In the debate over whether or not it’s a appropriate for authors of a genre to review books by fellow authors in the genre, I offer this: Lisa Scottoline, author of Dirty Blonde and other thriller/suspense novels reviewed Sandra Brown’s newest suspense Ricochet in the Washington Post Book World today. Scottoline enjoyed Ricochet, thought the “femme-fatale plotline” was well done but pointed out how Brown has a tendency to use cliches and should stop.
At the beginning of the review, Scottoline says this with regard to reviewing books:
My criteria for book reviewing are pretty clear: Did I believe in the characters? Was it a good story, well told? Did I want to put the book down or keep reading? Bottom line, would I read another book by this author?
I have the same basic criteria as a reader. Must say, as a reviewer, I delve a bit deeper. Issues like character development, pacing, plotline coherence and others come into play. Scottoline probably also uses those standards but wraps them up in the questions she spelled out.
Ricochet is on my TBR pile. I would have read it with or without the review. Scottoline’s limited criticisms didn’t make me dislike Scottoline or think she was saying them because she was jealous of Brown’s career – just thought I’d point that out since I hear it in relation to romance authors reviewing other romance authors all the time. Really, this review didn’t convince me of anything. That’s not a knock against Scottoline. It’s just that the review is short and doesn’t say much. The last three paragraphs were the most helpful – that’s where the femme-fatale information and cliche comment can be found.
For those still wondering about Ricochet, the reader reviews on B&N aren’t great, but I rarely let that stop me. Other reviews are more along the lines of Scottoline’s review and flattering:
-Publishers Weekly says: “Tight plotting, a hot love story with some nice twists and a credible ending help make this a stand-out thriller.”
-Kirkus Reviews says: “Brown’s latest (Chill Factor, 2005, etc.) sags a bit in the middle with its laughable cop-show dialogue, but there are enough twists to keep fans guessing. An able thriller featuring a squared-jawed cop and a shifty dame.”
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Hi, HelenKay–
I picked up RICOCHET, read it on vacation, and blogged about it the other week. It’s not my fave SB book, mostly because I don’t care for that type of heroine–cool, aloof, needy, mysterious. I always have a tough time wondering why the hero is so obsessed with a heroine like this.
Still, I LOVE SB and will read any romance she writes. And she’s one of only a handful of authors whose books I’ll buy in hardcover–no questions asked.
Ann
by Ann Christopher September 17th, 2006 at 1:00 pmI don’t put much stock in reviews. SB is an author I always read.
by Estella September 17th, 2006 at 1:20 pm