Synopsis/blurb......
Leah
Flood is on the run. The cops are after her and she has to keep one step ahead.
The irony is that Leah is a cop too. But she’s a cop who made a mistake. Leah
knows she’s in the right, but that doesn’t seem to matter to the guys who are
chasing her. Then somewhere along a lonely road in the middle of nowhere, Leah
meets Tess, who is also on the run. Soon the two young women are being tracked
by a ruthless killer.
But who is the intended target?
And why?
An edgy thriller that goes on the road, into the unexpected, from bestselling author Garry Disher.
But who is the intended target?
And why?
An edgy thriller that goes on the road, into the unexpected, from bestselling author Garry Disher.
'Disher is brilliant.' Sydney Morning Herald
Two-Way
Cut was an e-book I acquired over the Christmas period. It was quite
short at about 95 pages long, which was the main reason for reading it now;
giving my 2014 Australian Reading Challenge a bit of a kick-start.
We have a
cop on the run, pursued we believe by other cops who are somewhat displeased
with her. As Leah, our fugitive gets out of town, she encounters Tess and her
boyfriend. Coincidentally, Tess and her partner are also fleeing from something
and someone.
After a bit
of a romp around the countryside, with car-crashes, death, hit-men, a PI and a
spot of Bed and Breakfast, we head back to town for the climax – a little bit wiser
and having a better understanding of the why’s and wherefore’s, though still with
time for a further twist.
The manhunt
was interesting as it was initially unclear as to who was after who and why. One
of the downsides to pieces this long is the feeling that things are a little
bit rushed; perhaps with a longer treatment Disher could have managed to
prolong the suspense and build the tension.
Probably
not his best work, but I’ve read an awful lot worse in my time. I was keen to
find out what happened and with a fairly sympathetic main character in Leah and
a less likeable secondary in Tess it was an enjoyable way to
spend a couple of
hours.
Hopefully I
will get to read Disher again this year, with a slightly more satisfying result
– either a Wyatt or a Challis series read. Challis has the edge at the minute,
because I’ve not yet started this series and I ought to read more “cop” books.
Hard to
wholeheartedly recommend as in my opinion this was quite a pricey read,
considering its overall length, but on reflection enjoyable enough.
Score 1 for my Australia/New Zealand reading challenge.
Overall
verdict - 3 from 5.
Bought
recently on Amazon UK for kindle.
Col, less than 100 pages is an incentive to read almost any kind of book and I think it works well in this case. I don't know if stretching the storyline would have heightened the suspense, especially given the plot of this novel.
ReplyDeleteHmm....maybe you're right. Perhaps if he writes a second book with the same character as a lead - I'll get over it!
DeleteCol - Glad you thought Disher's work worth more reading. I think he's extremely talented. I'm impressed too that you're getting your Australian Challenge reading going. I'll be interested in the other Aussie books you choose.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely more from Disher, and some from Whish-Wilson, McGeachin and Temple for starters!
DeleteInteresting review, but it's probably not going to make it onto my list. Startle me with something 5 -star!
ReplyDeleteOk - no problem.
DeleteMy next one was a 4, the one after a 5!
Have heard great things about Disher. I don't think I'll be starting with this one. I own a couple of his books already. Not sure if he works for me as I've tried him before but am willing to give him another shot.
ReplyDeleteNo problem , Keishon - I hope you have better luck next time with him.
DeleteI know I whinge about long books but I must admit ultra short is not really my thing either.
ReplyDeleteNot sure how you'll go with Challis and Destry...Wyatt is definitely more your type of storyline I think - and why ought you read more cop books? life is short, read what you like.
I suppose in truth a bit longer would have probably been more enjoyable.
DeleteI'm fairly open-minded re Challis/Destry, and Wyatt is what I have read from him previously. In the past I have read (and enjoyed) a fair few cop series - Connelly's Bosch, James Lee Burke's Robicheaux. I think the past couple of years I have put them aside and read more PI stuff. I don't think my tastes have totally evolved away from "cop" books, I have just given myself a breather from them.
Agreed though on reading for enjoyment - hopefully life isn't too short!
Interesting, I did realize he had written so much besides the two series. I have read one of the Challis/Destry series and plan to continue it, and would like to try the Wyatt series too, someday.
ReplyDeleteI hope to read more of him in 2014, but I'm finding more books to read than there's actually time for. I don't think that problem is in any way exclusive to me
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