my kind of book, A contemporary guy adventure story, Several guys with converging plot lines, Guys take improbable changes, enjoy improbable luck, objectify women, Yes, there is a welldrawn female character, but the male characters react to females in their vicinity like teenagers with raging hormones.
In fact, all the male characters act like adolescents: as soon as a course of action pops into their mind, they do it.
No consideration of potential downside results, Of course, it works out for the "good guys, " It was all too easy for everyone,
What's to like Excellent writing, Leonard told the story from a variety of points of view, The reader immediately knew what kind of person each character was, far better than if Leonard had merely told us.
Set mostly in Rome, each character movement is described in such excruciating detail that the reader gets the feeling of it having been written map in hand.
There was some place description, but more often bare facts, as if the reader is expected to know what all the famous buildings mentioned look like today.
It was only okay, All He Saw Was the Girl by Peter Leonard
Very fast paced action about a few college aged guys who travel overseases, get in trouble while attending college there.
End up in prison for a few days and because of one of the boys father career they are released.
Women play a big part in the plot as well as Mafia and gangs, Mistaken kidnapping and so many more events shape this into a great read,
Would make a really cool movie as there is so much action, Love the locations as they are decrsibed in every detail so you know exactly what corner of the street they are at.
So many scenarios take place, great read,
Received this review copy from The Story Plant and this is my honest opinion,
A few months ago I had the pleasure to read “Voices of the Dead” by Peter Leonard.
I said at the time I would be tracking down some of the authors other books, but I didnt realise that I would be reviewing another one from Partners In Crime Tours quite so soon.
I simply couldnt resist the request for the review, but then I did wonder if it could be quite as good as Voices of the Dead.
Simply put I was not disappointed,
I couldnt put “All He Saw Was the Girl”, down and read it in a day.
Peter Leonard is a master storyteller, in “All He Saw Was the Girl” he has developed two complicated and intricate plots, and woven a story of Mafioso, US Secret Service, kidnap and love into one extraordinary book.
The setting of Italy works incredibly well and is an excellent backdrop to the story.
In reality the story doesnt need that backdrop, it could have been set anywhere but Italy just works, and brings the scenes to life.
All of the characters, and there are quite a few, are believable and it was great to see how the two storylines drew together towards the end of the book, without ever quite connecting completely.
This was very well written, and not the obvious way to bring things together which was nice I like a bit of unpredictability and to be proved wrong once in a while, when I think I know how things are going to end.
As I read I couldnt help but feel that there is a movie of this book now waiting to be made.
Whether that is intentional or not, it would certainly make a good film, all the elements are there.
Whilst I love a series read, I also like to find authors who are capable of producing a different book each time.
I think in the case of Peter Leonard the latter is true, Although they fit within the crime/thriller genre, the two I have read to date are completely different.
They have the authors quite distinctive voice, but the story premise couldnt be more different,
Another recommended read from Peter Leonard, and now if youll excuse me, Im off to find something else by Mr Leonard to read.
Read on Kindle app on phone, Difficult to read due to poor layout, lack of breaks between scenes, Had to go back and restart paragraphs because I'd realize I was in a different location with different characters one or two sentences into a new paragraph.
Also, dialogue was confusing with one character saying something and another responding within single paragraph,
As for the plots/storylines not great, The entire Ray amp Sharon storyline was unnecessary, Joey was a caricature and completely ridiculous, At the beginning of the book I did not understand how the author was going to connect everything together.
Two different cities, a handful of people and at the time it seemed like two different plots.
However the author brings it all together for the reader, The author has readers hopping around the world, from the USA to Italy, This book will keep the reader entertained and wondering what is happening next,
I loved how the author included several different mafias in this book.
This is not just an average read, The author keeps the readers mind occupied, If you are looking for a fast pass crime/mystery book for a weekend read then check this book out.
The cast of characters are Chip who is a US senators son, McCabe who is on a scholarship in Rome, Sharon a bored wife who wants some adventure, Joey who is a thug in the mafia, and Ray an exsecret service agent.
Chip and McCabe are on a semester tour in Rome, Chip is this young adult that has an attitude that he should get the royal treatment no matter what he does, including having his crimes overlooked.
McCabe is good friends with Chip but takes a lot of the blame for Chips mistakes.
Sharon is just bored with her marriage, She cannot remember the last time she had sex with her husband, She meets up with Joey and thinks it is a dream comes true, She wants to have the cake and eat it also,
Joey is a thug in the mafia, This is not known during the first part of the book, He has this carefree attitude and wants everything he cannot have, He has
Ray is Sharons husband, During the beginning of the book the reader might think Ray has a totally different career.
He sounds like he is just burned out of everything in his life at the moment.
The cover makes me think of a James Bond movie, I can see Sean Connery or Roger Moore as Ray, However we all know thatwas never married so that little bit in the book would have to be changed.
The title fits this book perfect, The last thing the guys saw was The Girl, Granted it was not the same girl but it was a girl,
If you have followed my blog for more than a day or so you will know that I cannot write a detailed review without giving away spoilers.
I always stop before that happens, Well here is the stopping point, Sorry.
Thanks for a great read Peter, When I reached the end of All He Saw Was the Girl, I closed the book with a smile.
While there were a few slightly predictable moments, overall I really enjoyed the book, The action is nonstop, and the suspense builds and builds as the story progresses, Its fastpaced and great entertainment,
The characters were, as a whole, interesting, The mobsters, with the exception of the big guy in Italy, were not in the least bit sympathetic.
Its easy to root against these guys, The Don, however, has a story that Id love to know more about, We learn about a major tragedy, but not how he gets from there to where he is now.
Id like to know more about that, The other characters are more sympathetic, which I suppose is the point with the goodguys, right
With the exception of Chip, whos a privileged jerk, they all are easy to root for.
I especially liked McCabe, Ray, and Arturo, There are a few characters Id call inbetween, Either its hard to know which side theyre on, or they switch sides, or they even are so briefly part of the book that they cant be classified.
My favorite would be Angela, She is surprisingly likable, and I found myself rooting for her as much as the others.
The overall plot is a bit out there, but I think that is part of what keeps the book so fun.
I really dont want to say too much for fear of ruining surprises! There were moments when I was moderately frustrated with one character or another, but never to the point of wanting to throw the book across the room.
The resolution, which some might think needs more, I found to be perfect, Its very fitting to the style of the book and the story itself, While, sure some more details would be welcome, but as I mentioned earlier I found myself smiling at the end.
A book that leaves me smiling is a wellwritten, and wellended, book!
I really, really liked this.
I'd bump it up a notch and go with,stars. Two narratives two cities both intertwining to provide a suspense thriller that is one heck of a roller coaster ride!
William McCabe and Charles "Chip" Tallenger III are American exchange students studying abroad at Loyola University in Rome, Italy.
McCabe is from Detroit, Michigan, and is on an academic scholarship, while Chip is the spoiled rich son of U.
S. Senator Charles Tallenger II from Greenwich, Connecticut, While out partying one night, Chip and McCabe steal a cab and end up locked up in Rebibbia, a hardcore Italian prison, where they cross paths with a violent street gang with mafia ties.
A case of mistaken identity leads to one of the boys being kidnapped by the street gang which included a beautiful Italian girl, the ransom is paid and the boy plots to avenge the street gang and reclaim the ransom money.
Meanwhile in Detroit, Michigan, Sharon Vanelli is a lonely wife of an absent Secret Service agent, who goes to bars and seeks the company of other men.
Sharon meets Joey "Swinging Joey" Palermo, a mafia lieutenant and enforcer for the Corrado mob family.
Sharon and Joey's affair is soon discovered by Sharon's husband, Ray Pope, When Joey tells his father "Joe P," an underboss in the Corroda mob family, about his relationship with Sharon, and that her husband is a Secret Service agent, Joey is sent packing to Italy to stay with his uncle, Don Carlo Gennaro, who is the head of the Rome mafia, until the coast is clear.
Ray is determined to track down his missing wife, Sharon follows Joey to Rome, so Ray travels to Italy where the fun is just about too begin.
. .
What will happen when these two narratives and cast of characters intertwine and collide in Rome
All He Saw Was The Girl is a fast paced action packed suspense thriller that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat.
The author masterfully weaves a story with two intertwining narratives in alternating chapters, that easily transports the reader between Detroit, Michigan and Rome, Italy.
This complex suspense thriller has enough drama, action and twist and turns that will keep the reader engaged and turning the pages to see what will happen next.
I found it fascinating how the author takes the two narratives and intertwines them in a satisfying climatic fashion.
The author has created a strong cast of characters that are realistic and complex.
Their different personalities and entertaining interactions are intriguing, and the author does a great job of flowing from one character to another, engaging the reader to keep up with all of the characters.
What I liked best is how the author keeps the reader guessing how all the characters fit into the two intertwining narratives, until ultimately they come together to mix it up in the backstreets of Rome.
Author Peter Leonard has provided the reader with a richly detailed and tourguide description of the beautiful ancient city of Rome, Italy.
His descriptions of the famous landmarks and tourist attractions, along with a street map worthy description of the locale, easily transports the reader to Rome, where they can visualize the tantalizing sights and sounds of the city.
I absolutely loved his style of describing settings in this novel, it is simply phenomenal,
I had previously been introduced to Peter Leonard's writings when I read and reviewed his novel Voices of the Dead, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
When I was given this opportunity to read and review All He Saw Was The Girl, I was hoping that this novel would provide the same kind of suspense and action that I had read in the previous novel, and I can honestly say that this novel has exceeded my expectations and then some! I look forward to reading many more of his novels in the future.
If you are looking for a novel that is full of drama, suspense and enough action that volleys you back and forth from one end of the globe to the other, then All He Saw Was The Girl is the one for you! This is one suspense thriller that is a must read, you won't be disappointed!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book by the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours.
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Peter Leonard