Review: Shut Your Eyes Tight by John Verdon
by Jenners • 08/03/2011 • 3 Stars, Fiction, Mystery/Thriller, S Titles, V Authors • 47 Comments
Publisher: Crown Publishers, 2011
Pages: 432
Genre: Fiction, Mystery/Thriller
Where I Got It: Crown Publishers/TLC Book Tours
My Rating: 3 stars
Book Overview
Detective Dave Gurney, who readers first met in Think Of A Number, is back with another case—despite promising his wife Madeline that he really was retired after the events of the Mellery case. However, the reality is that Gurney is not cut out for retirement and a quiet life in the country. He needs a challenge and a puzzle to keep life interesting. So when an old colleague requests his help on a case, Gurney is easily drawn back into the fray.
Although the case appears to be open and shut, the police have been stymied for months. The facts seem cut and dry: At her wedding reception, a young bride is found beheaded in the cottage of the live-in gardner just before the congratulatory toast. Based on where the murder took place, it seems obvious that the gardner is the murderer—especially since video footage from the wedding accounts for everyone else’s whereabouts and the bride was seen entering the gardener’s cottage moments before the toast. Although the police have identified the murder weapon and the perpetrator, the gardener seems to have vanished off the face of the earth.
As Gurney gets drawn into the case, he begins to discover that things (including the bride and her groom) aren’t quite as they seem. In fact, it seems that Gurney may have stumbled onto a much larger conspiracy that involves a possible serial killer. Besides the case of the beheaded bride, the book also focuses on Gurney’s increasingly strained personal life and an unexpected development in his art career.
My Thoughts
I read Think of A Number last year—drawn in by the seemingly “impossible” scenario. I ended up being intrigued by Gurney and the tragic back story hinted at in the first book. So when I was offered this book for review, I jumped at the chance to read it. After all, it featured another “impossible” case—plus I wanted to get to know Gurney more. Unfortunately, I think Verdon suffered a bit of a sophomore slump as this book didn’t grab me as much as his first one.
Part of the problem has to do with the sprawling and complex plot. Verdon seems determined to create another puzzler that leaves readers scratching their heads, but the scenario just isn’t as compelling in this book. In a way, this book sets up a classic “locked room” mystery. However, with almost no cast of characters to get to know and investigate, readers must rely on Verdon to provide the clues and plot developments instead of trying to puzzle things out on their own. This led to a less active reading experience. In addition, the plot got so convoluted and complicated that I started to lose the core of the story. In fact, thinking back now, I would have a hard time explaining to you exactly what happened!
In addition, the relationship between Gurney and Madeline wasn’t as fully developed as it was in the first book. In fact, Madeline was barely present in this book—often just passing by as Gurney was doing his stuff. I was also bothered by some of the decisions that Gurney made and his choice to keep critical information from Madeline. It seemed inconsistent with their relationship.
Despite my complaints, Shut Your Eyes Tight isn’t a horrible book. Readers who enjoy mysteries and thrillers would probably like it, and it is well-suited for a summer read (lots of thrills; not too much thinking). However, it is uncharacteristically long for these types of books—clocking in at just over 400 pages. Still, I wouldn’t write off Dave Gurney and John Verdon yet. Think of A Number was Verdon’s first book, and I think it is common for authors to have a bit of a slump in their follow-up, especially when pressured to come up with another “impossible” scenario for their super-detective.
Giveaway
Want a chance to win a copy of Shut Your Eyes Tight? Thanks to TLC Book Tours and Crown Publishers, I’m able to give away one copy of the book to a reader in the U.S. or Canada. To enter, simply fill in the entry form below to enter. The deadline is August 15th.
No more submissions accepted at this time.
Thank you to Lisa at TLC Book Tours for the opportunity to be a part of the blog tour for this book. You can find the other tour stops by clicking here. Thanks also to Crown Publishers for my review copy of the book and for offering the giveaway opportunity.
Pingback: John Verdon, author of Shut Your Eyes Tight, on tour July/August 2011 | TLC Book Tours
A confusing plot would give my already scattered brain these days a workout. I’ll pass on this one. Great review though, Jenners.
This sounds like a great book!!!
Hope you entered the giveaway so you can find out for yourself.
Too bad the plot became confusing. I just finished reading a mystery as well this past week.
It is also possible that I’m a dim bulb. Never discount that possibility.
Sounds like the first one is more for me. I won’t enjoy a thriller if things get too convoluted. I will definitely check out the first one.
I really enjoyed the first one. I just couldn’t imagine how he was going to explain it all.
You had me at “At her wedding reception, a young bride is found beheaded in the cottage of the live-in gardner just before the congratulatory toast.”
Really? I’m surprised actually.
TBG and I agree with you – this one was no way near as good as the first. I only had to ask myself one question and that led me to the murderer. No man should retire at 46 years old anyway – of course that is the problem in his marriage. He’s not happy digging away at the asparagus and Madeline should know he needs something more challenging.
I love your take on why Madeline and Dave are having problems. You are so right … he isn’t suited to early retirement!
I like long books as long as they don’t feel long!
Have you tried Kate Atkinson’s crime fiction with Jackson Brodie? Really worth reading. The first one is called Case Histories. (There are four books so far in the series.)
Yes!! I love Kate Atkinson and read and reviewed Case Histories last year. Don’t know why I’m waiting so long to read the next book. That was such a fully realized book — in terms of plot, character, mystery.. EVERYTHING!
Sorry the book wasn’t as good as you wanted. The page count would have had me grumbling. I like them at 300 pages or so.
I don’t really mind long books but this one started to FEEL long and it felt long for this type of book … if that makes sense! ; )
I wouldn’t normally read from this genre anyway, so this one definitely isn’t calling to me.
An interesting review, sorry that it didn’t quite hit the mark – sprawling and complex plots that aren’t compelling don’t do it for me either.
I just couldn’t keep it all in my head … who was doing what and when and where. I guess I need a simpler plot in my “old” age.
I just skimmed your review since I’m only about 100 pages in. I do like it so far.
I’ll be curious to see what you think. Did you read his first one?
I did read it and really liked it. The premise isn’t quite as good in this one, but still interesting. I’m only about 150 pages in.
I’m glad you are liking it. I didn’t HATE it but it didn’t grab me as much as the first book. It is hard when you really like a book and then read the next one.
I remember being fascinated by your review of the first book and I’m sorry this one didn’t quite live up to the expectations. It still sounds good enough to enter the giveaway. Thanks!!
The premise of the first book was just so “How will he explain this???” that I had to read it. This one was good but didn’t have such a tantalizing premise. Good luck with the giveaway.
I’m sorry this book wasn’t as good as the first one…it’s so disappointing to be looking forward to a book and then Blah. i don’t think this is a book for me considering the convoluted and complex plot and dearth of characters I’d have difficulty finding any reason to keep reading!
Yeah … it was a bit of a letdown.
I just had much the same feelings regarding The Twisted Thread, and am starting to think that the less I get involved in this genre, the better. I am just so picky when it comes to these books that I ruin them for myself. I want everything to be remarkable and thrilling, and in reality, that is not what happens all the time. I don’t know why I have to be so demanding when it comes to thrillers. It really sets me up for a lot of disappointment.
I think that, at a certain point, readers begin to outgrow certain genres … and thrillers are one of them. Most of them HAVE to be a bit “off the wall” and up the game in each successive book. Plus I think it is a challenge to come up with a really satisfying plot that will appeal.
A great review! I have to pick the book club book next month and feel a lot of pressure. Any recommendatiin on a chick lit book?
Classic chick lit???? How about something by Jill Mansell — I liked Rumor Has It. Or for something different but really fun, What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty. Good luck! There is a lot of pressure picking books I think!
I’m gld you weren’t thrilled with tis as it means I don’t have to wonder if I should read it! Actually, I wasn’t enamored of his first…
You are off the hook!
“Despite my complaints, Shut Your Eyes Tight isn’t a horrible book…”
yes, that is true, but it’s not a great book either I would agree.
Great minds think alike. We were on the same page with this one.
Thanks for the easy entry, so nice of you.
You’re welcome!! Good luck.
And so goes 95% of thrillers nowadays. Actually, something in the back of my mind is trying to remind me that the last book had an implausible plot. But oh well, right? They are usually entertaining.
The plot of the last book was implausible … but I just HAD to know how he was going to explain it.
Convoluted can drive me crazy – I can only suspend so much disbelief. Hopefully he’ll get back on track with his next book.
There is always that possibility that I am a nimrod. However, I really couldn’t keep all the different developments in order. It went all over the place!!
I love a good thriller, but sometimes the plots do get too convoluted. I guess the authors want to make sure we don’t guess the ending but I like to try to be able to figure it out
Exactly!!! I like trying to figure it out and this particular plot wasn’t set-up that way. (At least for me it wasn’t.)
I don’t like cut and dried, but I’m not sure I could keep up with a convoluted plot, either. I’ll have to look for Think of a Number in my library…I do love a good mystery.
I enjoyed “Think of A Number” because I just couldn’t imagine how he was going to explain what happened!
Sorry this didn’t quite make the mark for you. Great review though.
Thanks!