Official Review: Acts of Violence by Ross Harrison

[bluemel4]

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Acts of Violence" by Ross Harrison.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Acts of Violence by Ross Harrison is a novel about Jack Mason, a fake private detective who is set up for a grisly murder. After angering the mob bosses son, crooked cops arrest Mason and question him. There is too much evidence for him to walk away without being sent to prison. When a higher authority sets him free he has 24 hours to prove his innocence. Set in an unspecified future with science fiction elements, the novel is a nonstop thrill ride that ends with a surprising turn.

Jack Mason is a man of contradictions. He thinks about how much he hates violence as he is breaking someone’s nose. He acknowledges a bad idea, but carries through with it anyway. Instead of coming across as a hypocrite or annoying character, Jack Mason is funny, clever, charming and self-deprecating. Mason is also very self-aware. He thinks fast on his feet, but also discards ideas as fast as he thinks them up. He assesses a situation, and finds the best solution, leaving the impression you are in capable hands.

What makes this such an excellent novel is Harrison’s complex character development, layering of misdirection, and his attention to detail. The story is well told and unfolds so naturally that the twists keep coming but are not farfetched. Details are revealed slowly and within context, adding to the suspense and depth of each piece of information.

The world Harrison has built is told through experiencing it. The seedy little planet of Harem, controlled by a mob boss named Cole Webster, is at the “edge of human territory.” There is no diversity there, only white people that originally came from America. It is nearly always raining and is unable to grow food. Haram is also technologically behind the rest of human society.

Harrison is very conscious of every word choice and it is delivered for full effect. For example, the city is aptly named Harem, meaning “something forbidden or kept safe” (dictionary.com). A great name for a town owned by one man who is known for nefarious activities and a place to find things that are forbidden elsewhere.

The humor in the book is sometimes laugh out loud funny or at least gets a smile. From a chapter with the name “Rather a Horse’s Head” to moments where the character thinks to himself “My arms decided not to help me out,” the laughs keep on coming. They serve as the ultimate misdirection. I was so preoccupied laughing and enjoying the character interactions that I was not paying close enough attention to the double-talk. By the end of the novel, everything takes on a new meaning.

The book feels extremely real and authentic. Nothing done is out of place or character. All the senses are treated from the sound of the rain, feel of wet clothing, sight of mud, taste of the synthetic coffee, and smell of human waste. I was immersed in the world of Jack Mason and I was invested. I could not put this book down.

The only negative comment I have is some fight scenes went on a bit long.

There were a few awkwardly worded sentences, but they were not distracting to the story. Ross Harrison is from the UK and uses the British spelling of words. It is initially confusing if you are used to American authors. Acts of Violence is his fifth novel.

I give this book a 4 out of 4 star rating. The humor serves a dual purpose of distraction and entertainment. The characters are all flawed, interesting and well thought out. The location is imaginative and rich with detail. The novel is fast paced and fun to read. The ending is impeccably done and leaves you astounded. If you enjoyed Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, this is a book for you. Also if you enjoy thrillers that are a bit gritty, hero’s that are not moral, or a hard to solve mystery this is your book.

Warning to sensitive readers, there are graphic details about a dead body, swear words, and violence.

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Acts of Violence
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Like bluemel4's review? Post a comment saying so!

[RossHarrison]

Thank you for the well-written review

[bluemel4]

Thank you Ross Harrison for writing an awesome book!

[gali]

Sounds good. Thank you for the lovely review.

[bluemel4]

Thank you gali!

[bookowlie]

Great review! I like mysteries with a bit of humor. You make the book sound so interesting. Another one to add to my reading list.

[Stevefromtheblock]

The detective/mystery aspect sounds interesting, but I'm not a big science fiction fan. Is is more of one than the other?

[bluemel4]

@stevefromtheblock The mystery/thriller part of the novel was much larger than the sprinkling of science fiction.

[Stevefromtheblock]

Okay, thanks!

[Deee]

Great review! I'm sold.

[bluemel4]

Thanks Deee! Glad you are going to read it.

[Gravy]

This sounds very interesting. Almost like Simon R. Green, or John Meaney, but more realistic
The humor sounds like it's right up my ally, as well, and I enjoy mystery at times.
I'll have to keep this in mind...thank you!

[bluemel4]

You are very welcome @Graverobber. It was a great read.

[Cee-Jay Aurinko]

Sounds like a book made up of all the qualities that make up a good book. I love mysteries. My favorite animals are cats, for crying out loud! Anywoo, your review is thorough, well-structured, and I enjoyed reading it. Jack Mason; when I think of this name, I think of a guy with really big arms, like Robert De Niro in his prime, mixed up with a guy like John Cena from WWE. Characters that are flawed are among my favorite to read about (Batman over Superman). No one is perfect, which makes antiheroes so memorable when you read about them.

[bluemel4]

Thank you @Leon Durham! I actually pictured Marv from the Sin City movie. The book was a fun ride.