Assessment:
Warren's launch of The Inspector Kwong Mysteries offers a surprisingly bland tour through the culinary and criminal offerings of Hong Kong and Beijing. The story -- which includes the kidnapping of Kwong himself by a criminal triad -- is presented in unengaging language that fails to sustain interest, and character and plot development are overshadowed by the seemingly interminable eating. The author's unquestionable familiarity with the locale lacks the precision needed to convey a genuine sense of place to readers.
Date Submitted: June 10, 2016
“Four Stars for The Quartz—Vic Warren is bitingly intelligent in this novel, and features plots and characters that make you itch for the next book, or at least another book from Warren. The character descriptions were great, and once I got a handle on who was who, I really enjoyed the play and interactions that went on between everyone. Vic Warren is a skilled writer, and his simple prose and quick dialogue never let the plot drag or take focus off the characters. I found myself invested in the story after only a few chapters, and at the conclusion I was left wishing there was more. Luckily, Warren is quite prolific so there are many more books out there to explore.” Reviewed By Katelyn Hensel for Readers’ Favorite
“Five Stars! The River by Vic Warren is the second book in the Inspector Kwong Mysteries and is an enjoyable read. The story is well written and filled with humour, a nice touch of romance, murder, and a tempting selection of Chinese dishes. Although the story is quite a short one, Vic Warren penned a clever plot with interesting characters that made The River more entertaining for me. Vic Warren took time to create his characters and setting so I was given a tour and information on Hong Kong and China. I was also impressed with the way the author incorporated the Asian traditional customs into the story.” Reviewed By Michelle Stanley for Readers’ Favorite.
