Author: @EKshortstories
Genre: Action
No. of chapter read: 4
First Impression: Wow, a detective story with a misunderstood genius. It's like House meets Sherlock Holmes. I want to read House meets Sherlock Holmes.
Cover: It's an interesting cover. Gives off a Sherlock Holmes feel. Maybe I'll actually understand what's up with that tree once I read the story. Though if it doesn't happen in the 19th century, I might be disappointed.
What's that puny writing at the top? Can't read it for the life of me. Maybe I need glasses. Wait, I'm already wearing glasses. A second pair? Nah. That tagline or whatever is totally lost on me.
Cover rating: Uh, a tree!
Blurb: Sounds interesting. It's clear and interesting. Raises expectations. Do not disappoint me.
Blurb rating: Interesting.
Let's get it on!
Second impression: What the hell is going on? This kid's feelings all over the place (kinda like those cars). First he's so sure of himself, then he's terrified. Cold blood or not?
Actual review (drum roll please):
Language: Is fairly good. Can't really complain. Sure, there are some missing commas here and there, some pretty awkward word choices, the POV jumping all over the place, some apparently-pasted on fragments... but it mostly flows well.
Language rating: OMG, you're writing omniscient and it's freaking me out!
Plot: What's the point of that car chase? It achieves absolutely nothing. I have to deduce most of what's going on since stuff happens like a jack in a box. Oh look, stuff, oh, look, other stuff, back to the first stuff. Other stuff... The continuity of the scene is a little fucked. But let's get to the plot...
Old cop upset that he has to work with a spoiled twelve-year-old. Oh, right, he's 16. But he's one of those annoying genius, so full of himself, knows he's better than everyone else, with the empathy and social skills of a gnat. And the cop is one of those annoying experienced cops who thinks he's better than everyone else, and thinks the kid's an idiot, even if he also knows he's a genius. But he doesn't believe it! Of course he doesn't. Why would he break the cliche?
So instead of details about a case which is apparently unprecedentedly gruesome and requires the assistance of genius-antisocial-kid, we get a cock fight between the spoiled twelve-year-old and Mark Whalberg.
Yes, the kid is smart, yes, the cop is older and more experience, and yes, wow, they don't get along because they don't respect each other.
There is a slight talk about the case, which is interesting, but instead of turning into an interesting debate, it's just another reason to show how different those two are. Yes, like tea and whiskey.
Plot rating: Why is this thing all over the place? Focus on the bloody murder! (pun intended)
Characters:
Branson: Is annoying as fuck. Really, is there no other type of seasoned cop except the burly I-do-it-my-own-way-because-I've-done-this-a-million-times-before cop? Why does he have to be so condescending towards a kid he knows is there to help him, who is a genius. He just has to strut in there and assert his dominance over a kid.
And he seems to be switching personality every ten minutes. The pattern goes as such: He's a dick, then he's nice to the kid, then he realizes he's an idiot. Then he's a dick again.
You try to bully a sixteen-year-old. You suck, Branson!
Jackson: Is annoying as fuck. These two are a match made in heaven. Okay, geniuses are usually depressed anti-social people. But this kid is just creepy. I know he's supposed to be psychotic, but he just acts all awkward and creepy. He shouldn't bother to stoop down to Branson's level.
He has a good set of skills, I'll give him that. And he's most likely realistic, but he's still annoying. I wonder what it would be like to punch him in the face really hard. He'd probably kick my ass and kill me with a shoe string, but I'm thinking it's worth it.
The chief: Is useless and talks in circles. Was it so hard to say: The feds sent us a kid and you'll have to work with him. Try to be nice. End of discussion. NO, he has to go round in circles. Useless.
The lawyer: Sleazy. And what the hell is he doing there in the first place? If he's not Jackson's guardian he has no business there.
Character rating: Annoying as fuck
Why I stopped reading: Branson and Jackson annoy me. I was expecting a little something else. I like the mystery of the serial killer and the fact that Jackson thinks there are two people, but the fact that the focus seems to be the messed up relationship between the two (which I've seen in a lot of movies before), is a disappointment. After 4 chapters, I actually wanted a reason to like one of the characters and want to stick with them. I don't.
Grade: I'm on the fence with this one, but I think I'll give it a PASS. The writing is pretty good, and the gritty story line has potential. Maybe the characters only annoy me. So congrats. You survived. You can add the [I survived the most BRUTAL review] thing to your work. Enjoy your singing cat.
YOU ARE READING
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