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Harper and Hidalgo
The Best Bad Dream
F.B.I. Agents Jack Harper and Oscar Hidalgo are burned out from too many cases so they schedule a two week vacation. Jack plans to hang out with his son, followed by some fishing in Baja. Then Jack gets a phone call from his snitch and on-again-off-again girlfriend, the sexy and unpredictable car thief, Michelle Wu. Michelle's sister has been kidnapped. Terrified that she will be killed, Michelle begs Jack to come to Santa Fe at once.
Jack owes Michelle big time--she once saved his life. Michelle is pretty sure a biker named Lucky Avila had something to do with Jennifer’s disappearance. She also admits she did business with Lucky, who might be angry at her. Jack goes out to see Lucky, hoping for a simple end to the case. He should have known better. Anything in which Michelle Wu is involved is bound to be complex, dark, and wild. Soon Jack is up to his neck with bikers, Mexican gangs, and a giant pet wild Razorback hog named Ole Big, who may offer a major clue to finding the missing girl.
The Best Bad Dream is fast paced, tough, funny, hip, and filled with unexpected twists and turns.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published December 20, 2011
14 people want to read
About the author
Robert Ward
32 books19 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Robert Ward was born in Baltimore, Maryland. When he was 15 years old he went to live with his paternal grandmother, Grace, a local social activist. He did his undergraduate work at Towson State University before earning his MFA in writing at the University of Arkansas.
While living in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco he began working on his first novel, Shedding Skin, before moving back to Baltimore for its completion. He taught English at Miami University in Hamilton, Ohio for two years, then moved to Geneva, New York, where he taught at Hobart and William Smith College.
In 1974, he started his career as a journalist, writing for magazines such as New Times and Sport. He moved to New York in 1976 and continued writing "New Journalism" for eight years. During this period, he wrote his novel Cattle Annie and Little Britches as well as the screenplay for the feature film based on the book. After the publication of his fourth novel, Red Baker, in 1985 he was approached by David Milch and offered a job to write for Hill Street Blues.
After Hill Street concluded, Ward become the co-Executive Producer of Miami Vice, and spent five years writing scripts and producing TV movies at Universal Studios. He continues to write and produce television shows and movies as well publish novels.
Robert Ward was born in Baltimore, Maryland. When he was 15 years old he went to live with his paternal grandmother, Grace, a local social activist. He did his undergraduate work at Towson State University before earning his MFA in writing at the University of Arkansas.
While living in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco he began working on his first novel, Shedding Skin, before moving back to Baltimore for its completion. He taught English at Miami University in Hamilton, Ohio for two years, then moved to Geneva, New York, where he taught at Hobart and William Smith College.
In 1974, he started his career as a journalist, writing for magazines such as New Times and Sport. He moved to New York in 1976 and continued writing "New Journalism" for eight years. During this period, he wrote his novel Cattle Annie and Little Britches as well as the screenplay for the feature film based on the book. After the publication of his fourth novel, Red Baker, in 1985 he was approached by David Milch and offered a job to write for Hill Street Blues.
After Hill Street concluded, Ward become the co-Executive Producer of Miami Vice, and spent five years writing scripts and producing TV movies at Universal Studios. He continues to write and produce television shows and movies as well publish novels.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 2, 2012
When Michelle Wu's sister goes missing in Sante Fe, she can't inform the police because she is rarely on the right side of the law herself, so she begs FBI Agent Jack Harper to interrupt his vacation and find her. Leaving his teenage son in the care of his father, Jack heads to the desert only to become the target of a meth dealing biker gang, a vicious Razorback and new age seniors who claim to have found the fountain of youth.
As far as I can tell, The Best Bad Dream is the first book by Robert Ward to introduce FBI Agents Jack Harper and Oscar Hidalgo though it feels a little like this could be the second or third book of a series. I'm not sure how to articulate why I feel that way except that previous events are referenced in the manner that often occurs when authors link books that are written as part of a series. I have no idea if Ward plans to create a series from the protagonists of The Best Bad Dream but there is certainly the scope to do so.
Widowed agent, Jack Harper is a strong protagonist with a complicated personal life, which includes his attraction to career criminal Michelle Wu, and despite his job in law enforcement, isn't averse to bending a rule a two. He owes Michelle his life so he feels he has to answer her distress call but he also recognises that his feelings for her compromises his actions. As it turns out, Michelle is never entirely truthful with Jack leading him into a mess of her own making. First there is the bikie gang leader she tries to rip off and then she can't resist an attempt at a big score despite the obvious dangers to not only herself but her sister and Jack. As the case gets more complicated, Jack calls in his partner Oscar for back up who sees Michelle more clearly but is unable to convince his partner that the girl is bad news.
I enjoyed the mystery as Jack searched for those responsible for abducting Jennifer. There are rival bikers to contend with, both of whom are dabbling in some nasty stuff like the sex slave trade and drugs. Yet it's the New Age retreat, Jennifer's employer, that is making claims of reversing the aging process that becomes a shadowy suspect suspect. I was intrigued right up until the moment that the plot was given a sort of science fiction twist I was a little disappointed in. I don't want to give too much away but I thought the book didn't need to go that far. I felt the same about the sub plot involving Jack's son and the local librarian, the conclusion was just a little too extreme.
Despite being somewhat disappointed by the final twists, I did enjoy The Best Bad Dream. The combination of action, suspense and humour was entertaining, the characters were well rounded and the writing strong. Should Ward decide to write another book featuring Agent Jack Harper I would look forward to reading it.
As far as I can tell, The Best Bad Dream is the first book by Robert Ward to introduce FBI Agents Jack Harper and Oscar Hidalgo though it feels a little like this could be the second or third book of a series. I'm not sure how to articulate why I feel that way except that previous events are referenced in the manner that often occurs when authors link books that are written as part of a series. I have no idea if Ward plans to create a series from the protagonists of The Best Bad Dream but there is certainly the scope to do so.
Widowed agent, Jack Harper is a strong protagonist with a complicated personal life, which includes his attraction to career criminal Michelle Wu, and despite his job in law enforcement, isn't averse to bending a rule a two. He owes Michelle his life so he feels he has to answer her distress call but he also recognises that his feelings for her compromises his actions. As it turns out, Michelle is never entirely truthful with Jack leading him into a mess of her own making. First there is the bikie gang leader she tries to rip off and then she can't resist an attempt at a big score despite the obvious dangers to not only herself but her sister and Jack. As the case gets more complicated, Jack calls in his partner Oscar for back up who sees Michelle more clearly but is unable to convince his partner that the girl is bad news.
I enjoyed the mystery as Jack searched for those responsible for abducting Jennifer. There are rival bikers to contend with, both of whom are dabbling in some nasty stuff like the sex slave trade and drugs. Yet it's the New Age retreat, Jennifer's employer, that is making claims of reversing the aging process that becomes a shadowy suspect suspect. I was intrigued right up until the moment that the plot was given a sort of science fiction twist I was a little disappointed in. I don't want to give too much away but I thought the book didn't need to go that far. I felt the same about the sub plot involving Jack's son and the local librarian, the conclusion was just a little too extreme.
Despite being somewhat disappointed by the final twists, I did enjoy The Best Bad Dream. The combination of action, suspense and humour was entertaining, the characters were well rounded and the writing strong. Should Ward decide to write another book featuring Agent Jack Harper I would look forward to reading it.
December 26, 2011
The Best Bad Dream by Robert Ward
5 STARS
It was a little different the villians of the story. I guessed some right and a whole lot wrong. It kept me guessing and surprised me at the end.
Their were a lot of characters that I did not admire and a few I did, but they where all were different.
Michelle and Jennifer were out riding bikes to Taos Publeo. Jennifer was mad at her sister so she wanted to think and be alone for 20 minutes and would meet her sister at Keva. Michelle went into one of the rooms and smoked a joint and fell asleep so she was late to meet Jennifer. Jennifer had disappeared but the bike was still there.
Michelle did not want to call the cops because she was a criminal and had a relationship with Jack from FBI. So called him. Jack was on vacation but she saved his life once and used that.
Jennifer was a nurse at a senior spa in New Mexico. So Jack was asking questions their. Also Michelle had come to N.M. to see her sister and do some business with bike gang. Their is also another bike gang in the aera so lots of suspects.
So Jack calls his partner that is also on vacation and talks him to come help. With some grumbleing he does come.
Jack left his 15 year old home with his father why he was away and the new libarian seduced him and got him to do a lot of things.
Their were prostutes,drug dealers, robbers,business leaders,dr.and nurses saw and heard a lot of terrible things that are out their in the world. But did not put the book down till I was finshed.
I was given this ebook in exchange for honest review.
01/03/2012 PUB Grove/ Atlantic, Inc. The Mysterious Press
5 STARS
It was a little different the villians of the story. I guessed some right and a whole lot wrong. It kept me guessing and surprised me at the end.
Their were a lot of characters that I did not admire and a few I did, but they where all were different.
Michelle and Jennifer were out riding bikes to Taos Publeo. Jennifer was mad at her sister so she wanted to think and be alone for 20 minutes and would meet her sister at Keva. Michelle went into one of the rooms and smoked a joint and fell asleep so she was late to meet Jennifer. Jennifer had disappeared but the bike was still there.
Michelle did not want to call the cops because she was a criminal and had a relationship with Jack from FBI. So called him. Jack was on vacation but she saved his life once and used that.
Jennifer was a nurse at a senior spa in New Mexico. So Jack was asking questions their. Also Michelle had come to N.M. to see her sister and do some business with bike gang. Their is also another bike gang in the aera so lots of suspects.
So Jack calls his partner that is also on vacation and talks him to come help. With some grumbleing he does come.
Jack left his 15 year old home with his father why he was away and the new libarian seduced him and got him to do a lot of things.
Their were prostutes,drug dealers, robbers,business leaders,dr.and nurses saw and heard a lot of terrible things that are out their in the world. But did not put the book down till I was finshed.
I was given this ebook in exchange for honest review.
01/03/2012 PUB Grove/ Atlantic, Inc. The Mysterious Press
January 17, 2012
I can't remember the title, but some years ago Ward wrote a crime novel, not even listed here, that I liked. On the strength of that, I bought this. The story is wildly improbable, not to mention predictable. Furthermore, Ward throws in a subplot about his son and a pederast librarian that adds nothing but some sexed-up sensationalism.
I sort of blame Michael Connelly for this waste of money. I appreciate the fact that the crime community is very supportive, but apparently MC "loves" just about everything he reads, suggesting that while he's a great crime writer,, his reading tastes in the genre are questionable.
Serious dreck, this one.
I sort of blame Michael Connelly for this waste of money. I appreciate the fact that the crime community is very supportive, but apparently MC "loves" just about everything he reads, suggesting that while he's a great crime writer,, his reading tastes in the genre are questionable.
Serious dreck, this one.
February 2, 2016
I liked the story; however, there were some loose ends that were troublesome. Kevin the 15 year old son gets into an intense sexual relationship with a 30-something librarian which gets left hanging.
December 25, 2012
I chose this book for the Santa Fe, NM setting. It got a bit twisted, this story about finding eternal youth. Some parts were downright gory, some pretty intense sex and violence. The FBI agent hero used his wits to save the day.
January 5, 2012
I couldn't be bothered to read past page 40. Sort of style for advanced ESL readers who aren't intellectually oriented.
December 27, 2012
Another great story by one of my favorite authors. Robert Ward is great at keeping you guessing until the end.
June 7, 2016
This is one of his best. Literally read this one through the night. Suspenseful, and moving. Loved it.
September 7, 2013
dark, powerful and action-packed
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews