Suspenseful ...But I Still Can't Buy In
Based on this first look at his debut novel, S. A. Lelchuk has talent and skill in writing suspense. He places us, as readers, immediately in a disquieting setting: a-rough-around-the-edges bar, at night. Lelchuk also demonstrates that he can manipulate pacing through his staccato style, use of dialogue, etc.
The suspense is there. But unfortunately I still can't buy into this book. I can't buy in because the central character, Nikki Griffin, is SUCH a miss.
I need to pause here to explain my basic assumption about the book. I assume that Nikki Griffin was intended to be a complex female character - a woman who strives in part to empower herself and/or other women through her PI work.
Yeah. That's not who readers meet in chapter one.
Chapter one Nikki is a one-dimensional cliche of Badass Female Character. Her narrative voice reads so inauthentically to me that I did something I'm not proud of. I looked up the author's bio specifically to confirm that S. A. Lelchuk is a man. Because there was no way, I thought mid-search, a woman wrote that character.
In hindsight, the book's title previews its central problem. Save Me from Dangerous Men plays to a played-out pattern of Badass Female Character (specifically Badass Female Character Achieving Vengeance And Therefore, Somehow, Empowerment).
I love Lisbeth Salander. I don't love what seems like a paper-thin imitation of Lisbeth Salander.
Before I conclude, I want to reiterate my opinion that Lelchuk has awesome potential as a suspense writer. I just hope that, before turning to his next book, he reflects on his WHY, his purpose, in writing character(s).
The suspense is there. But unfortunately I still can't buy into this book. I can't buy in because the central character, Nikki Griffin, is SUCH a miss.
I need to pause here to explain my basic assumption about the book. I assume that Nikki Griffin was intended to be a complex female character - a woman who strives in part to empower herself and/or other women through her PI work.
Yeah. That's not who readers meet in chapter one.
Chapter one Nikki is a one-dimensional cliche of Badass Female Character. Her narrative voice reads so inauthentically to me that I did something I'm not proud of. I looked up the author's bio specifically to confirm that S. A. Lelchuk is a man. Because there was no way, I thought mid-search, a woman wrote that character.
In hindsight, the book's title previews its central problem. Save Me from Dangerous Men plays to a played-out pattern of Badass Female Character (specifically Badass Female Character Achieving Vengeance And Therefore, Somehow, Empowerment).
I love Lisbeth Salander. I don't love what seems like a paper-thin imitation of Lisbeth Salander.
Before I conclude, I want to reiterate my opinion that Lelchuk has awesome potential as a suspense writer. I just hope that, before turning to his next book, he reflects on his WHY, his purpose, in writing character(s).