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City of the Sun (Frank Behr, Bk 1)
City of the Sun - Frank Behr, Bk 1
Author: David Levien
Jamie Gabriel gets on his bike before dawn to deliver newspapers in his suburban Indianapolis neighborhood. He is twelve years old. Somewhere en route, as the October sky lightens, he vanishes without a trace. — Fourteen months later, Paul and Carol Gabriel are on the verge of abandoning all hope. Crushed by frustrating dead ends and exhausted by...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780385523660
ISBN-10: 0385523661
Publication Date: 3/4/2008
Pages: 320
Rating:
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 23

4 stars, based on 23 ratings
Publisher: Doubleday
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed City of the Sun (Frank Behr, Bk 1) on + 38 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Though this was a good read and I don't regret having picked it up, ultimately there was just something.... lacking. The premise is obviously a gripping one - child disappears while on paper route and the parents' attempts, with the help of PI Frank Behr, to find out what happened - but the way it unfolds is rushed and somewhat hackneyed (perhaps reflecting the author's screenwriting background).

The early scenes between the husband and wife post disappearance are well done, but later scenes with just the wife come across as afterthoughts or throwaways. As does, in fact, the presence of many of the secondary characters, especially Behr's former boss at the police department. It was as if Levien was following some formula that "required" there to be a petty, semi-competent, vindictive authority figure for his lead to bang heads with. The romantic aside was equally by-the-numbers and forced. If this is indeed to be a series, there will be more than enough time to delve into Behr's romantic / social life.

Frank Behr definitely has promise as a series lead, but I believe the gushing comparisons reviewers have been making to Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch and Robert Crais' Elvis Cole are a bit premature. A better comparison in my opinion would be Lee Child's Jack Reacher (complete with Behr's 6'6" size), though Behr has in no way proven himself (yet) to be as emotionally complex or intellectually sharp as Reacher.

The bottom line is that Behr simply did not have enough of a chance to shine in this book, with the secondary characters taking up more space than necessary, at the expense of Behr's development. I hope next time out Levien trims the excess character baggage and lets us really get to know our intended hero.
Angeleyes avatar reviewed City of the Sun (Frank Behr, Bk 1) on + 217 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
This book is phenomenal yet heart-wrenching. The subject matter is a tough sell especially if you have children but the way Levien handles the subject and how engaging the characters are, pulls you into the story. I could not put this book down !
GeniusJen avatar reviewed City of the Sun (Frank Behr, Bk 1) on + 5322 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
This was an EXCELLENT thriller! I haven't previously read anything by David Levien, but I'm going to check out and see if he has any other titles.

I was a little leery of the story at first, since it deals with the disappearance of a child, but the characters are so real and engaging that I was quickly sucked into the story.

This is a read that kept me up late to finish it, and I highly recommend it!
spartacusaby avatar reviewed City of the Sun (Frank Behr, Bk 1) on + 81 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
This is one of those unusual books you can't put down, yet you don't want it to end. The action is fast-paced, the suspense builds by the chapter, and there are complex, very real characters you come to care about. I'm delighted to discover this author, and will be looking for more from him.
reviewed City of the Sun (Frank Behr, Bk 1) on + 3 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is one of the best books I've read about our children stolden and shipped off to Mexico. I think more of this is true than not
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sfc95 avatar reviewed City of the Sun (Frank Behr, Bk 1) on + 686 more book reviews
This was my first book read by this author and I really enjoyed it, already ordering the next books in the series. The character development is great, it is not overly wordy and filled with items just for the sake of verbiage. It is filled with excitement and thrills and sums up nicely at the end without going into a separate story of the aftermath.
Hophead avatar reviewed City of the Sun (Frank Behr, Bk 1) on + 285 more book reviews
Pretty good thriller and a fast read, but the ending is a little too predictable. I think I'll pass on the rest of the series for now.
beachnbooks avatar reviewed City of the Sun (Frank Behr, Bk 1) on + 73 more book reviews
This first book by writer/screen writer/producer David Levien was, for me, outstanding. The key was the relationship that built between the main character and his client. The story line is about a parent's worst nightmare come true and the "at all cost" efforts of hoping to undo that nightmare. I really liked this book and the author co-wrote the screen plays for Rounders, Ocean's 13, and others and he's retained the option on this book for future filming.


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