Matthew Worth is a mess. Somewhere between a good cop and a bad screwup, he botched a marriage and a career. His fellow officers think he’s a...
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Dec 13, 2010
Josh
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Oct 14, 2011
Toni
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This novel from a fellow Nebraskan is entertaining, and full of some surprisingly likable characters, set in the freezing cold of a holiday blizzard I could almost visualize. In some ways, it’s reminiscent of Evan Hunter’s Every Little Crook and Nanny, where the majority of the cast of characters are neither totally good or bad, even when they have the most nefarious deed in mind. The hero doubts his own self-worth, the officer who stole John’s wife turns out to be more than expected, John’s
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Jul 10, 2010
Julie
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Aw, I wish I could give this book more stars! I am not a HUGE fan of this genre, but I wanted to read something of Doolittle's because we live in the same area. Yes, it was fun reading about places I knew, but the improbability of the story and the characters meant I nearly gave up on the whole story several times! I know that the main character is a doesn't-have-the-heart-for-it cop, but still - the actions he takes given the circumstances he's in just did not feel believable to me. The author
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Aug 11, 2010
Johnny
rated it:
It's a little unfair to have read this right after finishing an Elmore Leonard novel (52 PICK-UP). The influence is apparent, but ultimately the book holds up on its own and is a solid, fast-paced read.
While some of the characters' motivations could have been handled a little more fluidly (sometimes characters make choices for the sake of the story that feel a little forced), the strength, like Leonard, is in the pacing.
This book hits the ground running and never lets More...
While some of the characters' motivations could have been handled a little more fluidly (sometimes characters make choices for the sake of the story that feel a little forced), the strength, like Leonard, is in the pacing.
This book hits the ground running and never lets More...
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Oct 22, 2008
Tom
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Here's my review system--I score on four categories and average them together for the number of stars. The four categories are: character development (are the characters deep and complex, plot (is it interesting), voice (is the narration smooth and e...more Here's my review system--I score on four categories and average them together for the number of stars. The four categories are: character development (are the characters deep and complex, plot (is it interesting), voice (is the narration smoo
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May 14, 2011
Cover to Cover Books
rated it:
I don't usually read thrillers expecting fine craft from the author, but Sean Doolittle has a lot to teach about good lean description that feels new, and at the same time, apt and appropriate. More points to Doolittle for craft than plot, but this was a book I kept reading steadily, without breaks for other books in the meantime.
Dec 22, 2011
John
rated it:
Entertaining, not a standout but well constructed and with enough twists and turns to keep you interested as well as characters that you did actually care about so worth my while reading more from this author.
Jul 28, 2009
Camille
rated it:
Whenever I want a good story with many twists and threads, I go to someone like Sean Doolittle. He doesn't tackle major themes, or try to be pretentious with language, but he keeps me turning pages.
Mar 24, 2009
Martha
rated it:
If I was an actual journalist, I'd probably say something like "a little gem," but since I'm not I'll just say that it's good.
Doolittle has an unusual ability to create an uncontrived dark tone infused with a bit of humor, and his plotting is unrelenting. The Cleanup resembles nothing more than a classic 50s noir in which a regular guy makes one bad decision and finds his life absolutely collapsing around him, and it hurtles toward its conclusion without Doolittle losing c More...
Doolittle has an unusual ability to create an uncontrived dark tone infused with a bit of humor, and his plotting is unrelenting. The Cleanup resembles nothing more than a classic 50s noir in which a regular guy makes one bad decision and finds his life absolutely collapsing around him, and it hurtles toward its conclusion without Doolittle losing c More...
Dec 17, 2009
Tim
rated it:
The Cleanup is an interesting tale about what happens when good intentions go awry and spin out of control. Policeman Matt Worth works the security detail in a local supermarket after being demoted for striking a superior officer. When he develops a crush on the checkout girl only to find out she's in an abusive relationship with a smalltime hood, things go from bad to worse. The book switches perspective from the cops to the crooks and back with aplomb, making the narrative hard to follow at ti
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Sep 14, 2011
Tory
rated it:
Pretty good mystery. I had a hard time keeping track of the action -- sign of age??
Nov 02, 2010
Rory
rated it: 
I was super excited to read this book after reading the blurb on the back. But...What a Letdown! The story could have been good if the characters had been more defined. I had a hard time keeping them straight just because they weren't really developed. This is one of the rare times when I think it would have been better to have seen the movie (not that there is one) instead of reading the book.
Nov 28, 2011
Tim
rated it:
I found the first half of the book to be slow and for lack of better terms, uninteresting. At times, the author tried to be too sparse with description and detail and the story suffered for it. I saw myself giving this one only 2 or 3 stars. But then, it seemed to find its groove and the second half was fast paced and intriguing.
Jul 20, 2009
Ben
rated it:
I liked the premise of this book a lot but there was no follow through. The book should have been from the sole perspective of the main character Matthew Worth, but the author jumped around to multiple viewpoints of other minor characters. Overall, the book is worth reading but definitely not the best in the noir genre.
Jan 04, 2008
Erik
rated it:
Taut and gritty, with few frivolous words. This is a great introduction to this writer whose other books are now on my must read list. A taste of modern noir at it's finest.
Dec 17, 2009
Laura
rated it:
This writer is from Omaha, so I read the book. It's good if you like an action filled who done it.
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