The Rook by Steven James is the follow up to The Pawn, a suspenseful mystery based around intense criminology investigations. The Rook continues on the storyline that Mr. James developed in the first novel. My favorite aspect of James’s writing style is that he able to take a typical mystery and mix in a complex theme of morality and self reflection. Read my review of The Pawn for more thoughts on the moral aspects.
Since The Rook is a sequel, I can’t help but compare this book to the original, but unfortunately this installment did not grab me as strongly as the first one did. While the storyline was complex and engaging, there are several times that the characters and dialogue downshifted and lulled the progression of the novel. However, that’s a minor aspect of the character development. Mr. James is much more qualified at creating interesting characters than many other popular authors.
I’m a fan of reoccurring characters and plots that build through a series of events. Life isn’t linear and Steven James is able to weave a beautifully complex protagonist / antagonist relationship. After finishing the second book in James’s “thrillogy” I’m ready to dive into the final installment. With the grit and raw pulse he’s put into these first two novels I’ve become a Steven James fan!
Rating: 7.5 out of 10
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