Currently reading: I am debating between starting a trilogy or holding out until March 2, when two books I’m waiting on are released – Stephen King’s Later and Cassandra Clare’s Chains of Iron (second book in the Lost Hours Trilogy)
Over the weekend, I finished up the latest Preston and Child release, The Scorpion’s Tail, part of a new series known as the Nora Kelly series. I find it odd because it really has two female leads so I don’t understand why it’s not called the Corrie Swenson and Nora Kelly series. And it bugs me for no good reason at all. It’s not like the characters are going to complain about billing, but I guess I feel a weird need to stick up for the second character as she is just as important in both books. And yes, I realize that I am weird (and obsessive) about my books and characters. I know, I have a problem 🤪!
As much as I enjoyed the story – a thrilling novel following archaeologist Nora Kelly and FBI Agent Corrie Swanson as they work together to solve a twisted crime that reaches far beyond any of their worst fears – it fell into a trope that has become more and more obvious in books, movies and tv shows. The trope? That the protagonist, in this case Corrie, believes they are the only ones capable of solving the crime. That and they don’t play well with others because of said belief. It’s like all writers don’t even try to hide it anymore.
And what also comes along with that trope? The protagonist (and sometimes others too) usually ends up in the clutches of the bad guy because of their ego and has to find a way out of trouble.
I guess what really bothers me about that trope (as well as many others) is the predictability of it all. I just want to be surprised by their actions once in a while. Something along the lines of “I might be walking into a trap by myself, maybe I should call/text my supervisor where I’m going when I get a call in the middle of the night and it’s related to the crime”. Just do something unexpected!
I will give the authors props because they had two separate stories with two different bad guys but connected by the inciting incident. The one bad guy was obvious, or at least obvious to someone who has read way too many crime novels (well that and it was strongly hinted at – like bat over the head hinted at). But the other bad guy hid in plain sight, and I can respect that.
In the end, I will continue to read this series because it’s usually about the characters first and story second in my world. And I do like their characters, when they’re not being annoying 🤣🤣🤣.
My Lemons My Lemonade 