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“Ex cop Frank Behr helps family find their son who was kidnapped by a gang that sells young boys to a rich Mexican.”
Albert F wrote this review Friday, September 18 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A good read...”
Dave H wrote this review Wednesday, September 16 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Yes, my bookstore friends have told me to read it. Looks like an abduction (sigh) book, but will try it as I like my pals.”
Marcia H wrote this review Sunday, September 6 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“A very good book on a disturbing subject.”
jenifer r wrote this review Wednesday, August 5 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“ This was an EXCELLENT thriller! I haven't previously read anything by David Levien, but I'm going to check out and see if he has any other titles.
Jennifer Wardrip wrote this review Sunday, July 26 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
I was a little leery of the story at first, since it deals with the disappearance of a child, but the characters are so real and engaging that I was quickly sucked into the story.
This is a read that kept me up late to finish it, and I highly recommend it! ”“Gritty thrillier, rich in atmosphere and characters. Levien's first novel, hopefully not his last.”
Ken F wrote this review Friday, March 27 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Paul and Carol are living every parent’s nightmare. Their twelve–year-old son, Jamie, left to throw his paper route and vanished without a trace. No clues, no witnesses, no ransom calls, nothing. The case goes cold quickly.
juliefaillaearhart wrote this review Thursday, March 12 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
From acclaimed screenwriter of such hits as Ocean’s Thirteen, Runaway Jury, and Rounders, David Levien comes a masterful new novel in mass market paperback, City of the Sun. For me, the opening scenes when Jamie is kidnapped were a little disconcerting as they were written in first-person point of view. But that’s a Julie issue, not the writer’s. However, when the novel jumps ahead to fourteen months later, the novel point of view switches to the more familiar third person and takes off full speed ahead.
After fourteen months of hell, Paul decides to hire a private investigator, Frank Behr. Frank is a tad eccentric but the death of his son years earlier prompts him to try to help the Gabriel’s. He knows, and he lets Paul and Carol know, that he may find nothing, that their son is more-than-likely dead. Anything, according to the Gabriel’s, is better than the hell of not knowing. Frank begins at the beginning, looking for clues and/or evidence that the cops might have missed.
Frank starts out alone, but soon Paul joins him in the search for Jamie.
At four-hundred-and nineteen pages, City of the Sun is an extremely satisfying read. Levien gives all the characters a chance to show the readers their side of the story. The story is well-executed and flows well. The prose is taut and tight.
City of the Sun introduces readers to Frank. Another novel is planned for release in mid-summer. I’m sure that Frank and Levien will be hits for many more novels.
Review originally appeared on www.armchairinterviews.com
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“Though this was a good read and I don't regret having picked it up, ultimately there was just something.... lacking. The premise is obviously a gripping one - child disappears while on paper route and the parents' attempts, with the help of PI Frank Behr, to find out what happened - but the way it unfolds is rushed and somewhat hackneyed (perhaps reflecting the author's screenwriting background).
Elizabeth W wrote this review Thursday, February 12 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
The early scenes between the husband and wife post disappearance are well done, but later scenes with just the wife come across as afterthoughts or throwaways. As does, in fact, the presence of many of the secondary characters, especially Behr's former boss at the police department. It was as if Levien was following some formula that "required" there to be a petty, semi-competent, vindictive authority figure for his lead to bang heads with. The romantic aside was equally by-the-numbers and forced. If this is indeed to be a series, there will be more than enough time to delve into Behr's romantic / social life.
Frank Behr definitely has promise as a series lead, but I believe the gushing comparisons reviewers have been making to Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch and Robert Crais' Elvis Cole are a bit premature. A better comparison in my opinion would be Lee Child's Jack Reacher (complete with Behr's 6'6" size), though Behr has in no way proven himself (yet) to be as emotionally complex or intellectually sharp as Reacher.
The bottom line is that Behr simply did not have enough of a chance to shine in this book, with the secondary characters taking up more space than necessary, at the expense of Behr's development. I hope next time out Levien trims the excess character baggage and lets us really get to know our intended hero.”
“The author has done a brilliant job bringing an exciting and interesting thriller, creating Frank Beher, one of the most intriguing new characters in the thriller genre. Peter Gabriel's son is snatched by two degenerate goons and the police are virtually of no use in finding any information. After the case is cold for more than a year Gabriel hires private investigator Frank Beher to help. Frank is rambunctionous and determined to get to the bottom of the mystery and help Gabriel receive closure on his son's case.
Katamaster wrote this review Thursday, December 11 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Frank is a Harry Bosch type character without the restraints that are faced by most police detectives as he is a private citizen who used to be a cop. It is so interesting how Frank makes things happen and starts to get the leads flowing. What is also interesting about Frank is that he is driven to be relentless by his own private demons.
Not to be missed!”
