Gritty, But Poetic
(From Amazon) By Merritt Stewart
This book wasn’t really my cup of tea. It reminds me of ‘In Cold Blood’ By Truman Capote in that, there is a lot of psychological examination. The detective wonders what someone must feel to commit a certain act, standing somewhere, he ‘feels’ the motive, etc. There is also a lot of poetic imagery. I respect this, it is not easy to do, much less well but, It’s just not what I prefer when reading a mystery. The book is well written but, rather grim and stark. Again, just not my cup of tea. True crime readers that like some grit in their stories will enjoy this book, I’m sure.
MSD: I appreciate the reviewer’s comments. It shows how varied readers’ expectations can be about what a mystery story entails, and how wide a field “mystery” can be. Not every book is someone’s cup of tea. I’m currently reading a cop story written by Devorah Fox (read her King Bewilliam series) that has the form of a classic cop-chase-the-bad-guy story, but whose writing is both silken and gritty, an intriguing mix.
A GAME CALLED DEAD is available at:
Amazon: http://goo.gl/hVQIII Kobo: https://goo.gl/bgLH6v NOOK: http://goo.gl/WnQjtr
Also, The Clinton Book Shop and Sparta Books, newly available at the Morris County Library, and soon the Somerset County Library.
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About michaelstephendaigle
I am the author of the award-winning Frank Nagler Mystery series. "The Swamps of Jersey (2014); "A Game Called Dead" (2016) -- a Runner-Up in the 2016 Shelf Unbound Indie Author Contest; "The Weight of Living" (2017) -- “The Weight of Living” was awarded First Place for mysteries in the 2017 Royal Dragonfly Book Award contest;
Named A Notable 100 Book, Shelf Unbound 2018 Indie Book Awards;
Named a Distinguished Favorite, 2018 Independent Press Awards.
Named a Distinguished Favorite in the 2018 Big NYC Book Contest.
Named a Finalist in the 2019 Book Excellence Awards.
Named A Gold Star Award winner in the 2020 Elite Choice Book Awards
Named a Book Award Winner in 2021 by Maincraft Media Fiction Book Awards;
The Red Hand (2019) a Distinguished Favorite in the 2019 Big NYC Book Contest
Named Second Place winner for mysteries in the 2019 Royal Dragonfly Book Awards
Named a Notable 100 Book in the 2019 Shelf Unbound Indie Book Awards
Named a Distinguished Favorite in the 2020 Independent Press Awards
A Nominee in the 2020 TopShelf Book Awards
Named A Gold Star Award winner in the 2020 Elite Choice Book Awards
Dragony Rising (2022) First Place for Mysteries in the 2022 Royal Dragonyfly Book Awards; named a Notable 100 Indie Book in the 2022 Shelf Unbound Indie Book Awards; A Distinguished Favorite in the 2023 Independent Press Awards. A Distinguished Favorite in the 2023 Big NYC Book Awards.
MSD: I appreciate the reviewer’s comments. It shows how varied readers’ expectations can be about what a mystery story entails, and how wide a field “mystery” can be. Not every book is someone’s cup of tea. I’m currently reading a cop story written by Devorah Fox (read her King Bewilliam series) that has the form of a classic cop-chase-the-bad-guy story, but whose writing is both silken and gritty, an intriguing mix. 
