The Pale Green Horse
Author: Michael I. Leahey
List Price: $23.95
Our Price: Click to see the latest and low price
ISBN: 0312278136
Publisher: St. Martin's Minotaur (15 April, 2002)
Sales Rank: 540,423
Average Customer Rating: 4.3 out of 5
Customer Reviews
Rating: 5 out of 5
Move over Travis McGee, JJ Donovan's on the case
Welcome back to JJ and Boris! There aren't nearly enough charming "windmill tilters" in the world these days, and JJ is just what the doctor ordered. Starting in the magnificent temple of baseball, Yankee Stadium, as Boris is inadvertantly drawn into the mystery, right up to the thrilling scene atop the Queensborough Bridge, this story is a pulse-pounding ride through New York. Along with our heroes JJ and Boris, we get to reunite with Manny Santos, Kate Byrne, and the other great characters from Broken Machines. But in The Pale Green Horse, there are some great additions to the cast: NYPD's solid and dependable Lt.Gavin, genial saloon keeper Peter Walsh, the toothpick spitting Det.Sweeney, a cop you'd like to see get smacked around, and of course the horrifyingly evil and psychotically inspired villain, Johnny St. John.
When I finally got around to reading Michael I. Leahey's second JJ Donovan tale, The Pale Green Horse, I was sorry I waited so long to treat myself. Those of us who love to discover a great series of exciting mystery/detective novels with a truly engaging hero are in luck. Hopefully, Mr. Leahey will continue to delight us. The only drawback of course is that there are only two available so far. When I first stumbled onto John D.McDonald's series of Travis McGee stories, he'd already written all but the last three. So now alas, I must patiently await Boris and JJ's next adventure along with everyone else. Write 'em faster dammit!
Rating: 4 out of 5
interesting serial killer tale
While James Joseph "JJ" Donovan was enjoying his vacation with his ex-wife in the Virgin Islands, his partner, Dr. Boris Koulomzin attends a Yankees game when he mistakenly receives a manila envelope. However, the messenger must have changed his mind because following the game, he tries to kill Boris. JJ returns home to a badly, battered and frightened Boris because the content of the envelope describes the work of a serial killer.
Johnny St. John believes God has assigned him to provide salvation by delivering the very sick. Johnny does his task so well, killing people that JJ fears for Boris' life. JJ decides to go after this self-anointed mercy angel even though his actions place him in peril from a brilliant but twisted right hand of God.
THE PALE GREEN HORSE is an interesting serial killer tale that uses medical science and the streets of New York to add a deep authentic chill to the plot. The story line is action-packed due to a rising death count, but the solution feels more like the air let out of a balloon. The cynical hard-boiled JJ is a fun character to follow as he seeks clues to the whereabouts of the culprit before Boris joins the death list. Johnny is a fascinating villain, as he believes in what he is doing, yet at times seems too theatrical in accomplishing his "heavenly deeds". Though not as smooth as BROKEN MACHINES, THE PALE GREEN HORSE provides a complex intriguing tale that will garner Michael I. Leahey new readers and satisfy his previous fans.
Harriet Klausner
Rating: 1 out of 5
Unrealistic at best, boring as well....
Thought I'd try a new author of medical thrillers. Was I ever disappointed. First off, this author seems to know next to
nothing about the reality of hospitals and the role of nurses.
A DOCTOR administering a Demerol shot in a hospital???? PLEASE. Where does this guy get his inaccurate information? Also, a nurse would NEVER leave pills with a patient -- it is his/her job to administer them personally so that it can be documented on the chart -- a legal record.
I hate it when authors get small facts wrong, tells me they are lazy and makes the book totally flop for me.
As for the plot.....well, there's another problem.
Don't waste your money on this one.
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