Some cases test a private investigatorno matter what the personal cost.Salvation Boulevard is a page-turning thriller in the tradition of John Gris...
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Nov 05, 2008
Heather
rated it: 
i wanted to like this book a lot. religion? murder? mystery? disenfranchisement? by the guy who wrote Wag the Dog? sign me up!
i was bored the first 3rd of the book. i kept going, hoping things would improve. and they did, but not by a lot. there was no real mystery, and the plot was generally very obvious.
my biggest complaint, though, was the religious aspect. sure, it slams evangelicalism/blind faith (and to those readers who expected otherwise, i'd think you would know More...
i was bored the first 3rd of the book. i kept going, hoping things would improve. and they did, but not by a lot. there was no real mystery, and the plot was generally very obvious.
my biggest complaint, though, was the religious aspect. sure, it slams evangelicalism/blind faith (and to those readers who expected otherwise, i'd think you would know More...
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Jul 19, 2010
Kathy
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I was drawn to this book because I was an extra in the movie version filmed this summer in Michigan (stars Pierce Brosnan, Greg Kinnear, Ed Harris, Jennifer Connelly, Marisa Tomei). The movie is billed as a comedy/thriller but after reading this book I'm guessing that the screenplay takes definite liberties with the plot as there was nothing really comedic in the book. Even more confusing for me, the scenes I filmed do not appear anywhere in the book! Still, it does have the thriller/mystery asp
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Jun 15, 2009
Dennis
rated it:
The plot is pure Elmer Gantry--power corrupts, and power backed by religion corrupts absolutely--but what drew me in and wouldn't let me go were the moral dilemmas of the main character. Christianity saved his life. How can he accept that it leaves others no better and no worse than they were before, and justifies the perversions of still others? He loves his wife. How can he force her to face truths that may destroy her faith and alienate her from their community? The best man he knows is
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Oct 06, 2008
OST NEW BOOKS 1ST FLOOR FIC BEINHART L
(I'll delete the following when I actually read the book. It's just here for reference right now.)
BuzzFlash.com's Review (excerpt)
Publisher's Weekly gave "Salvation Boulevard" a starred review: Best known for American Hero (1994), the jaunty political novel that became the film Wag the Dog, Beinhart offers something less jaunty but definitely more ambitious in this splendid religious legal thriller. When Ahmad Naz More...
(I'll delete the following when I actually read the book. It's just here for reference right now.)
BuzzFlash.com's Review (excerpt)
Publisher's Weekly gave "Salvation Boulevard" a starred review: Best known for American Hero (1994), the jaunty political novel that became the film Wag the Dog, Beinhart offers something less jaunty but definitely more ambitious in this splendid religious legal thriller. When Ahmad Naz More...
Dec 22, 2008
Lisa
rated it:
This is the first mystery genre novel I have read, and I now find myself hooked (at least if this book is characteristic of the form). Larry Beinhart not only weaves a great tale but very adroitly addresses some pretty serious cultural issues, such as politics and religion, without becoming pedantic, preachy, or boring. Highly recommended.
Apr 09, 2009
Karyl
rated it:
The question of absolute power and corruption can be delved into in all walks of life and positions of authority. This novel contemplates how people travel through their spiritual landscapes in search of direction and purpose, and how sometimes placing that trust outside oneself can be hazardous, if only for the intermediary's interference.
Jul 13, 2011
Frederic
rated it:
Cartoon characters discussing theodicy...a genre excercise which does for the Private Detective what Hitchens/Dawkins do in non-fiction,which is to set-up religious Straw Men to demonstrate the superiority of the Atheist position...a good argument could be made but this isn't it...
Feb 17, 2010
Andrew
rated it: 
Lousy, obvious 'mystery' and prejudiced religious portrayal.
Least credible of all is the shocking 'philosophy' that puts the plot in motion. Please. It convinces me that the author thinks his readers are simpletons.
Least credible of all is the shocking 'philosophy' that puts the plot in motion. Please. It convinces me that the author thinks his readers are simpletons.
Nov 04, 2008
Chris
rated it: 
An atheist professor murdered, an Muslim student framed for the crime, a born-again christian detective trying to get to the truth which implicates members of his own mega-church.
This is the basic idea behind this religious murder mystery that is really a cover for a liberal secular attack on conservative religious sanctimony and hypocrisy. I enjoyed this book but if you are a born-again christian or offended by negative stereotyping of believers you may be offended by the broad brush Beinh More...
This is the basic idea behind this religious murder mystery that is really a cover for a liberal secular attack on conservative religious sanctimony and hypocrisy. I enjoyed this book but if you are a born-again christian or offended by negative stereotyping of believers you may be offended by the broad brush Beinh More...
Nov 03, 2008
Topher
rated it:
An atheist professor murdered, an Muslim student framed for the crime, a born-again christian detective trying to get to the truth which implicates members of his own mega-church.
This is the basic idea behind this religious murder mystery that is really a cover for a liberal secular attack on conservative religious sanctimony and hypocrisy. I enjoyed this book but if you are a born-again christian or offended by negative stereotyping of believers you may be offended by the broad brush B More...
This is the basic idea behind this religious murder mystery that is really a cover for a liberal secular attack on conservative religious sanctimony and hypocrisy. I enjoyed this book but if you are a born-again christian or offended by negative stereotyping of believers you may be offended by the broad brush B More...
Dec 09, 2008
Chad
rated it:
I enjoyed the book but because of the hype this it just couldn't live up to my expectations (like most fiction for me.
Aug 04, 2011
Brian
rated it:
I liked Salvation Blvd. well enough, but really expected more from it. The social commentary was often ham-handed and the mystery was a bit too obvious. It moved at a good enough pace and ended well, but the pot-shots at Evangelicals lacked subtlety and the main character's move from faith to doubt felt forced.
Aug 31, 2010
Paul
rated it:
heard an author interview and thought I'd like it...didn't really (read prior to date indicated)
May 07, 2010
Steve
rated it:
This is a good novel which addresses religious topics in a detective novel framework. A detective who happens to be a Born Again Christian is hired by the Jewish detective who is defending Muslim student who appears to have murdered a controversial professor. Questions of ethics and faith, and shadows from the detective's own troubled past plague the detective as he works to understand what really happened. The author is such a fine writer: I wish he would publish more often. This book i s thoug
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May 18, 2011
Deb
rated it:
The author of "Wag the Dog" -this one involves a mega-church, terrorism, and a murder. Kept my interest but would be hard to recommend.
Oct 15, 2008
Carole
rated it:
An interesting book. An atheist religious philosophy professor is supposedly murdered by a Muslim who is defended by a Jew with a born again investigator. There are some pretty interesting points being made. Some had me wondering how to answer the question. In the afterword there is mentioned a website to continue the discussion.
Oct 28, 2008
Jack
rated it:
This book was a compassionate tale of the interaction of religious and non religious people set in a dark detective story. Too real for comfort and edgy in the best way. I need to read more of this guy's work.
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