This novel Perfect Hatred was a pleasant surprise. I haven't read any crime fiction based solely in Brazil and I have to say that I like the change of scenery. It gives me the push I need to research about that country and see what I've been missing this whole time. Gage's Perfect Hatred delves into the seedy world of Brazilian politics and terrorist extremist groups.
Perfect Hatred opens with the bombing of a temple by extreme Islamist. A recently abducted baby is used to conceal bomb used for this temple bombing. As if chasing terrorists wasn't enough, Silva is also tasked with finding out why or who is behind the death of a gubernatorial politician. These occurances are great when setting the stage for a crime novel. And just for dramatic affect, there's a deranged madman out to get Chief Inspector Mario Silva and will stop at nothing to get him.
I felt that Gage created the perfect storm but it's execution was not to my liking. Don't get me wrong, the story was fast paced, well-written, and believeable dialogue. The major problem I had with this title is that I didn't know who anyone was and being that it was mostly dialogue based, there was no real opportunity to discover who they were. It felt like I stumbled on an hour long television show in the middle. There was no attempt to familiarize the audience or even followers of this series to the characters. It felt very vague to me. All the names mentioned were vague and the circumstances were just as vague. I don't know Silva any better after having read this novel, than what I did when I opened the novel.
I don't want my last gripe to seem like I didn't enjoy this novel. I really did enjoy this novel enough to go on Amazon and purchase the ones I've missed. Learning more about Brazil's police procedure inner-sanctum and getting to know this cast of characters is actually pretty high on my list. Gage does a great job at letting the readers know that money and power reign supreme in Brazil and neighboring countries such as Paraguay. I look forward to going backward with this author. I expect lovers of fictional crime mysteries will find this an interesting addition. I would suggest reading the preceeding books first. ***
Thank you, Patrice, for taking the time and trouble to review PERFECT HATRED. For folks, like you, who are developing an interest in Brazil, might I suggest a visit to our blog, MURDER IS EVERYWHERE? We are a group of seven authors who write "international" mysteries. We seldom post about our books, or the craft of writing, but confine our contributions to items of cultural, historical or human interest that occur, or have occurred in the countries in which we set our stories. My day to post is Mondays. And, if readers go back into our archives, more than three years of them, there's stuff in there to please every taste. Confederates in Brazil after the Civil War, Bandits, Wilderness Explorers, Indian legends, all sorts of stuff. Happy Reading!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for taking the time to read my review. I really enjoyed this novel and look forward to reading the ones I have not had the pleasure of discovering yet. I will visit your blog as well Murder Is Everywhere. Thanks so much for writing Perfect Hatred.
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