The Dark Tide
The editing (and as a result the dialogue) in this novel is atrocious. There is simply no need to repeat characters names in every spoken line in a novel - most people who read books are not idiots.
“Really Kieran?”
“Yes reader, I’m afraid its true - this novel is badly let down by the poor dialogue”
“But Kieran I think, and Kieran don’t hate me for saying this, but maybe you are being unfairly picky Kieran?”
“No reader - I am not. The festering dialogue weighs down a good story like a stone anchor, oh and Reader? I really am not exaggerating!”
And it really is a shame, because the book is ever so slightly too long as well - predictable twists can be excused if you read up to them as quickly as you guess them, but when you see a twist coming 20 pages away you just know that someone needed to be a bit more brutal with the delete key.
Combined, the dialogue and length help to ruin what is an otherwise enjoyable adventure/thriller. The characters are interesting and likable, against all odds, and Hauck appears to be a solid foundation for a series (9 more books signed up!) - if only Gross gets a decent editor on board.
The romantic twist is believable, the locations are well described, the storyline is wide reaching without over stretching and as mentioned the characters are well rounded and emotive - its just that clunking script they’re acting.
Could Have Been Better / 10
Filed by Kieran at September 16th, 2008 under Books