What do readers think of Greasing the Piñata by Tim Maleeny? Write your own review.

As a voracious reader of mystery stories, I was intrigued by the characters, a male PI and his female side kick, an Asian Martial Arts protector. The setting occurred in the US as well as Mexico and the theme naturally involved drugs. I found the author has a knack for very unconventional characters and this was somewhat off putting to me. I enjoy unconventional characters but not every character needs a strange trait.

The storyline was certainly current with a tie into the environment but much of the important parts of the story were developed through conversation as oppose to action. I guess I like my characters to do it the old fashion way, the gum shoe way.

The book was well written and very readable. The thesis was a new twist on the drug cartels but this book did not make my all time ten best list.

I LOVE mysteries - all different kinds. I hadn't read Tim Maleeny before and looked forward to a new author, a new style. I would categorize this one as a semi-hardboiled action thriller. Maleeny has created a REALLY eclectic cast of characters and scenarios under the umbrella of "Anything Can Happen in Mexico": wisecracking former journalist turned PI (male); his protector, a deadly female ninja who relaxes by pretending to drown herself; a US senator and his adult children (indulged son and neglected daughter); a really creepy sociopath killer with pointy teeth and a priest fetish; a bunch of soul-less Mexican drug lords who I couldn't QUITE keep straight, and a supporting cast of homicidal foot soldiers and bag-men including a giant with no tongue. And - oh yes, the scorpions, piranhas, giant squid and creative weaponry fit in there somewhere, too.

There's a lot of action, a lot of violence (some of it quite disturbing), and sometimes the plot doesn't quite hang together, but somehow, given all this, I didn't bail on the book, and finished it thinking that maybe I'll try another one just to see.

Maleeny's writing style is bright and fresh, pulling the reader into the story from page 1. It reminded me of Lee Child's thrillers. Things quickly take a downturn as murders and torture are described in sickening detail. One eye-gouging sequence keeps returning to my mind, and I only want to forget it. Gave up half-way through the book after repeated gross-outs. Yeech.

This book appears to have an identity crisis. Perhaps if I had read the first two about the characters it would be more clear. However, it has elements of "male cozy' with broad humor about stereotypical car salesmen and mafia, scary fish in the toilet, etc. combined with very dark violence, Chinese triads, and drug lords. I would prefer better developed characters that I really cared about.

Sad to say, this book didn't appeal to me at all. There was too much violence, unrealistic "high tech gadgets" and and so many characters it was hard to keep track of them. It didn't hold my interest and I found myself thinking, "okay, I need to finish this book so I can go on to something enjoyable."

I am the discussion leader for a large book group, 25 people, and I won't recommend the book to my group.

If you want a good mystery try reading some by Jefferson Bass. Recently I read "Flesh and Bone" my this author and couldn't put it down.

There is violence and then there is violence. I stopped reading after 63 pages as I could not justify the graphic detail. I have read many, many mysteries but in a good mystery the journey is fun. Fun to learn about the characters, see the plot develop. This particular use of violence distracted, did not enhance. It was just messy. Sadly, I do not want to know more about Cape Weathers.