Black Water: A Merci Rayborn Novel | T. Jefferson Parker

Black Water: A Merci Rayborn Novel | T. Jefferson Parker | 3rd Times A Charm for Merci Rayborn

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Black Water: A Mer...

	Black Water: A Merci Rayborn Novel T. Jefferson Parker Hyperion, 2003 - 416 pages average customer review:based on 39 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Merci Rayborn, T. Jefferson Parker's stubborn, principled Orange Countydetective, is almost alone in believing that deputy Archie Wildcraft didn't killhis beautiful young wife and then turn his service weapon on himself. Theevidence against Wildcraft--now hospitalized with a bullet lodged in hishead--seems overwhelming. But Merci, who's still unpopular for exposing an oldpolice scandal that caused the death of one cop and the ruination of others(The Blue Hour), isresisting pressure from her boss and a headline-hunting D.A. to arrest Wildcraftand charge him with murder.Then the deputy, who's lost his memory and maybe his mind as a result of hisinjury, goes missing from his hospital room, intent on tracking down the realkillers and managing to stay a step ahead of Merci. Soon, they both begin torealize that Gwen Wildcraft wasn't killed because she got in the way of anattempted hit on her husband--it was the other way around. Parker, whose skillsat characterization are as well honed as his expert pacing and intricateplotting, has penned another standout that will keep readers guessing andgasping until the last dramatic page. --Jane Adams

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A Good Story - But The Kid.....

This is the first one of the Merci Rayburn books I've read. It's a good solid story, albeit a little slow and plodding at times. The only thing I really disliked about the book was Merci's kid, Tim. He's 3, and she makes a point very early on to say that Tim likes to be contrary. She says, "the sky is blue", and Tim says "the sky is not blue". This is cute the first 3 or 4 times, but it happens about 150 times in the book.

Sorry...I like kids, but little Timmy needs a to go to him room and stay there. Other than that, a solid mystery with good character development. Let's just leave Tim at home on the next one, OK?

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3rd Times A Charm for Merci Rayborn

Merci Rayborn returns in Black Water for her third go aroung as Parker's lead detective. If you haven't read Blue Hour and Red Light, you might be a little confused, as this woman comes in with ALOT of baggage. While I didn't really care for her in Blue and I couldn't stand her in Red she actually grew on me in this final(?) book that features her. The plot is pretty good and it mirrors circumstances that she dealt with in Red Light so she doesn't want to make the same mistakes again. Overall the story worked for me, but it does get slow from time to time and I have to agree with the others about Tim, the kid, being a little too smart and really annoying but atleast she wasn't looking in the damn backseat every other sentence. I'm loooking foward to reading Cold Pursuit next.

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One of the best writers in the genre

One of the best writers of the genre is the 2002 Edgar Award winning author, T. Jefferson Parker. He is capable of, not only writing a superior mystery ,but of writing it in style. His books delve deep into the psyche of the main protagonists. SILENT JOE, his Edgar winning stand alone is quite typical of this. The characters are unforgettable and alone can make it a worthwhile read. Detective Merci Rayborn is also a character well examined in his work. In Parker's hands she becomes a living breathing creation.
Merci Rayborn is assigned to look into the death of a young woman. The dead woman was the wife of Deputy Archie Wildcraft, a young talented cop. Archie was also shot and suffers from a bullet wound in the head. Prosecutors are pointing the finger at Archie in that the gun was found in his hand. They think it was a shooting death and suicide attempt. Merci, however, feels Archie is innocent and wants to prove it. Her investigation, once again, puts her reputation at stake. However, Merci follows her personal conviction and attempts to discover the true killer.
T. Jefferson Parker's strength as a writer is on full display in this, his latest novel. Merci is tough and an individualist. The plot is compelling enough to keep the pages turning. However, it definitely went on a bit too long. By the end, Merci and the reader have had enough. A bit of a tighter plot would suit Parker's books quite well. However, he is and should be listed among the best there is writing today.

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So-So

Merci Rayborn is a tough-as-nails female cop with a small son, a suspicious partner and half the department against her because she blew the whistle on some dirty cops a long time ago. Who cares you ask? Exactly. This is my first Merci novel, and while I liked parts of this book other parts I could care less. Namely, Merci's office politics, and the shunning by other officers- boring. Her stay-at-home-mom-dad. Likewise boring. The alcoholic neighbor who manages to provide most of the major evidence? A little too good to be true.

Archie? While a good character he lost me about 2/3rd's of the way through the book. Come on, we invested a lot of time in Arch. And this is how you end it? Wings? Silly. And Gwen? Ohhh...Kay...... I agree with other reviewers about the child character. A little overdone.

3 stars. I found Black Water to be an unsatisfying and somewhat depressing read. No good resolution for anyone, and a lackluster cast of characters. I might pick up another if I can find it used but this book left me with a flat feeling.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

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