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Boldt & Matthews #6
The First Victim
Lieutenant Lou Boldt, the Seattle cop who stars in Ridley Pearson'sdeservedly popular series, is a sharp and touching figure--perhaps the most believable police officer in current fiction. Early in this ninth book about his public and private life, Lou has to put on a bullet-resistant vest to lead a raid against some dangerous criminals. "The vest was notphysically heavy, but its presence was," Pearson tells us.It meant battle; it meant risk. For Boldt a vest was a symbol of youth. It had been well over a year since he had worn one. Ironically, as he approached the hangar's north door at a light run behind his own four heavily armored ERT personnel, he caught himself worrying about his hands, not his life. He didn't want to smash up his piano hands in some close quarters skirmish...Boldt plays jazz piano one night a week in a local bar, and despite his concern for his hands, he takes every opportunity he can to get away from his desk and into the streets. But money pressures, caused by his wife's recent illness, also make him think about the possibility of a better-paying job in the private sector. Meanwhile, some extremely ruthless people are murdering illegal Chinese immigrant women and leaving their bodiesburied in newly dug graves. An ambitious local TV journalist named Stevie McNeal and the young Chinese woman she thinks of as her "Little Sister" risk their lives to investigate the killings, while Boldt and his team round up a most unusual array of suspects. This combination of hard-edged realism and softer sentiment has become Pearson's trademark, and once again it works smoothly.--Dick Adler
407 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 7, 1999
52 people are currently reading
535 people want to read
About the author
Ridley Pearson
191 books2,118 followersRidley Pearson is the author of more than fifty novels, including the New York Times bestseller Killer Weekend; the Lou Boldt crime series; and many books for young readers, including the award-winning children's novels Peter and the Starcatchers, Peter and the Shadow Thieves, and Peter and the Secret of Rundoon, which he cowrote with Dave Barry. Pearson lives with his wife and two daughters, dividing their time between Missouri and Idaho.
Also writes Chris Klick mysteries as Wendell McCall.
Also writes Chris Klick mysteries as Wendell McCall.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
October 19, 2009
A great page turner...takes place in Seattle. A shipping container found floating in the Puget Sound...with screaming people inside. A great look into the horrifying "concept" of the importation of illegal aliens.
January 16, 2026
Just the next in a string of attempts to finish books I was 60-70+% through or with 100ish or less pages left; and I'll continue to work through some more. I picked this up for the greater conspiracy involved and to get some context of Seattle, as well as its social justice issues in evidence. It did not disappoint. I liked the parallel media angle and POV, with kind of like a psychological thriller line to it with McNeal involving herself. It fits the age, with themes of corruption and collusion.
October 1, 2014
In this genre, for me, there is John Sandford and there is everybody else. Ridley Pearson's Lou Boldt/Daphne Matthews series is really the only one that truly stands along side the Prey books.
I've recently given the series a re-read and if you have the chance, I highly recommend them.
Pearson creates a very human, very likable cop in his main character Lou Boldt. He's not the badass hero who always saves the day. He's the tireless worker who plugs away at a case until it submits to him. The interplay between him and Daphne Matthews is flawless. Add in some other great characters like LaMoia, Bobbie Gaynes and Showswitz and you've always got some fun in store.
The best part of these books is the combination of the case in conjunction with the humanity of the characters. They are real, flawed and doing their best in a world and setting where that's not always enough.
I highly recommend starting at the beginning of this series and reading it though. The series starts in the days when a fax machine was a big deal and cell phones were unheard of and advances along with the times. Once you put that aside, it's great reading though. Check them out.
I've recently given the series a re-read and if you have the chance, I highly recommend them.
Pearson creates a very human, very likable cop in his main character Lou Boldt. He's not the badass hero who always saves the day. He's the tireless worker who plugs away at a case until it submits to him. The interplay between him and Daphne Matthews is flawless. Add in some other great characters like LaMoia, Bobbie Gaynes and Showswitz and you've always got some fun in store.
The best part of these books is the combination of the case in conjunction with the humanity of the characters. They are real, flawed and doing their best in a world and setting where that's not always enough.
I highly recommend starting at the beginning of this series and reading it though. The series starts in the days when a fax machine was a big deal and cell phones were unheard of and advances along with the times. Once you put that aside, it's great reading though. Check them out.
February 20, 2017
This was the first mystery I've read about Seattle policeman Lou Boldt, and I thought it was very good. It was about illegal immigrants being held as sweatshop workers. (Too long ago for me to recall any details.)
January 16, 2019
Classic Pearson book. SO intense at times I had to go back and reread the parts I skipped because I couldn't read it fast enough! Why only 4 stars? Because I need to leave 1 star off for Pearson books I liked more. The entire Walt Fleming/Ketchum, Sun Valley sheriff series are my favorites. This book is a Lou Boldt/Daphne Matthews novel though Matthews was scarce in this one. A story about Chinese illegals being smuggled into the country via ships containers. Lieutenant Boldt of the Seattle PD becomes involved when a container is found floating in Puget Sound, separated from a ship. Inside are Chinese women and 3 dead bodies. Stevie McNeal is a famous news anchor whose sister, a fledgling reporter, disappears while videotaping the sweatshop where the illegals are taken. The entire book is the search for Melissa and figuring out who is behind the entire operation. Pearson can co-mingle the good people and the bad people so seamlessly that you are constantly wondering which one is good and which is bad...and then changing your mind several times! I just LOVE how this author toys with the reader from cover to cover. I have read approximately 14 of his books and will reread them once I have read them all. A life without a Pearson book in it is a bore! I will be reading a couple other authors and then back to Ridley Pearson, AFTER I catch my breath!
October 9, 2011
Newly promoted Lt. Lou Boldt is drawn back onto the streets of Seattle, when a shipping container, with its human cargo, is found floating outside the harbor. News anchorwoman Stevie McNeal is eager to score a scoop, with an expose of the smuggling of illegal aliens into the city, to slave away as prostitutes or in sweatshops. She assigns her adopted sister, a young Chinese journalist, to do some research, but she goes too far under cover and ominously disappears. Boldt and his former partner, Sgt. LaMoia, must cope with the INS, media interference, and the Chinese mafia, in their efforts to uncover the smuggling ring.
The First Victim is interesting enough, but lacks both the personal slant on Lou's life outside the police department, and the sense of sustained suspense that characterizes some of Pearson's other work in this series. It's difficult to become engaged with the TV journalist and her sister, who both make inane decisions, and Daphne Matthews, Boldt's counterpart, makes little more than a cameo appearance. Just OK.
The First Victim is interesting enough, but lacks both the personal slant on Lou's life outside the police department, and the sense of sustained suspense that characterizes some of Pearson's other work in this series. It's difficult to become engaged with the TV journalist and her sister, who both make inane decisions, and Daphne Matthews, Boldt's counterpart, makes little more than a cameo appearance. Just OK.
March 3, 2016
The focus of this book is on illegal Chinese immigrants in the Pacific NW. There is very little plot focused on Boldt, Matthews or LaMoia. The story was interesting and had action, however, it wasn't as riveting as some of the other Boldt-Matthews series. As a result, I had a hard time getting through this book. It was slow going.
I also felt like there were things that just appeared in the plot without any substance. Assumptions made that didn't seem real...
Part of the problem was me. Because the plot dragged a bit, I had a hard time getting back to it and really struggled to focus.
I really like the series but this was not my favorite.
I also felt like there were things that just appeared in the plot without any substance. Assumptions made that didn't seem real...
Part of the problem was me. Because the plot dragged a bit, I had a hard time getting back to it and really struggled to focus.
I really like the series but this was not my favorite.
April 16, 2013
Hard to put this book down. A mystery about illegal Chinese immigrant women in the U.S., a news reporter indirectly connected, an aging cop who can't quite give up the "hands on" part of police work. Quite involved. Made me think that this kind of situation probably does exist in bigger cities worldwide.
May 1, 2008
Pearson's police novels are some of the best in the genre. Lou Boldt is such a believable character, and Pearson's plots are tightly woven. I read as many of his books as I can get my hands on and time allows!
August 13, 2012
DET. Lou Boldt has work cut out trying to find out how Chinese women are being smuggled into the U.S.
Scott Rosema, in spite of his storytelling, I enjoyed the book.
Scott Rosema, in spite of his storytelling, I enjoyed the book.
February 24, 2017
Since I like Ridley Pearson, I was expecting more. Some exciting parts but found myself needing to skim--a bad sign.
Read
July 24, 2011Loved it! especially Mama Lu
April 28, 2014
Not my favorite Of this series.
June 8, 2019
I enjoy the Boldt/Matthews series of police procedural mysteries. Mystery may not be the proper definition-- this is more of a police procedural and Pearson doesn't shy away from revealing the bad guy early on-- though I thought his purpose was more to fool the reader this time...
Boldt is an interesting character. He is now a lieutenant, but he is having difficulty leaving field work behind. Pearson also throws in some interesting characterization-- he adds the concerns of his wife that her cancer (explored in earlier novels in the series) might be back. Boldt, though, is a workaholic and absolutely cannot focus on her concerns as a good husband. He throws himself into his work and only after all of the action does he discover the resolution of his wife's condition.
Along the way, we see Boldt's team do some crackerjack police work. His lab people are great and nearly every character along the way has some standout character trait. This makes these novels really sparkle. These are wonderful elements and the author places and presents them well. The lab guy who draws out the information in some type of long-winded speech whenever he has something really good to report-- GREAT TOUCH!
This one isn't quite as good as the others in this series. However, there was an interesting story, interesting characters and it was still above average fiction. Well worth my time, just not really rising to the level of excellence.
Boldt is an interesting character. He is now a lieutenant, but he is having difficulty leaving field work behind. Pearson also throws in some interesting characterization-- he adds the concerns of his wife that her cancer (explored in earlier novels in the series) might be back. Boldt, though, is a workaholic and absolutely cannot focus on her concerns as a good husband. He throws himself into his work and only after all of the action does he discover the resolution of his wife's condition.
Along the way, we see Boldt's team do some crackerjack police work. His lab people are great and nearly every character along the way has some standout character trait. This makes these novels really sparkle. These are wonderful elements and the author places and presents them well. The lab guy who draws out the information in some type of long-winded speech whenever he has something really good to report-- GREAT TOUCH!
This one isn't quite as good as the others in this series. However, there was an interesting story, interesting characters and it was still above average fiction. Well worth my time, just not really rising to the level of excellence.
June 28, 2020
I am pretty sure I read this book some 20 years ago. There was an instant recall about Mama Lu, the little sister who disappeared, and the primary characters Boldt, his wife's cancer, LaMoia and his skirt chasing.
This book was published in 1997 and was probably one of the earlier ones to talk about problems with immigration, prejudice and mistreatment of undocumented persons, and how some people in places of power abuse their authority. It was hard to read with the realization this has not improved in all this time.
The book was signed by the author, bought for $1.50 at a charity sale, nice condition. Hyperion does a nice job with the product. The back cover picture is creepy as heck. When a story has this type of endurance and current relevance--as well as being excellently written (good characterization, solid story, not didactic, allowable flaws and vulnerabilities all around)--it is easy to take the talent of the writer for granted.
I looked the author up, see he is involved in all sorts of things enjoyable and profitable, changes of genre. Good for you, Mr. Pearson and thank you for your time invested in your readers and audience.
This book was published in 1997 and was probably one of the earlier ones to talk about problems with immigration, prejudice and mistreatment of undocumented persons, and how some people in places of power abuse their authority. It was hard to read with the realization this has not improved in all this time.
The book was signed by the author, bought for $1.50 at a charity sale, nice condition. Hyperion does a nice job with the product. The back cover picture is creepy as heck. When a story has this type of endurance and current relevance--as well as being excellently written (good characterization, solid story, not didactic, allowable flaws and vulnerabilities all around)--it is easy to take the talent of the writer for granted.
I looked the author up, see he is involved in all sorts of things enjoyable and profitable, changes of genre. Good for you, Mr. Pearson and thank you for your time invested in your readers and audience.
June 5, 2023
Six-word Review: Terrific plot that drags and drags.
What could have been a "can't put it down" story of illegal immigrants, INS corruption, police procedures, murder, and suspense is buried under too many detailed descriptions of people, places, and events.
I finished it but it became a chore instead of a joy. The plot earns the book three stars but misses a higher rating because of the boredom factor. The ending was satisfying but dragged out far too long. The epilogue did tie up any loose ends.
The discovery of three dead bodies in a container dumped into the Seattle harbor sets the stage for the rest of the story. Illegals from China are chained to sewing machines at a hidden sweatshop location after being smuggled into the U.S. in shipping containers. The rest of the story involves TV News exposing criminality, Chinese-American relations with the police, turf wars between local and Federal law enforcement, and the incredible amount of work that can go into solving a case.
I cannot unreservedly recommend this book but I finished it and was impressed by the plot and the characters.
What could have been a "can't put it down" story of illegal immigrants, INS corruption, police procedures, murder, and suspense is buried under too many detailed descriptions of people, places, and events.
I finished it but it became a chore instead of a joy. The plot earns the book three stars but misses a higher rating because of the boredom factor. The ending was satisfying but dragged out far too long. The epilogue did tie up any loose ends.
The discovery of three dead bodies in a container dumped into the Seattle harbor sets the stage for the rest of the story. Illegals from China are chained to sewing machines at a hidden sweatshop location after being smuggled into the U.S. in shipping containers. The rest of the story involves TV News exposing criminality, Chinese-American relations with the police, turf wars between local and Federal law enforcement, and the incredible amount of work that can go into solving a case.
I cannot unreservedly recommend this book but I finished it and was impressed by the plot and the characters.
July 9, 2020
The First Victim starts off a little slow with the initial readability not so good. But the book gains steam as it goes. The dialogue is good and I liked the police team led by Lieutenant Boldt, a sharp and hands-on detective. While the tech is outdated (VCR tapes), the issue of human trafficking remains relevant. The setting is the port of Seattle. Ships come and go, and we think nothing of it, but what is happening below the surface?
The First Victim is not particularly original although media working with police does not happen every day. It shows the desperation to bring down these evil 'people' with no regard for life or freedom. Research is good and the forensics are interesting in this novel. I gave the book an extra star due to the strong ending, the most important part of any novel.
The First Victim is my first Ridley Pearson novel and I expect to try another, most likely The Pied Piper as that novel is one of his noteworthy thrillers.
The First Victim is not particularly original although media working with police does not happen every day. It shows the desperation to bring down these evil 'people' with no regard for life or freedom. Research is good and the forensics are interesting in this novel. I gave the book an extra star due to the strong ending, the most important part of any novel.
The First Victim is my first Ridley Pearson novel and I expect to try another, most likely The Pied Piper as that novel is one of his noteworthy thrillers.
December 21, 2021
Lou Bolt (Seattle Homicide) is at it again. This time trying to track down the scum that is importing Chinese women for slave labor. I love mysteries set in Seattle and I have enjoyed Ridley's Bolt series. But he's gotten married and had children, and that has changed the action of the character. I'm increasingly annoyed by characters who do or don't do things because of what might happen to their children. I understand it is a fact of life, but it's a cheap way to direct action and I don't like it.
June 5, 2018
This is an interesting book, centering mainly on Chinese women illegals brought into this country to be enslaved in brothels or sweatshops in terrible conditions. It portrays the plight these poor women go through. However, the other story showing how they are discovered is a bit on the unbelievable side. I've read several Lou Boldt stories & found them interesting but a bit far fetched, and this one is no exception.
June 4, 2017
I loved this book. It was extremely fast paced and impossible to know exactly what was going to happen until the very end. Also very well written.
July 3, 2017
Chinese illegals arrive via shipping containers - good action & moving the series along
August 14, 2017
The second of two Ridley Pearson books I listened to on my Idaho trip.
October 18, 2019
This is a fairly old novel, ignore that and it's ok
Not a bad novel and better than many. I'd give it 3 1\2 stars as it had some fluff and at times a little illogical.
Not a bad novel and better than many. I'd give it 3 1\2 stars as it had some fluff and at times a little illogical.
December 22, 2019
Our FTC
December 31, 2019
Very good read
December 6, 2020
#6 of the Boldt/Matthew's series- Excellent - gripping- great storyline- can't wait till ican get the next one.
February 2, 2021
Pretty good for starting in the middle of the series. Not sure if it would have made more sense if I knew the characters from previous books, but the ending kind of confused me.
March 4, 2021
One of the better ones of the series. Keeps your attention all the way through. Good book
July 31, 2021
I liked the setting in Seattle but not much else about this book.
October 23, 2021
Read in 2000. The Boldt thrillers set a high standard for mysteries.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews