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19th out of 66 books
—
19 voters
Cripple Creek (Turner #2)
by
James Sallis
When James Sallis introduced his complex and compelling protagonist, Turner, two years ago in Cypress Grove, many voiced the hope he would soon return. As Cripple Creek unfolds, a year has passed since Turner reluctantly helped to solve a baffling murder in the small town he now calls home, somewhere between Memphis and forever. He is still deputy sheriff, his relationship...more
Paperback, 208 pages
Published
April 17th 2007
by Walker & Company
(first published 2006)
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Second in the Turner trilogy.
Lonnie Bates is still in recovery, Don Lee is acting sheriff and Turner is officially deputy sheriff now. When Lee makes what seems to be a run of the mill traffic stop but finds a huge amount of money stashed in the car, problems arise almost immediately. During the night, the suspect is broken out of the town jail, leaving Don Lee unconscious and June, the secretary, out cold on the floor of the office. The situation deteriorates from there, as Turner visits his ol...more
Lonnie Bates is still in recovery, Don Lee is acting sheriff and Turner is officially deputy sheriff now. When Lee makes what seems to be a run of the mill traffic stop but finds a huge amount of money stashed in the car, problems arise almost immediately. During the night, the suspect is broken out of the town jail, leaving Don Lee unconscious and June, the secretary, out cold on the floor of the office. The situation deteriorates from there, as Turner visits his ol...more
This book is recommended by an association supporting southern American authors. I can see why, because the writing is lyrical and it waxes romantic on the pleasures of the south (food, music, landscape, idiosyncratic people, etc.). OK, nice, let's support the culture. I do think that's a good cause. However, it's slotted in the "mystery/thriller" genre, which isn't fair to the author, because really, it was a crappy mystery. Little or no edge-of-your-seat stuff, and lots of charming characters....more
3.8 stars. As usual, Sallis' writing is wonderful, and like Cypress Grove (CG), this is more about who Turner is than the detective challenges to be met. There are several, and they largely end up tying together. Turner is a complex and fascinating character with a history of police work, therapist work, jail time, and other life adventures. The story is primarily character-driven, with Turner's first-person perspectives taking the forefront, but more involvement with the others in his life than...more
In CRIPPLE CREEK, James Sallis' protagonist John Turner has become somewhat entrenched in the small Southern community he came to know in the previous Turner novel, CYPRESS GROVE. Turner, an ex-cop, ex-con and lapsed therapist, who helped the local sheriff solve a crime in the first book, is now a deputy with all that position's attendant status and responsibilities. Turner's also acquired a family (if only a de facto one, at first) in this sequel, including his girlfriend, attorney Val Bjorn, h...more
"Violence is a lonesome thing, it gets inside you and sits in there calling out for more."
There was a point about halfway through Cripple Creek that I was becoming unsure that this novel would match up to the opening of Sallis' Turner trilogy, Cypress Grove. It was the language he had coming out of Turner's mouth. Some of it seemed to come from a different character than we'd seen at any poiny during CG. Part of me thought that perhaps Sallis had just lost his instincts for a moment or two and h...more
There was a point about halfway through Cripple Creek that I was becoming unsure that this novel would match up to the opening of Sallis' Turner trilogy, Cypress Grove. It was the language he had coming out of Turner's mouth. Some of it seemed to come from a different character than we'd seen at any poiny during CG. Part of me thought that perhaps Sallis had just lost his instincts for a moment or two and h...more
Oy, James Sallis. What happened?
I read the first book in Sallis' Turner series, Cypress Grove, and found it, by and large, to be a perfectly fine start to what I think of as "testosterone cozies": you know, those male mystery series where a paragon of male competence incisively cooks, screws, questions, and punches his way through a dramatic murder or series of murders showing that life is brutal even while it is lovely, and unfair even while it is worthwhile, and savage even while it can be sav...more
I read the first book in Sallis' Turner series, Cypress Grove, and found it, by and large, to be a perfectly fine start to what I think of as "testosterone cozies": you know, those male mystery series where a paragon of male competence incisively cooks, screws, questions, and punches his way through a dramatic murder or series of murders showing that life is brutal even while it is lovely, and unfair even while it is worthwhile, and savage even while it can be sav...more
I think this author writes some beautiful prose, certainly about nature--birds, storms, etc. and provocative, not in an erotic way but a thought-provoking way, of getting into people's psyches. I will be looking into other works of this author, particularly his poetry.
Even though this is a series and the second in this trilogy, I was miffed that there was no closure in the ending of this book. I would have read the third one anyway. Also would have liked more of a connection with the title, Crip...more
Even though this is a series and the second in this trilogy, I was miffed that there was no closure in the ending of this book. I would have read the third one anyway. Also would have liked more of a connection with the title, Crip...more
My man Turner is part Spenser/part Scudder/part Robicheaux, and all-human. Sallis' character is at once an innocent and a cynic, trying with all his might to reconcile his place in the order of things. Saddened and bent by a checkered past,redeemed (oh so slowly) by rebirth in his brave new world, Turner is an everyman intent on re-forming (not reforming)his present.
Sallis is an author of language, and his words are as carefully chosen as lithe lines of poetry. Do yourself a favor and come on do...more
Sallis is an author of language, and his words are as carefully chosen as lithe lines of poetry. Do yourself a favor and come on do...more
Stunning. Because Sallis moonlights as a poet, I was concerned this might be overly leaden or ponderous. Instead, his experience informs his word choice with a real understanding of the importance of word choice - - like, how much weight and power a certain turn of phrase will have. As a result, this is minimalist elegance. Southern gothis, but not gimmicky or cartoonish. I'm dying to read more of Sallis's work now, and his John Turner character is relentlessly fascinating.
I adored this book. The 'detectives' are children. Their innocence and the time in which they live is charming. The writing is superb and the small town landscape Sallis creates is touching. I love that the location is set around a small town open air film theatre run by the main protagonists parents and that his 'confidant' and 'guide' is an old man. The whole book is a painting waiting to happen.
I'd heard of James Sallis many times over the years--always positive reviews. I'm not sure. I think the book was hurt, frankly, by ridiculously poor interior design, among other things. It's trade paperback, very short, and with huge type reminiscent of YA novels. I love the South, and all of the character(s) intrinsic to the area, but though Sallis certainly references the atmosphere, the blues, the food, the hometown feel, it's just not quite...there. And the disjointed memory sequences, the v...more
I just recently discovered James Sallis. This is the second book of his that I've read. It's a sequel to Cypress Grove. (I recommend that you read it first to get more out of Cripple Creek.) They're both quick reads, which only leaves me thirsting for more. I'm now going to try his Lew Griffin series.
I always heard a lot about James Sallis. You do if you follow crime/noir fiction, but I didn't like the first one I read. When I found this Turner trilogy of books I realized why people love him.
felt that james sallis couldn't make up his mind which kind of book he was writing. climaqx in the middle and the favourite character getting killed with 2 pages to go.
I am very much enjoying this series. Stories more of the characters than the mystery. Well done - almost a James Lee Burke lite.
It was good - but not as good as "Driver", so I might have a rest from Mr Sallis for a while.
Excellent story. I just wish I'd read the first in the series, Cypress Grove, before this one.
Well-written, but sometimes the action can be so understated that you miss something important.
James Sallis, making existential country noir a rewarding but half-wincing pleasure.
Good sense of place & characters. Intriguing mystery
Tight, small and eventful. Sallis is a stylist with heart.
Interesting character development and twists
Cripple Creek is the middle novel of a trilogy of lyrical crime novels by James Sallis; the first is Cypress Grove and the third is Salt River. His prose is beautiful and his characters wonderful. The world of these novels is one of unremitting violence. Good people get hurt or killed all the time, although those same people are able to find one another and some comfort in music and one another. Read all three but space them out a bit and read something optimistic after each Sallis novel.
Jul 09, 2012
Liz
is currently reading it
(Kindle)
Solid story & great characters, but it seriously needed some copy-editing. How annoying!
I read this earlier this year, and now I'm reading it again because the next book in the series is due out right after Christmas. Sallis, who's previous Lew Griffin series was brilliant, really captures the feel of rural Tenn/Arkansas and also understands the humanity, both the good and the bad. I have read some of his poetry and essays as well, and I think the man is brilliant!
Second in a trilogy of short but beautifully written dark and violent suspense novels. Just my cup of tea! First is
Cypress Grove
and third is
Salt River
. Turner is an ex-cop and an ex-con living in rural Tennesse. PW and Booklist both gave this starred reviews.
I'm really liking this author. This is the 2nd book in the series and it was even better than the first. James Sallis is so eloquent. His characters seek simpler lives yet have such compelling tales to tell. Looking forward to reading Salt River.
2nd in the Turner mystery series.
Jun 16, 2013
J Sinex
marked it as to-read
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James Sallis (born 21 December 1944 in Helena, Arkansas) is an American crime writer, poet and musician, best known for his series of novels featuring the character Lew Griffin and set in New Orleans.
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