Author: Tim Downs
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (May 17, 2011)
ISBN-10: 1595543104
ISBN-13: 978-1595543103
My Rating: ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
This is my first encounter with A Bug Man novel, and I really enjoyed meeting these quirky characters. We follow Nick, a forensic entomologist, as he takes off just days before his wedding to go to a cold-case convention after receiving an invite from his friend. When he gets evidence that his friend is dead, he’s off on the hunt to discover what happened, and his engrossment in the case, as well as a few other deterences, have him neglecting Alena. But she’s not one to sit home twidling her thumbs, so she takes off to find him.
I was definitely engrossed in the mystery element and found it suspenseful at times. I laughed out loud in several spots, especially in the opening chapter. I especially love the author’s phraseology: chalk outline around a wedding cake, eyes the size of Mallomars.
But, this book had so much rehashing to the point of annoyance, like telling us over and over that the MC was a forensic entomologist, or the storyline would break open to another clue, and there’d be reflection about the clue, a recap of every detail we just read about in uncovering it and then telling us the next move and what the POV character desired to learn next. About two-thirds of the way through, I was like, really? Again? Just give me scenes. Throw me into something once in a while, I’ll get it. I don’t need all this extra, meaningless blather. This might be one of those scene-sequel, scene-sequel type books, but it really grates on my nerves, and as a reader, I don’t like being treated like I’m dense, and the tactic comes across very patronizing.
And then, in the end, I just felt the danger and lack of communication by all strained credibility. I love surprise endings, but this was so extreme and laughable, that it spoiled the read for me. Alena seemed to have been kept in the dark for no other reason but to build suspense and tension for the reader.
This novel has no mention God or anything spiritual at all. I don’t even know if the main characters are Christian. Even though I’m in the minority as a Christian reader, I don’t care that it’s absent either. I don’t read fiction to get preached at or to learn moral lessons or discover perfect people I can’t identify with, I just look for good, engrossing books. And to try to work in spiritual elements when they don’t fit the story’s context is just bad writing. So I appreciate that the author kept the book clean yet didn’t break into a sermon or drum up a conversion scene when the story didn’t call for it.
Overall, I have mixed feelings about Nick of Time. With the exception of the reiteration, I enjoyed most of the read, but just found it too incredible in the end. My husband will probably like it because of the humor and the CSI-type mystery, so I intend to share it with him. He may have more positive feelings about it.
I received this book free through Booksneeze. According to FTC guidelines, I need to mention that and that I was required to provide a review, but the feelings reflected in the review are entirely my own.
~ Signing off and sending out cyber hugs.
