I love the CSI television series and have already read the first four of the novels based on the Las Vegas series so was really looking forward to reading this – the fifth in the series.
The writing in these books is incredible and it is almost like watching an episode unfold on the screen. Having finishing the other books I found myself almost forgetting which cases had been in episodes and which had come from the book and this book is no different. The characterisations are perfect. With book adaptations I am always worried that the characters will change personalities or be too different but Max Allan Collins completely gets rid of these worries.
The two cases in this book Rita Bennett / Kathy Dean and Vivien Elliot are well crafted and addictive reading. The twists and turns particularly in the Rita / Kathy case had me on the edge of my seat. This was less so with the Vivien Elliot case but it was still a very enjoyable read as I wanted to see how Catherine, Warrick and Sam Vega would be able to trap the killer. And I wasn’t disappointed. The scenes in the hospital between Catherine and the killer were great reading. I was however shocked by the killer in the other case. I just didn’t expect it to go the way it did.
I like how despite the serious elements of the murder mysteries the book has comic bits as well in the banter between the main characters. You can almost hear the actors voices and it’s hard not to at least give a little smile at one of the witty one liners.
I also enjoyed how despite the fact that the cases get quite complicated I didn’t find it difficult to keep track of everything in my mind. I really dislike it when things get all muddled up and I can’t remember which character is which and why they are acting the way they are.
Grave Matters is a very descriptive book. Sometimes the description is a bit much but overall I think it adds a lot to the plot and makes it easier to see things in your mind’s eye. I’m looking forward to reading the next books in the series!
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