Cane and Abe

After discovering James Grippando's early novels, I would eagerly await his new releases. Unfortunately, I have not enjoyed his current works anywhere near as well. My biggest issue with Cane and Abe is the plot. The core story line is extremely reminiscent of a popular bestseller that was released 2 years prior. In addition, there were red herrings thrown in that went no where and were not even mentioned when the story wrapped up. As for the characters, I did not think they were well-developed at all, with perhaps the exception of the protagonist. In fact, many of the players acted in unrealistic ways, with little explanation as to motivation. One secondary character with emotional issues became incredibly grating as the story wore on, with multiple examples of the same behavior. As I approached the conclusion of the book (borrowed from the library), I started to wonder if some pages were missing. With less than 10 pages left to go, I felt the quick wrap-up left too many questions hanging. For Grippando fans who still want to read it, I recommend waiting for the mass market paperback.

I liked the start of the book with the prosecuting attorney all tangled in the murders and I was very intrigued with what was really happening! The sugar cane industry was incredibly interesting! Then, there were too many inconsistencies and unbelievable story lines and it was a bummer for me. Didn't
like the ending at all and kind of wonder if he pulled a copycat move on another author with a very successful book. I may try another of his books because he has so many fans writing great reviews, but this wasn't the one for me.

Grippando usually writes decent books, but this one is terrible. The writing is decent, but the plot is mediocre at best and the characters are terrible ... beyond terrible. I barely got through this and I really didn't want to finish, but I managed, somehow. The principle characters are supposed smart people, but they all make one-dimension bad and short sighted decision after another. It was ridiculous. No character would ever behave that way, maybe one of them once, but all of them all of the time? Ugh.

Here is my suggested ending. This can be inserted pretty much anytime after the third chapter:
All of the main characters, Abe, Angelina and The FBI agent all decided to cross the street to get some coffee. They were talking and decided not look both ways because there was no need to look both ways. They knew better and were focused on a nonsense theory about smoking. As they were crossing, along came a bus and ran them all over. They were all killed instantly sparing the plot and readers all farther torture from there idiotic decisions and motivations. The End.

Loved almost all previous books. I'm on page 19 and bored silly. I will push through to page 30 , if it doesn't get better , I'm done.

This was a strange book. It was well written, and the characters were believable and well-developed. I just didn’t really like any of them. I didn’t connect, nor feel any empathy with them. I didn’t really care what happened to most of them. There was a mystery and some plot twists, but that didn’t really draw me in either. I kept reading because I hoped that something would develop to make it all worth while. After I finished the book, I thought “Well that ended with quite a twist”, but it wasn’t until I reflected upon the ending that I decided that it ended perfectly. Everybody gets theirs.

I know that this review doesn’t really give you much, but I can’t reveal the ending, and that is the whole point of the book. Cane and Abe nearly feels like an extended short story. The twist at the end justifies the whole thing.

Most people will probably like the story more than I did. It isn’t like these people in the book are disgusting perverts, or ruthless gangsters, or anything like that. I just didn’t connect, so the story didn’t connect. But I did love the ending.

I give Cane and Abe 3 1/2 Stars out of 5.

I received a Digital Review Copy from the publisher.

I typically love his books but this one was a clunker. First of all, it seemed like a rip off of Gone Girl (which incidentally I did not like and figured out from the beginning). For a federal prosecuter, Abe sure pulled a lot of dumb stunts which seemed implausible - like someone you would see on dumb criminals. The FBI agent was terrible - abusing power right and left and we never quite knew why. Finally, the plot dragged on and then rushed through the conclusion like it was out of control and they had to pull it all together at the end with a twist that made no sense. Here is was so in love with his late wife and we find out that he cheated on her - so unrealisitic!

I have been a Grippando fan for a long time and loved the Jack Swytek books with their full-fledged characters and interesting plots. This one has flat characters, unclear motivations, plot points left dangling and an ending that is inconsistent with anything that has come before. No, it's not O. Henry but very hard to swallow.

If Mr. Grippando has been waiting 25 years to tell the story of the sugarcane cutters in Florida (as he says in his afterword), maybe he should have waited longer and worked harder to create a book worthy of his previous works.

My first Grippando novel and it’s a story that moves along well and will hold the reader’s interest throughout. It has more twists than a ‘Snake’s & Ladder’s’ game which just adds to the appeal of the story and keeps the reader turning pages. I expect that I’ll try Grippando’s next novel and this one was a readable tale.

Ever since I first encountered the wonderful Jack Swyteck series, I've been a huge fan of James Grippando's writing. He is quite the storyteller--his plots are riveting and engaging, his characters endearing, broken, candid and lovable, and his prose enticing and well crafted.

With that being said, allow me to say that this is his best book in years, and it isn't even a Swyteck novel! "Cane and Abe" was described by a fellow author as "...'Gone Girl' meets Grisham" and frankly, I can't think of a more accurate way to put it. The story contained elements that instantly reminded me of both "Gone Girl" and Grisham's works, turning out to be more believable and far less disjointed than "Gone Girl" and better than most of Grisham's recent offerings.

The story traverses a wide array of range and territory but retains a unique sense of cohesion that is usually difficult to manage when dealing with a thriller of this caliber. It's paced perfectly and very intricate, evidence of Grippando's effort and talent.

Abe Beckham, recovering from the unfortunate passing of his wife Samantha, has recently married an old fling, Angelina and his busy days as the top prosecutor at the Miami State Attorney's Office provide him solace from his thoughts and grief. When several women turn up dead in the Everglades, Beckham is thrust into the investigation, as it is readily apparent a serial killer is on the loose. Suddenly, Angelina disappears and Beckham's life takes a turn for the worse. Working diligently to apprehend the serial killer paralyzing Miami's streets, Beckham finds himself at the center of the investigation into his wife's disappearance. He must work to solve both matters and dig deeper into the corruption of the human soul, as well as that of the sugarcane company which owns the properties where many of the bodies are appearing, and is tainted by its reputation of working impoverished immigrants to unimaginable lengths and subjecting them to inhumane treatment.

Grippando did an excellent job with this story. It truly is a thriller, as every development left me with more accumulated suspense and more gathered interest into the several mysteries that dot this novel. While aspects of its premise may seem eerily similar to that of "Gone Girl" I can assure you that this is an entirely different novel and does not rely on nor incorporate aspects of the aforementioned novel into it.

5/5

Cane and Abe: James Grippando

Appearances can often be deceiving as one man’s past comes haunting him in the present and his life is about to unravel. A man whose wife died from an incurable illness, cares for her mentally disabled brother, J.T. and visits her father in the nursing home he lives, finds that his past will not leave him alone, the brother in law that he takes care of might be hiding a secret, and his mental status comes into question quite often. Abe Beckham might be a prosecuting attorney at the Miami State Attorney’s Office but that does make him immune to ridicule, suspicion and resentment when his present marriage begins to fall apart and circumstances surrounding a murder investigation he’s handling resembles that of someone called THE CUTTER. The victims are all white women that dated black men in the first set of murders but this time the woman if black? Are they all connected or is someone trying to throw the police off of his trail?

Victoria Santos is a relentless FBI agent whose allegiance is to herself and her job and not to anyone else. When appearing to cooperate with other agencies it’s only a ruse to get information. Along with Detective Riddel and Detective Reyes the investigation into the murder of another victim found in the Everglades begins but the final result and the victim are linked to Abe. Tyla Tomkins is the victim and a phone call appears on Abe’s phone and several voice messages too. Seeming to have resumed a relationship with her when telling everyone they have not connected in a long time, sets the spotlight right on Abe and has him withdrawn and placed out of the loop. With Riddel’s help and friendship he learns some of what they suspect and it leads back to his first wife’s father who cut sugar cane.

As the investigation gets underway and the victim is identified FBI agent Victoria Santos comes front and center to help run the investigation. Enlisting Abe’s help and wanting him to help lead the investigation the name of the victim would alert everyone that things are about to change. Angelina does not seem to be a very tolerant person and although J.T. consumes a lot of his time, and is his first wife’s brother, she resents it and feels that he needs to cut off all ties to his previous life and devote his time to her.

Angelina does not like how involved Abe is with J. T. and Abe's fidelity is in question when it becomes known that he is connected to the latest victim. Angelina goes missing and is feared to be the newest victim. Abe goes from star prosecutor to the main suspect in his wife's disappearance.

The bodies are cut up and the victims are left on the fields of the Sugar companies. Author James Grippando gives readers a first hand knowledge of what these companies are like, the fact that many naïve young men came to work for them not realizing the hardships they would face. Added in each victim had a specific trademark that was left on their faces. Ash was smudged on their faces and this comes through when they see the photographs of the victims. As they look closer into the latest death they realize that there are some differences. The history of the sugar companies:

Sugarcane is a plant that does provide sugar and alcohol. Its cultivation began or originated from Southeastern Asia. Introduced in Brazil about five centuries ago, then Brazil was a colony of Portugal. Sugarcane and gold believe it or not at this time were valued the same. The people of Portugal were the few who had to resources needed to explore more venues and search for new lands to conquer and profit. In 1532 the Portuguese arrived here with the sugarcane plant, took the sugarcane they found on their trips to plant and have their own supply or production. The author includes more information about this business and why so many were still involved.
Added in we learn more about Luther Vine and the crimes attested to these companies when hiring these young men to harvest the cane as cutters. Workers were put into debt as soon as they began working. Instead of giving them the tools they needed the money was deducted from their meager wages and they were charged for food and drinks as well as blankets. These men were in debt to their employers and many could not find a way out. As the killer is being sought and Abe seems to be in the spotlight something happens between him and Angelina what changes things even more and turns the heat up on to a burning inferno.
Abe is placed in many awkward positions and submits to a polygraph test related to his wife’s disappearance and fails it. Questions subjectively asked and answers that would relate back to his first wife and other incidents places him in more than just the limelight. But, things start to seem strange and the reasons for his wife disappearance become apparent and the spotlight is now on someone else but just whom can he trust? Who is really on his side and what was behind Angelina’s disappearance.

Checking into the callers that appeared on Tyla’s cell phone it leads to another lead player involved with the sugar companies. Just how many men was she involved with and where would this investigation take everyone when truths are revealed and lies come to the surface. Brian Belter is the loyal for the Corinas Sugar Company and his alliance with Alberto Cortinas is something less than desired. As information comes to light about his relationship with Tyla, Cortinas explains why he’s on his own and he will disavow any knowledge. Missing Tyla’s funeral when summoned to meet this man trying to explain to him the FBI’s position does not change what is said to him and the fact that the FBI is using Tyla’s murder as an excuse to go after the sugar companies.

J.T. has become Abe’s responsibility and is bipolar. He is difficult, often does things on impulse and is known to commit dangerous acts. Getting to know J.T. you begin to realize that he has hidden secrets that he does not want revealed. As author James Grippando brings to light just why Tyla was killed, the reason and how this connects to someone from Abe’s past, a pattern emerges and things might seem to fall into place but then there is a serious twist.

As Angelina’s disappearance comes to and end and the reasons behind it come front and center Abe learns something from a friend that might change everything and possibly life the cloud or fog that is covering his eyes to see someone more clearly. An ending that will make you wonder just what is in store for Abe and whether he will wash off the black ash that seems to be covering his eyes as a harsh truth about someone close to him is revealed and a decision has to be made. With her parents at her side and a high priced attorney, Angelina seems bent on forging ahead, keeping Abe at her side but why and why?

An ending packed with suspense, twists and an easy feeling left in the reader wondering: Is Abe’s decision the right one? What is next for him? Will he remain as a star prosecutor at the Miami State’s Attorney’s Office? What happens when the real Cutter is caught? You won’t believe how! Just how relentless is Santos and why is she out for Abe? As the coordinator for the National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crimes, she is the link between the FBI and local law enforcement. Who is at the root of the killings? Who killed Tyla Tomkins and why? An ending only author James Grippando can write and a character named Abe Beckman that might find himself covered in black ash like the victims if he does not pay attention to what is right in front of him.