Manhattan Is My Beat (Rune)

This is one of the author's earlier works, and while it is not one of his best efforts, it is still a cut above what is currently proffered by other writers of this genre. Jeffrey Deaver writes with a decidedly contemporary feel, his prose always spare and lean. While he does not dwell unduly on character development, it does not deter from the book, as it is wholly plot driven, with enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing until the last minute. It makes for a quick, enjoyable read. The book revolves around a decades old bank robbery in which the million dollars heisted was never recovered. This robbery was memorialized in an old bete noire film entitled "Manhattan is My Beat". Enter the story's unlikely heroine, twenty year old Rune of the purple hair, who works in a video store, squats in an abandoned loft that she calls home, and has an imagination that doesn't quit. When one of her video customers is killed execution style in his apartment, Rune is drawn into events of the past, as they converge upon the present. The now dead customer had repeatedly rented the film, "Manhattan is My Beat", and Rune firmly believes that there is a connection between his death and the age old bank heist. Her do-or-die resolve to discover why her customer was killed leads the moxie endowed Rune on a merry and dangerous chase. It is one that keeps the reader fully engaged and entertained.

I have to give 5 stars to any book that keeps me up reading past 1 a.m. (I'm not a late night person). This novel is very different from the Lincoln Rhymes series, but is entertaining in its own way.The protagonist is a 20-year-old free spirit in Greenwich Village, currently working in a video store. She becomes a "detective" after she finds a customer shot to death when she arrives at his house to pick up a video, and then decides that the police is not working properly on the case. Her character shows both naivete and incredible spunk. The case she stumbles into involves a series of Mafia hits, and places her in considerable danger.The plot is full of twists and turns; the ending ties together all loose ends. This is a fun read.

This being the first book Jeffery Deaver ever had published, I went into it thinking I was going to get a simple novel. Boy was I wrong! This book is the first of 3 starring Rune, a 5' 2" female dynamo who is thrust into a situation and becomes an amateur detective, of sorts. Along the way we meet some colorful characters with witty dialogue. The plot involves a couple of Mafiaoso hits, one that goes wrong and a million dollars that may or may not be real as a treasure. Deaver throws in some twists at the end that are great. It's not like his last 7 books or so...more straight forward and slim. But still really good stuff and with the other 2 in the Rune series getting released soon, I look forward to any/all of Deaver's wonderful books.

Fast Pace, wild full out read..... I don't think I've read a better mystery. Suspenseful, original, very entertaining. Don't pick this book up unless you have a wee bit of time. I couldn't put it down. Rune is a very interest & different "Hero", one I hope will be around awhile.

This book is back in print for a good reason! This book is great. This book is like Deaver's books I have read in the past (Bone Collector, Coffin Dancer and The Empty Chair);Deaver is the master of trickery. Once you think the book is headed in one direction think again. Deaver turns the story in to the unexpected. Surprize after surprize. I highly recommend this book and all of Deaver's works.