Reviews: Scattered Leaves - by Richard E. Roach

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Scattered Leaves [book]
[9781591461463]

$16.49

Displaying 1 to 6 (of 7 reviews)

Result Pages: 1 2 [Next >>]

by S. Agusto-Cox

Date Added: Thursday 04 December, 2008

Richard Roach's Scattered Leaves follows the quest of Ben McCord, an oilman, to find the man who killed his young wife. McCord is a man on a mission, and his negative view of the world permeates the novel. The one light in his life, his wife June, is gone.

Like many of the James Patterson crime fiction novels I've read in the past, there is a vast conspiracy behind the death of McCord's wife. However, some of the police procedure and gun purchasing details were unrealistic and could distract seasoned mystery readers.

On the other hand, the fast-paced plot will carry the reader quickly through the twists and turns. In some cases the reader may wonder how McCord ends up where he does, which is expected given that the novel is told from McCord's point of view. Some of these plot twists seem outlandish and not well constructed, and the logic McCord uses to deduce his next course of action is shaky at best. However, McCord's shaky logic is one of his character flaws, and it is this flaw that unwittingly propels him into unlikely situations and that fuels the fire propelling him to find his wife's killer. The novel takes the reader on a journey from the Oklahoma oil fields to Texas and through Kansas, Colorado, and near the Mexican border.

One of my favorite characters in the novel is an older, hired assassin who gets the drop on McCord as he makes his way home, shooting into his moving car from the woods. This assassin is brash and had me giggling during the exchange he had with McCord in the woods after the attack. Richard Roach has a way with dry humor, which is used to ease the tension in some cases.

According to Richard Roach, "Knock 'em down and drag 'em out is more McCord's style. But, he's honest, forthright, and oh so tender with the ladies." Reading this book, you can tell that McCord is rough around the edges, but he's looking to keep his tender side on the surface more often. About midway through the novel, the action gets more intense and Dr. Pettijohn is thrust into the action in a harsh way and plays an integral role in its ultimate resolution. At times in this novel seemed as though emotions were told to me, rather than shown, and some of the plot points were not necessary to propel the action and could distract readers. However, in spite of these problems with narration and plot, Richard Roach's first novel is fast-paced and has an imaginative style that will keep you reading.

Rating: [3 of 5 Stars!]

by Dr. Andy Dillard, M.D.

Date Added: Monday 17 November, 2008

A multilayered story filled with intrigue and skullduggery. Mr. Roach is excellent with his descriptive ability both of characters and places. I could feel the cold wind blowing on my face and hear the crunch of snow under my shoes. A fun and entertaining read.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

by Lynda Posey

Date Added: Monday 17 November, 2008

This is an absolutely awesome book by Richard Roach. I could not put it down. I work in this field and it was like a reality book to me filled with spine tingling action that kept me glued to the book, but not to be left out, a little tenderness in the mix. Drugs, murder, and falling in love, I couldn’t ask for more.

Lynda Posey, Evidence Technician, Texas DPS Crime Lab

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

by Kent McKinney, Sr.

Date Added: Monday 17 November, 2008

Murder, drugs, oil, and a twist – ingenious.

Kent McKinney, Sr.
Founder and Editor of Truck Market News (retired)

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

by Trish Tuesburg

Date Added: Monday 17 November, 2008

Scattered Leaves is a wonderful book combining suspense, mystery and romance. From the descriptive writing, I could visualize the characters and surroundings. You could feel the emotions of the main character Ben - from the loss of his love and really the only family he had to finding her murderer and finding love again. I look forward to reading more of this author's books.

Trish Tuesburg, RN, First Presbyterian Hospital, Dallas

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

by Debra Gaynor

Date Added: Monday 10 November, 2008

Action-packed...

Richard E. Roach begins his tale with a blast. The description of the oil rig explosion should give readers an inkling of what to expect in Scattered Leaves. His imagery is vivid. At times, it is too vivid. The description of June's body was almost too much to handle. Roach is an extremely talented author; however, his books are not for those with weak stomachs.

I was left with a few questions: If Ben McCord was so distraught over his wife's murder that he could only think of bathing her (not of calling 911) how was he lucid enough to collect the stray pubic hairs? Would a man so in love with his wife not only be attracted to another woman after a few short weeks, but also ready to marry her? Okay, these are minor things and probably unimportant, except the woman thing...That really bothers me.

The gist of the story is Ben McCord finds his wife raped and murdered. He is determined to track down the killers and make them pay. He puts his own life on the line. During his investigation, he meets PJ, a beautiful doctor, also victimized by the same drug cartel. The two join forces to exact their revenge.

I was hooked from the first page; I had to know who did done it, and by then I had to be there just to help McCord and PJ stop the monster. Scattered Leaves is the kind of book that draws the reader in and holds them captive to the end. I felt as though I were part of the plot. This is the first Richard E. Roach book that I have read; it will not be the last one. Rarely does a book contain this much action. This is an intense, brutal read. Readers are warned of graphic content! I do not think we have seen the last of PJ and Ben McCord.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]