Sin City (CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION)

Max Allan Collins continues his second career (in addition to being an award-winning historical mystery writer and graphic novel scripter) of authoring the best TV/movie tie-ins in the business. Sin City repeats everything that was good about Double Dealer -- solid plotting, familiar characterization, loyalty to the format. It's the rare sophomore effort that improves upon its predecessor. That it is also longer makes this feat even more surprising. Las Vegas earns its notorious nickname when a man's wife disappears and their neighbors suspect the husband, particularly since the wife gave them a secreted cassette tape with the husband threatening to dismember her recorded on it. Meanwhile, a stripper is murdered in the lapdance room at Dream Dolls (where Catherine used to work) and the surveillance cameras point to her boyfriend, who was not only under a restraining order, but also claims he was home watching the game at the time. Sin City fulfills on all levels and the reader profits from the experience that author Collins has in writing for already-existing television characters. The voices are perfect and one can go from watching the television series to reading the novels seamlessly, which is likely the best compliment one can give to a genre that gains little respect from the literary community but has been vastly appreciated by TV watchers and readers alike for decades.

I love the show, loved Max's books. I love it that the nerds get to be the heros. I think that its the humor that gives the very serous subject matter its balance. I love that Max Allen Collins understood the characters enough to use humor in his books. One that really stands out is the sceen where Gil is in a video store and asks the clerk if he has a copy of the movie "Manhunter". The humor came when I remembered that the same actor who plays Gil in the series, also star'd in "Manhunter", much better version of "Silence of the Lambs". I could almost see the sly smile that comes on Gil's face when he interjects knowing humor into the series. Don't you just love in jokes. I hope I didn't spoil the books for anyone. If I did, I'm sorry.

I hardly ever sit down and read a book. I purchased this one and couldn't put it down, i'm getting ready to purchase more of the C.S.I. books. The book really kept you glued, and the way it describes things to a TEE !!!!

...you'll enjoy the CSI books (including Double Dealer). It's interesting to see the TV characters in print acting as we expect them to. The writing is smooth and the plot is interesting. It's a fast and enjoyable read.

This book was like an extra helping of CSI while waiting for Thursday night. You will not be disappointed if you read this book.