Review of The Complicated Trane
Posted: 20 Oct 2021, 02:07
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Complicated Trane" by Charlie Girard.]
The Complicated Trane by Charlie Girard starts when an English man comes to Jack Trane, a middle-aged private investigator. This person claims to be the representative of an insurance company, and he has an urgent favor to ask of Jack. The Henry Graves Supercomplication, his anonymous client's precious timepiece, has been stolen. If the insurance company can't return it, they will have to pay 20 million dollars to compensate for the loss. The item itself is a piece of art, and as a watch lover, the deal fascinates Jack. Will this case be interesting enough for him? If not, how about the $200,000 fee for whoever can find the object? Not to mention, the watch is worth 24 million bucks, meaning who has it can have a luxurious life for decades. Can Jack resist the temptation and give the timepiece back to its rightful owner?
Unlike other detective novels, this book doesn't mention the protagonist's love life. In fact, even though Jack loves to flirt with women, he is not in a romantic relationship with anyone. The entire plot is about the case. Still, that doesn't mean there are only males in this story. While she is not among the main cast, Trudy is my favorite female character. As Jack's secretary, she helps him investigate and extract many useful pieces of information. She gives him the tools he requires. She even saves her boss several times, especially when he is in a pinch. In addition, I like the detective's generosity towards the working class. Though Jack doesn't earn a lot of money, he always makes sure to lavishly tip the servers, the street vendors, and the taxi drivers.
Interestingly, some modern techniques are employed in the story, such as 3D printing, radar detectors, or tracking apps and devices. In my opinion, this is how investigations should be conducted when we are living in the robotic era.
On the downside, I feel that the author is trying a bit too hard to describe every movement of the characters, making the narrative long-winded. There are also several repeated details, like how Jack chooses his daily attires, the way he dresses, or the way he moves his car around. Personally, I find these scenes unnecessary, as the plot becomes more tedious with them. Besides, the copy I received has so many grammar errors that I would strongly suggest another round of proofreading.
Because of the mentioned negative points, I would rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. It should be appealing to those who want a detective novel where the protagonist can make use of modern scientific knowledge. The copy is void of profanities and erotic details, so it's suitable for both adults and teenagers.
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The Complicated Trane
View: on Bookshelves
The Complicated Trane by Charlie Girard starts when an English man comes to Jack Trane, a middle-aged private investigator. This person claims to be the representative of an insurance company, and he has an urgent favor to ask of Jack. The Henry Graves Supercomplication, his anonymous client's precious timepiece, has been stolen. If the insurance company can't return it, they will have to pay 20 million dollars to compensate for the loss. The item itself is a piece of art, and as a watch lover, the deal fascinates Jack. Will this case be interesting enough for him? If not, how about the $200,000 fee for whoever can find the object? Not to mention, the watch is worth 24 million bucks, meaning who has it can have a luxurious life for decades. Can Jack resist the temptation and give the timepiece back to its rightful owner?
Unlike other detective novels, this book doesn't mention the protagonist's love life. In fact, even though Jack loves to flirt with women, he is not in a romantic relationship with anyone. The entire plot is about the case. Still, that doesn't mean there are only males in this story. While she is not among the main cast, Trudy is my favorite female character. As Jack's secretary, she helps him investigate and extract many useful pieces of information. She gives him the tools he requires. She even saves her boss several times, especially when he is in a pinch. In addition, I like the detective's generosity towards the working class. Though Jack doesn't earn a lot of money, he always makes sure to lavishly tip the servers, the street vendors, and the taxi drivers.
Interestingly, some modern techniques are employed in the story, such as 3D printing, radar detectors, or tracking apps and devices. In my opinion, this is how investigations should be conducted when we are living in the robotic era.
On the downside, I feel that the author is trying a bit too hard to describe every movement of the characters, making the narrative long-winded. There are also several repeated details, like how Jack chooses his daily attires, the way he dresses, or the way he moves his car around. Personally, I find these scenes unnecessary, as the plot becomes more tedious with them. Besides, the copy I received has so many grammar errors that I would strongly suggest another round of proofreading.
Because of the mentioned negative points, I would rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. It should be appealing to those who want a detective novel where the protagonist can make use of modern scientific knowledge. The copy is void of profanities and erotic details, so it's suitable for both adults and teenagers.
******
The Complicated Trane
View: on Bookshelves