The Statford Chronicles, Books I-V: The Sincerest Form of Flattery, In the Details, The Blame Game, That You Do So Well, and All Good Things.
SPOILER ALERT in advance- the reviews of later books may give spoilers to earlier books. If this doesn't bother you, awesome! You're like me! If you don't like spoilers, than just stop after the first book. They will be in order.
I also want to note that later on in the reviews, I forego the Context and Style portions of my reviews. That will become the norm for series in the future. The first book will have context and style for the author and series, but afterwards, you'll get synopses and my thoughts.
Enjoy!
The Sincerest Form of Flattery by John Walker
Summary
Someone is killing the gods. Okay, maybe not the actual gods, but their effigies on Earth. Even Zeus has gone down, and electrocuted, of all things. Sounds fitting. But it isn't. The murders are specifically geared for the gods themselves, and only Thomas Statford, private investigator, can solve this one. Statford is the only buffer between the mortals and immortals that there is, so it's his case. He's got to find out who's killing the gods, and why, before the deaths make the whole world rip apart.
That's my summary. Here's the one I pulled from amazon.com
Life was simple for private detective Tom Statford. Sure, being the Keeper, the first, last and only line of defense between gods and mortals could make for interesting times, but a mundane existence in south-eastern Virginia kept things on the boring side of life. Boring, until bodies appear with all the trademarks of ritualistic homicide. Now, the Keeper must not only stop a psychopath, but also the end of the world.
Easy enough, if the killer doesn't find him first.
Easy enough, if the killer doesn't find him first.
Context
It's pretty clear that Walker has set The Sincerest Form of Flattery in a time and setting he's familiar with: here and now. Here... being Virginia. The comfort Statford shows with his surroundings will make any reader feel at home. Statford could easily be the weird guy from down the street that no one knows really well, except that he seems, in many ways, to be an everyman.
Tom isn't. He's got plenty to make him special. The point is, he could be any guy you just passed walking in a store or on the street today. That, I think, makes this a great setting.
Style
Walker writes simply. That's not an insult. He writes in a way that makes anyone able to read this: though because of the language, this is not meant for youngsters. He clearly has a good sense of his characters' personalities and tendencies with actions and words.
My Thoughts
There is one small issue I have with The Sincerest Form of Flattery. Some conversations jump too fast from one statement to the response. I'm not talking about a quick back-and-forth. I'm talking out-of-the-blue reactions that seem too unexpected. It doesn't happen often, but the two or three times it happened left me feeling unbalanced.
Actually, the pacing of the whole book did seem a little rushed, leaving me with that feeling of having to keep up. I don't know if that was intentional or not, or if Walker was maybe afraid to really explore what he's built. There is a wonderful foundation here, but I think the book could have bene half again as long and still been a quick, pleasant read. It was almost too short for the story he was trying to tell... but that just left me wanting more.
Don't think those small issues are going to keep me from moving on to the next book in the series. There are some wonderfully humorous moments, little tidbits in writing, turn of phrase, and details that left me so glad I picked up this book. In the first chapter alone, I had at least five good laughs. Fans of mythology and the supernatural, this is a good one for you. Walker has done his homework on this one, and it shows. He puts a new twist on otherplane life, bringing it into the now, that is brilliant. And he paves the way very well for the next book. I'm chomping at the bit to start it.
Would I Recommend This Book? Yes. I actually agonized over what the star rating would be for this book for quite a while. Even while reading it, I was sort of keeping a tally in my head-- something I don't normally do. I'd have a rating picked, then something would jar that rating up or down. There was one particular moment that made it plummet, because I thought it was completely out of character for not only Tom, but for the whole book.
I never should have doubted Walker or Tom. Note to self: don't keep a tally again. I don't know what was going on in my head, but I was dumb to do it. I give The Sincerest Form of Flattery a burger-eating 3 of 5 stars.
In the Details
Summary
Thomas Statford, go-between of the mortal and immortal realms, works as a private investigator on the side. Part of his role as Keeper is to be unbiased, showing favoritism to no deity or religion over another. That fairness is about to be put to the test. The Devil himself, Lucifer, Prince of Darkness, Father of Lies, has just shown up at Tom's office. The archangel Michael is after Lucifer, and he has no idea why.
It's up to Tom to find out just what's going on, and when it's uncovered that someone has murdered a priest, claiming the Devil made him do it, Tom has to figure out just who would want to frame the Devil.
That's my summary. Here's the one I pulled from amazon.com
Private detective Tom Statford has a problem. A priest has been murdered in Hampton Roads, Virginia. That's bad. His killer is claiming the Devil as an accomplice, sending the forces of Heaven after the fallen angel. That's even worse. Lucifer comes to Tom to proclaim his innocence, which makes Tom's life more interesting than it needs to be, and he's the only one who can prove the Devil didn't make the killer do it. But who would believe the Prince of Lies?
Context
Like with the first book in this series, we have a solid foundation of setting in the here and now. I don't know the area of Virginia that Tom Statford calls home, but I'm certain one could go on a "Statford tour" of the area and find the descriptions flawless. Walker has set his detective firmly in his reader's comfort zone-- and that only works to make things more intense.
Style
I don't know if this is going to sound bad or not, but believe me it isn't meant badly. Walker improved greatly in his writing style and storytelling between The Sincerest Form of Flattery and this novel. The issues I noticed in the first book, namely the pacing and my perceived fear at really exploring his creation, are gone. In the Details was wonderfully paced and immersive. I got lost in the novel, much to my delight.
Once again, Walker's humor shines through in some wonderful moments that keep the overall tone of the book balanced. Tom couldn't survive in his role as Keeper without maintaining some sense of humor, and the character's glibness helps keep the reader right in that zone with him.
My Thoughts
The first book, The Sincerest Form of Flattery, was not a bad book, by any means. In the Details blew past its predecessor in quality. I liked the first book. I loved the second. I'm eager to see how Walker develops as an author. He's definitely one to keep your eyes on, which is great, because there are two more in the series that are out as of Nov 2014, when I'm writing this review.
This was one book I didn't want to put down. The threads of mystery were well woven and tight, making a great cable of a mystery that came to a crux that was highly satisfying. Let it be known that Walker is not at all afraid of putting his characters through Hell. (Pun intended). He kicks the crap out of them, and it's great! His cast is lovable, and that includes the Devil himself. Okay, maybe he's not lovable, but he's a character I hope to see again. The teaser at the end of the book hints at some awesomeness to come, and I am ready for it!
Would I Recommend This Book? Definitely! Walker grew immensely between books one and two. That growth shows nothing but promise as his writing career continues. I'm eager to see more from the mind of this wonderful man. He's got a wonderful character in Tom Statford, and the adventures he's having suit him well. I give In the Details a Cajun 4 of 5 stars.
The Blame Game
Summary
Tom Stanton is back, and being the go-between for mortals and immortals is never dull. But now, he seems to have walked right into a PI noir film, when SHE walks in.
She's gorgeous and in terrible danger. Someone is going to kill her. She knows this, but she doesn't know who or why. The gods seem to be involved-- in fact, a god recommended she come to Tom for help. She only has four days before she dies, but will that be enough time for Stanton to stop whoever is forcing a god to kill mortals?
That's my summary. Here's the one I pulled from amazon.com
In the third outing of private detective of the gods Tom Statford, a woman shows up in his office claiming to have been murdered. What's worse is she's a target of a fire god. With four other bodies involved, along with Chinese organized crime, Tom has to figure out who killed the girl, and who is using a god as an assassin. No big deal, right? Before it's all over, this case will give the phrase "May you live in interesting times" a whole new meaning.
My Thoughts
Walker has done it again, this time bringing in some old stereotypes for laughs. It's perfect with the level of geekiness we've come to expect from Tom Statford. The foundation built through In the Details and The Sincerest Form of Flattery is being played on now, giving us more insight into some of the side characters in Statford's circle, specifically Susana and Luc (who I really want to know more about and hope to see again).
Don't think the stereotypes of the brooding PI are taking over and replacing the gods vs mortals background. There's plenty of the supernatural to be had. We've got people controlling gods here, and we get a little exploration into Chinese deities, which is exciting to me, as most of my experience is in the Greek and Roman myths. Add in a few good twists, and Walker's got a recipe for a good book, well suited to continuing the Statford Chronicles.
Would I Recommend This Book? Sure thing! There's plenty to be had, and this more than lives up to In the Details. So much goes on that I can't begin to guess where Walker will go with the next installment. Still, each book is complete into itself, so there's no infuriating cliffhangers at the end of each book to make a reader angry. He does set a great stage to want to come back to, though. I give The Blame Game an identical 4 of 5 stars.
That You Do So Well
Summary
Thomas Statford, Keeper of the Conclave, go-between of mortals and immortals, has saved the world more than once. He's stopped people trying to become gods and even cleared the Devil's good name when he was framed. He's earned a vacation, a vacation to the Big Easy, where he is finally going to get married.
With his future in-laws, his mother, sister, and her family all together in New Orleans, it seems like things are going to be perfect. Now the only problem is whether any of them will survive until the day of the wedding. Something is going on, and people are dying, their insides liquefying as they clutch voodoo bags-- bags meant to protect.
Something's is rotten in the bayou.
That's my summary. Here's the one I pulled from amazon.com
The Big Easy isn't easy for the private detective of the gods. It's been a long time coming. Tom Statford is in New Orleans, ready to tie the knot with the love of his life. Things are going well, which was his first clue things would go badly. The second clue was the pair of people dying in front of him, killed by the darkest magic. The third clue? A missing god with power over the dead. It's a race against time as Tom must find out who's keeping the dead restless and the living in fear.
My Thoughts
If you know me, you'll know I'm not that into zombies. But That You Do So Well isn't a zombie book. Sure, we star in-media-res, and even though Walker doesn't say it, it's pretty easy to guess that the swarm attacking Statford and his crew are zombies. But this still isn't a zombie book. Sure, there might be zombies in it, but they're not the real problem. They're a small element in a much bigger scheme, and I think Walker made a great choice in that. There are a TON of zombie things out right now, all trying to do zombies "differently". Walker has acknowledged the trend but takes things on a more important route: their purpose. There's a REASON for the zombies, and it's part of one person's plan for, of all things, world peace. How brilliant!
On the whole, this is a wonderful book. Walker has shaken things up for Tom by taking him out of his comfort zone of Virginia and set the book in New Orleans. Not only that, but we have an almost wholly new supporting cast. Sure, we've seen Tom's mother and his fiance Susana in previous books, and his sister and her family have been mentioned, but we're missing Tom's resources back home. The story he's built in the Big Easy doesn't deal with Mardi Gras, which is nice, but we still get deep into the flavor of the area, and there's just enough mystery and voodoo to make this a truly intriguing story.
Would I Recommend This Book? Absolutely! Walker keeps outdoing himself with every book in this series, and That You Do So Well gives us a new level of "weirdness" as Tom would call it. Add in a refreshing sprinkle of the tired (in my opinion) zombie trend, and you've got a great book! I give That You Do So Well a Creole 4 of 5 stars.
All Good Things
Summary
Tom Statford has called it quits. After his family was threatened and used against him only days before his wedding, he's decided he's done with the Conclave. He's finished being their Keeper. The Conclave, though, seems to not have gotten the memo. For six months, god after god has continued to bother him, trying to make him do the job they say he should.
But after this most recent demand for service (from Zeus, no less), someone has made an attempt on Tom Statford's life. No, it was a warning. Does the Conclave want him so badly that they'll threaten not only him, but his sister, his mother, his new wife? What does he have to do to get the message across, other than not die?
Tom Statford is not having a Merry little Christmas.
That's my summary. Here's the one I pulled from amazon.com
When Tom Statford quit being the Keeper of the Conclave, he thought things would get a little easier. He could have a real life with his new family and no longer need to deal with problems of divine origin.
However, a failed assassination attempt sends Tom back into the world he left behind. With friends dropping like flies, and family out of reach, Tom discovers nothing lasts forever.
They always come to an end.
My Thoughts
Ho. Lee. CRAP! This book blew my mind. Seriously. Walker has really taken the series in a place I hadn't expected, and that was absolutely amazing! Parts of it were a little dull and circular, but considering how lost and completely clueless Tom is in this investigation, it doesn't come as a surprise. He's floundering, desperate for leads, and that left me with a sense of loss, too. It's all too easy to meld with Tom as a reader, not that it's a bad thing. Walker's character is a delight, and even as he gets more and more outraged with his situation, his words and actions are completely understandable.
And that ending! No spoilers, but I will be reeling about that ending for the rest of the day. I am ready for book VI to come out... which sucks, because this installment just came out a week ago. I hate waiting. But I can tell you the second I hear that the next one is coming out, you will know. And the second it comes out, I'm reading it. Whatever comes next will undoubtedly be a novel worth waiting for!
Would I Recommend This Book? Oh, hells yes! Walker has twisted and turned his series in a whole new direction, and it has blown my mind. Seriously. I don't have much in words to describe it. Just. This book. This. Book. I give All Good Things a snowed-in 4 of 5 stars.
For more information on the author, visit http://walkersedgepublishing.net/
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