in order to create a more realistic depiction of law enforcement.
Greatest Strengths: The protagonist and her father are both likeable because they are heroic in their desire to help others and solve crimes. Maria’s emotional attachment to her brother and her complicated relationship with her mother add depth to the plot. Some readers might prefer a more standard procedural, but this book mixes family dysfunction and crime investigation well.
Greatest Weaknesses: Admittedly coming up with a suitable motivation for a father to kill his son isn’t easy. Even if the father is actually a step-father, still the plot became too cliche at this point and could have used a better set up for the crime itself. Mystery readers generally want to understand the why of the crime and want to see the “good guys” win. So if you want to write a book with a lot of gray, the “why” has to be iron clad, and the reasoning for the murder in this novel was a little too cliche to really satisfy a reader’s desire for an effective conclusion.