Sunday, March 28, 2010

Wake Up Dead


I’ll be honest…

I love a good thriller/crime novel. I have been reading (and addicted to) the John Sandford ‘Prey’ novels for many years now. The problem with being infatuated with one particular author and/or series is that it prohibits you from exploring other authors. Now I’m sure many of you do not have this same problem, but unfortunately I have not been able to indulge as many authors of the thriller/crime genre as I would like. Then one day recently, while walking through the main area at the Central Library, I noticed the book Wake Up Dead and, for whatever reason, snatched it up and checked it out.

“Is it good?” you ask. Simple answer: Yes. More accurate answer: It is amazing. However, I must pause when considering if I should be recommending the book to anyone. It is such a brutally violent tale, and Smith’s writing is so crisp and descriptive, that I was thinking over scenes in the book days after finishing it. The characters he creates are not the most original, but there is a depth given, most likely due to the fact that there really isn’t a “good” person. The protagonists in Wake Up Dead and Smith’s other book, Mixed Blood, all have flaws or have committed heinous acts. This is not a turn off, but rather gives the book a seedy element that allows for some guilty pleasure addiction to wonder who gets punished and how.

Smith is able to create great characters, but his best character is the city where the story takes place. As a native of Cape Town, Smith has insight into the beautiful and dangerous city in South Africa. I have never had any inclination to visit Africa, but after reading his books I am compelled to stroll down the streets of the city, sit at the cafés and witness the city’s citizens and visitors. This same lush illustration of the city is also used against it, as I feel like I’ve witnessed many crimes in person that happen in what is considered one of the more dangerous cities in the world. Smith’s illustrative descriptions of Cape Flats, the not-so-nice part of Cape Town makes one shudder.

So to be honest, I loved this book but would caution anyone about to start it. If you can deal with vivid, graphic violent confrontations then please read this book. If you know you do not enjoy reading about murders and characters acting on their least likable instincts, then this is not for you. If you’re unsure, I would say give it 25 pages…that’s all you’ll need to know if you’ll love it or hate it.
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2 comments:

  1. Hi! Excellent review of this truly amazing book.
    Here is a littel Goodie for you and your readers. With this book widget, they can have a look into the book.
    Here is the URL of the "biblet" as we call this the book widgets:
    http://b2l.bz/KmZNuq

    Click on the embed button and copie the "Widget Embedd Tag" into your clipboard, so you can use the code in your blog.

    Cheers

    Ralph

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  2. I'm with you, I also love this book. The characters, the location, the action, come together for a great reading experience. If you want to feel like you are part of the action, you can purchase an Okapi 907e, Piper's favorite weapon, here http://tinyurl.com/yhs8pgo I got one after I read Wake Up Dead and it is a handsome knife.

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