- Paperback: 317 pages
- Publisher: Ballantine Books; Reprint edition (25 April 2006)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0345486838
- ISBN-13: 978-0345486837
- Product Dimensions: 13.4 x 1.9 x 20.3 cm
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 554,801 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
Jack is driving north, away from the warm winters and wind-blown beaches of the Carolina coast, far from the shelter he has made for himself–a shelter against the past and the memory of his dead wife and child. A Manhattan lawyer has hired Jack to find her missing nephew, last seen in Upstate New York, the same place where Jack lost his family, and where as a campus security officer he was unable to save a girl from a murderer. Now, for Jack, it’s all about second chances–and what lies hidden in the ground.
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7 reviews
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
The Introspective Detective
20 May 2005
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Once again Mr. Busch is in wonderful form in the detective/mystery genre. His approach to his stories is very intimate; visceral, yet incisive; evocative, and deeply psychological. The book develops the character of the protagonist Jack with great precision and mostly through his inner mental monologue. While Busch writes excellent dialogue, his forte is his psychological process analysis. This skill is never more needed than in the detective and mystery genre.
A technique in his writing style that is somewhat new and quite inventive is his manner of transition. In this book, a wonderful and creative segue technique is developed; whereby a touch, a sound, the smell of coffee, the handle of a shovel can take the reader from one subplot to another seamlessly, but also, without obvious breaking points. This interesting stylistic element adds to the uniqueness and readability of the book.
While there is tragedy and difficulty in the story, Busch takes great pains to not be "careless with his characters." Each character is treated with respect and dignity, even if they do undignified things. The development of the personalities is cautious, but precise. And the resolutions of the plot and subplot elements are realistic, yet not gruesome or unduly painful.
Finally, Busch has a gift for writing love scenes. His mix of tactile and psychological writing allows him to portray personal interaction in a manner that has great clarity. And in addition, the scenes have portrayals that are hugely meaningful and explanatory. This book is recommended for all readers of serious fiction with an interest in the detective/mystery genre.
A technique in his writing style that is somewhat new and quite inventive is his manner of transition. In this book, a wonderful and creative segue technique is developed; whereby a touch, a sound, the smell of coffee, the handle of a shovel can take the reader from one subplot to another seamlessly, but also, without obvious breaking points. This interesting stylistic element adds to the uniqueness and readability of the book.
While there is tragedy and difficulty in the story, Busch takes great pains to not be "careless with his characters." Each character is treated with respect and dignity, even if they do undignified things. The development of the personalities is cautious, but precise. And the resolutions of the plot and subplot elements are realistic, yet not gruesome or unduly painful.
Finally, Busch has a gift for writing love scenes. His mix of tactile and psychological writing allows him to portray personal interaction in a manner that has great clarity. And in addition, the scenes have portrayals that are hugely meaningful and explanatory. This book is recommended for all readers of serious fiction with an interest in the detective/mystery genre.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Questionable
8 Feb 2007
Format:Hardcover
I'm torn in my feelings about this book. Frederick Busch was one of my favorite novelists, and "North" is beautifully written. With that said, There are many holes in this book, that left me depressed. With the exception of Jack, the main character, the importance of the rest of the cast of characters from it's prequel "Girls", are either downplayed or overexaggerated. If Frederick Busch were alive today, I would ask him why for instance, in "Girls" Jack, at the end of a failing marriage, had just became acquainted with State Trooper Elway Bird. But yet in "North", not only does Bucsh make it seem that they were friends for quite a few years before the timeline of "Girls", but also, out of nowhere, there is this "VooDoo Affair" Jack suddenly had with Elway Birds Wife, Sarah. (I call it a Voo Doo affair because it has no substance, it just miraculously appears out of nowhere in Jack's narrative). Also, Rosalie Piri, whom Jack has an affair with in "Girls" is downplayed in "North" to what amounts to nothing but a fling for Jack, when it was clear in "Girls" Jack had very strong and loving feelings toward her. She is only mentioned by name once in the novel, and another time in brief when Jack tells another character that he once had an affair with a college professor. Also, the beginning of the book "Girls" has Jack and the search team in the snowy field digging out the frozen dead body of Janice Tanner... yet in "North", its repeatedly stated that they never found Janice Tanner... I just don't get what Busch was thinking. Its like Busch wrote "Girls" and 40 years later decided to write "North" (even though it was only 7 years), forgetting the identities of all the characters he had carefully crafted before... with the exception of Jack's conciousness.
That being said, I did still enjoy the book, because as a mystery it is still well written on it own, and will definately keep you turning the pages.
That being said, I did still enjoy the book, because as a mystery it is still well written on it own, and will definately keep you turning the pages.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Literate mystery
23 May 2006
Format:Hardcover
Make no mistake, Frederick Busch can write like nobody's business. North is the followup to his novel, Girls. The protagonist, Jack, was once a cop, but now his career is on a downward slide following the death of his daughter and his divorce. But still Jack has an ethical urge to set things right, find those who are missing. This is a character-driven mystery and the reader will find that it meanders a bit. If you taste runs to straight formula mysteries, you might not like this; but if you like a little meat in your books, give this one a try.
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