Issue #11

Blog #8-2015

Section: Book Reviews

Blogger: Joseph Clay

 

Book Details:

• Published: 2001
• ISBN: 978-0-399-15743-1
• Hardback
• 419 Pages
• SRP: USA $26.95 Canada $31.80
• Fifteenth Book the FBI Suspense – Thriller Series

Split Second is the first book by Catherine Coulter I have read. This book is part of an ongoing series, like Flesh and Blood written by Patricia Cornwell which I reviewed in February.

Both are stand-alone stories that can be enjoyed separate without reading anymore of the series. Sure it didn’t get into great detail about Dillon Savich and his wife Lacey Sherlock, who both work for the FBI, same department, same cases, and he’s in charge. I did wonder if they have always had this working arrangement and what their history was.

My curiosity peaked when I read in the later chapter’s one of them shot the other in Hogan’s Alley six years go. Not knowing the particulars of the relationship didn’t take away from the book, gave me something to think about in-between chapters.

Split Second introduced two new characters to Savich’s team, Special Agent Lucy Carlyle and Cooper McKnight.

The story starts with a simple robbery, which turns bad at a local Shop ‘n Go, as Dillon arrives for some chips. Something about it didn’t add up in Dillon’s eyes.

Before he can sink his teeth into the case, a woman is killed in Ohio. His team swings into action as another woman survived an attack in Philly. Could the two be related?

After further investigation they are shocked, DNA has linked the suspect to Ted Bundy. Savich decides that Carlyle and McKnight, the two newbies, will work together and learn to get along.

Lucy Carlyle, trying to stay away Cooper McKnight, who has reputation as a ladies man, isn’t fond of the idea. Soon she has to depend on Cooper as she suffers a setback in life. Her father passes revealing a family secret in his dying moments to Lucy. The skeletons began to tumble from the attic.

The story flows well with a steady pace intertwining three separate crimes. I enjoyed reading the story, and I don’t like the FBI or books about them, the characters make the story, as they are believable.

With any book you find things that stick out below are a few from this book.

• Over use of words: ‘leeched’, ‘arty’. The words are fine, but unusual which jumped off the page each time I read them.
• First names that start with the same letter: I didn’t like the new character being named Lucy Carlyle when we already had a Lacey Sherlock, what makes it work, most law enforcement agencies call each other by last name.
• Unrealistic: Everybody drives an expensive car, a Porsche, Land Rover, and Corvette. The book explains that the new agents’ cars were gifts from their family, gives you a feeling that only rich kids should apply for the FBI.
• Carrying a subplot to long: Towards the end of book, it gets a little irritating switching from one plot to the next to get them closed out.

Will I read more of the series?

I doubt it. Even though I liked the plot and the way the book was written the above bullet points along with me not liking the FBI are to much for me to overcome.

[Bloggers note: The book review of Split Second was originally published on 3-20-15 on Joseph Clay – Author Official Blog. The review was moved to this site 5-18-18.]

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