Blind Instinct (Hardcover)

Amateurish would be a compliment for this writer, who displays from almost the first page his utter lack of understanding of the subject matter and a total lack of research into his chosen main location, London. Inaccuracies and errors abound (I found his reference to Sherlock Holmes living at 21 Baker Street to be particularly amusing). It looks like he bought a tourist book of London and freely quoted from it in order to flesh out his locations and descriptions. He used a phrasebook to get his London expressions right, and when he needed to fill out a chapter he just spent four pages defining English colloqialisms. By the way, Mr. Walker, using the word "bloody" this or that is particularly insulting in England, comparable to using the "F" word in America. If Sharpe used it that frequently around Jessica, he was being an unfeeling and insensitive cad to a visitor he was trying to get friendly with. The author also has no time sense, skipping merrily from morning to afternoon to evening with no continuity.

As for his lead character, Dr. Jessica Coran, it is obvious that Mr. Walker hasn't had a date with a woman in years. He handles his title character hamhandedly, and has her make stupid, loutish and suicidal decisions that would get her drummed out of the Mayberry Police Department by Barney Fife himself, let alone be a member of the FBI. Her personality is oafish and insulting, and she displays a total lack of compassion and intelligence. Let me give you a clue, Dr. Coran. I knew from his first appearance who the killer was, and only a blind, stupid idiot would have missed it. In addition, never go into a dark, unexplored cavern without backup and with your prime suspects both ahead of you and behind you. You deserved what you got in the cavern. I wish you'd paid for your stupidity with your life. It would have ended this truly banal series of books.

The book's supporting characters are shallow and unfulfilled. The relationship between Shape and Copperwaite takes wild swings even before their conflict. Their use of nicknames is inconsistent and confusing, with the reader never really getting a handle on their relationship.

I also checked out the author's web site, which looks like it was made by a seventeen-year-old who has seen too many episodes of "Tales from the Crypt". A truly low-class web site that proves that you get what you pay for; obviously not much in this case.

I've thrown this book away (a first for me) so that no on else will ever be in the least tempted to read it.

I nearly stopped reading after 40 pages or so. I hardly ever not finish a book, so carried on - what a mistake. Basically the story is very good (or should I say could have been very good), but the characters are wooden and so stereotyped.

But by far the worst aspect is the constant use of English phrases, words and sayings. I think I am 'qualified' here, as I am from England but living in the US. It seemed like he had an old copy of an English slang dictionary, which he kept referring to. Now I know our two languages can be quite different, but please, most of them I had never ever heard before. He must have got bored in the middle because about 2 sides must have been copied from this dictionary, with the American translation.

One last thought - has the author ever been to London? I know it is quite costly to travel there, but if you are going to almost completely base a novel there and include sightseeing and experiencing life there, maybe it would be worth a visit first?

I don't normally like to criticise, especially as I am no author myself, but I wasted my time, plus its a waste of what is essetially a good storyline.