Learning Strategies

In my post of January 9, I promised to read Chris Grabenstein’s Slay Ride, since I had been disappointed by its sequel, Hell for the Holidays, but liked the author’s other series, including Tilt-A-Whirl and Mad Mouse. I concluded my review of Mad Mouse with this paragraph:

So now Grabenstein is 2–1 in my book. Let’s see what happens after I read Slay Ride. If I like it, we’ll declare him 3–1 and a general winner; if I don’t, we’ll have two series with two very different evaluations. So stay tuned...

And now I have read Slay Ride. So, the envelope please. (Or is that the wrong metaphor? Do I mean, “Have you reached a verdict?”)

The answer, based now on four books, is that Grabenstein writes two series with two very different evaluations on my part. The Jersey Shore series (Tilt-A-Whirl and Mad Mouse) is fresh, entertaining, and well-written; the FBI series Slay Ride and Hell for the Holidays is adequate but depressing. Go read the first series — I’ll read other books in it — but don’t waste your time with the other.

Labels: books