Oct 2, 2014

Book Reviews: The Marco Effect; and For the Dead

Check out Book Beginnings by Rose City Reader.

For the Dead

The Marco Effect


I became quite attached to the young protagonists in these two mystery novels, two crime series books set in Bangkok, Thailand and in Denmark, respectively.

Thirteen-year-olds, Miaow and Andrew, in For the Dead, come across a stolen iPhone, a phone belonging to a hit man for a powerful and influential person in the upper echelons of the police department in Bangkok. The phone has pictures that would reveal a major plot and scandal. The two kids naturally become targets, but targets who, young as they are, add to the suspense as they help Poke Rafferty, fighting to keep them safe, resolve the complex case. For the Dead is the sixth in the Poke Rafferty mystery series by Tim Hallinan, to be released November 4, 2014. My thanks to Soho Press for an advance edition for review.

Fifteen-year-old Marco, in The Marco Effect, discovers a body buried by his uncle Zola and his cohorts, a gang of thieves that force youngsters to become pickpockets in the streets of Denmark. Marco discovers an even bigger and more significant plot linking to the dead man, and he is hunted by both Zola and these new enemies. How he helps the police and Department Q unravel the plot while hiding and running for his life is the main theme of this suspenseful novel. The Marco Effect by Jussi Adler-Olsen was published September 9, 2014 by Dutton Adult. My copy came from the library.

Book beginning of The Marco Effect: 
Prologue
Autumn 2008

Louis Fon's last morning was as soft as a whisper.
He sat up on the cot with sleep in his eyes and his mind still a muddle, patted the little one who had stroked his cheek, wiped the snot from the tip of her brown nose, and stuck his feet into his flip-flops on the stamped clay of the floor.
He stretched, squinting at the light as the cackle of hens and the distant cries of boys as they cut bananas from the palms drifted into the sunbaked room. 
I rated both The Marco Effect and For the Dead a 5! Great reading for lovers of international crime fiction with compelling plots, sympathetic characters, and unusual settings!

10 comments:

  1. I do want to read more about Miaow in the next book in the series and I hope Andrew shows up again sometime...

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  2. Nice beginning. Thanks for sharing.

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  3. I would like to read international mysteries. I notice you've read quite a few.

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  4. Both of these sound interesting. The first one reminds me a little bit of a modern take on The Client for some reason. Thanks for sharing! I'll have to look for these.

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  5. His "last morning" sets a poignant tone, doesn't it? Thanks for sharing...and here's mine: “DANCE THE EAGLE TO SLEEP”

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  6. All the details in the opening scene add up to a vivid picture, especially since the author tells us it's his last morning. I'd keep reading to find out what happens to Louis Fon.
    Here's the link to my Friday post: House Rules.

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  7. They both sound so good, but I think I would like The Marco Effect better.

    The Marco Effect has a GREAT beginning.

    Thanks for sharing. Glad to see you enjoyed them both.

    Elizabeth
    Silver's Reviews
    My Book Beginnings

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  8. These sound really good.

    Of course one would think that a hit man would have his iPhone secure.

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  9. Great reviews! I really want to check out both of them now. Plus, I REALLY like the cover for FOR THE DEAD!

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I appreciate your comments and thoughts...

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