ROBUST discussion

Two days before publication, here's the first review of...

REQUIEM AT MONZA by Dakota Franklin

This is the second book in the "Ruthless to Win" series. I haven't yet read the first one "Le Mans" but I didn't feel like I was missing lots of important information. As far as I can tell, all the books in this series will be set in the same world of motor racing with a family of characters, but will all be different stories with a different area and different main characters, the other ones just "walk ons".

This book seemed to be a lengthy one. The plot was about a racing car crash, and the investigation into what caused it in the murky world of the Italian Camorra.

I thought the characters were great. I felt the story dragged a bit for the first part of the book, however as it progressed and got more into action, then I was swept along. I shall definitely bump Le Mans up my list now.

— Joo's book Reviews
— http://joobook.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04...

Very nice indeed.

I think that reviewer needs to learn how to write proper ;p

I always agree with my editors. Convene the firing squad!

I received a review copy of this. It is in a tradition of thrillers with exceptionally capable protagonists who have very strong fictional voices and operate in interesting settings. Andrew Vachss is one writer I've liked who does that. I am about 10% in - was reading on the subway yesterday. Definitely interested. I wish I were not so slow to finish books these days. I may be slow, but my review should be good.

I'm so relieved, Matt. I read your incisive review of Andre and Andrew's Larsson book at Cookie's Book Club and admired the way you handled it.

Mind you, Joo the Grand Inquisitor made up for the tough interview* with a 4 star #review for REQUIEM AT #MONZA an #F1 mystery on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/REQUIEM-MONZA-R... also at her blog at http://joobook.blogspot.com/2012/04/r...

* See http://joobook.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04...

You'll be a while reading REQUIEM AT MONZA, Matt. If it were in hardcover format, it would be over 300 pages.

Posted this review at goodreads and at amazon (hope it takes there, amazon sometimes refuses my reviews with no explanation)

I received this book as an advance review copy but then purchased a copy for myself.

Requiem at Monza is the second book in Dakota Franklin's Ruthless to Win series about the European racecar scene. It is not necessary to have read the first in order to enjoy this book, although now I plan to!

This is an incredibly detailed, character-filled thriller that shows intimate knowledge of the racing world as well as intricate understanding of race car engineering that should fascinate any car enthusiast. A large part of the story is set in Italy, giving elaborate and satisfying views of the Italian legal system also.

The novel follows the story of Joanne Bartlett, a tall, sexy Southern girl who is expert in security, combat, accounting, and brinksmanship. Joanne is an ultracapable heroine in most ways, with an appealing voice, whose vulnerabilities have to do with her rural upbringing and her large physical size (an obstacle to getting with the right man). Her voice is consistent and satisfying. Joanne's assignment is to help clear racing boss Jack Armitage of the charge of murder through sabotage of one of his own cars. An excellent supporting cast of engineers, manipulators, and ultracool racers assists Joanne as she makes her way through the corrupt, high-finance, deadly world of Italian crime and politics, working her way to the solution of the mystery of who sabotaged a crashed racecar and how the Camorra, the North Italian Mafia, are involved. This is a world full of unlimited expense-account living, glamour, fashion, elegance, sophistication, seduction, and murder; the characters are all literally the best in the world at what they do, working their way through the mystery with savoir faire and a distinct je ne sais quoi.

Requiem at Monza is a long book structured to alternate between tension and rest, going from peaceful moments of chat and debate and meals in high-class restaurants to furious action. The majority of the plot advances through dialogue as the characters explain their thoughts, verbally spar, flirt, insinuate, and intimidate their way through the most fashionable locations in Northern Italy. Exposition, and there is plenty, has a Da Vinci Code feel as experts deliver long technical explanations. I had trouble visualizing a lot of the details of racecar engineering, but I am not a car enthusiast, and these details, written for the racing fan, can easily be glossed over.

I don't recommend reading this book at little at a time, as it is highly complex. Set aside a good block of time to devote to it (I read it during long subway trips) and you will find the time melting away as you turn the pages.

Summary: an excellent thriller about the high-class, high-stakes world of international racing, with an appealing heroine. Dakota Franklin can stand shoulder to shoulder with the best thriller writers working today.

Good review.

Sounds as solid as Le Mans.

Great review, Matt. You will love LeMans as well...

Thanks, Matt. Having seen what you did with Andre and Andrew's book about Larsson, I knew you would write an insightful review but this is superb!

That's an elegant review, Matt. Joanne, her tendency to shoot first and ask no questions aside, is one of my favourite Dakota Franklin characters (1), and I always thought her small town background was as important a formative influence as her physical elevation. Bloody hell, now I'm doing it, euphemizing her height for fear she'll decide to do something about me. Repeat after me: Joanne Bartlett is a fictional character. Joanne Bartlett is a fictional character. Joanne Bartlett is a fiction— I'm a small-town boy myself, and it is quite clear to me that it is a formative influence. I'm glad you brought it out.

Dakota's right. It is a superb review. But your detail which convinced me that you're inside the book and the character, is that small-town motivator.

(1) Mind you, I have so many favourite characters in the ten books from Dakota's series RUTHLESS TO WIN that I have already edited, I can start a substantial racing team with them!

PS One day, when I write my memoir of being Dakota's editor, as she sweeps by in Katie's second limo on her gracious visit to the colonies, I must remember to include an essay about the entirely offstage Tommy Lee Lee, her dumb/sly sidekick when she was a bluegrass cop, another fascinating character *who isn't even present*, and his even deeper inbred Virginia cousins, still further offstage, who get only a single sentence which conjures up an extended family of cousins marrying cousins.

PPS Oh, and congratulations to Dakota too on deserving such a review.

REVIEW of REQUIEM AT MONZA
FROM LIBRARYTHING, GIVEN COMPLETE

This was a really fun read mixing mystery with car racing in Europe. The major characters are well developed although I would have preferred to see some of the other characters developed a bit more. Overall the story was well paced yet at times it got bogged down a bit in the high tech, race car engineering lingo that lost me. Worth the read!

4 stars out of five

DBower

REVIEW of REQUIEM AT MONZA
FROM LIBRARYTHING, GIVEN COMPLETE

Joanne Bartlett works for Harrington Ltd as a security specialist and accountant. She is a former Secret Service Agent and police officer now working in London. Frank Harrington gives Joanne her newest assignment with Armitage Cartwright Racing. Frank's parting words are don't let them corrupt you. Charlie Cartwright introduces Joanne to Jack Armitage, Adam Boyle, Piero Agnelli, Herr Hans Richsler, and Ludovico dell'Mira. They tell Joanne that they are having problems with their Italian lawyer not being effective or doing his job properly. The Italian Courts want to charge Armitage Cartwright Racing with murder and faulty parts. Joanne along with Ludo and Carey are sent to Milan to resolve this problem and get all charges dropped. They arrive in Milan to meet with lawyer named Gess telling him what is expected of him from this point on. Gess appears to be nervous about something and is hiding something as well. Joanne has a list of things she wants to accomplish for her client and getting to the bottom of the problems. Gess is murdered execution style in his home. Now Joanne and company are wanted for questioning by the Italian Police. Can Joanne solve this mystery? Why was Gess murdered? What is next for Joanne and company? Your answers await you in Requiem At Monza.

4 stars out of five

WolfFaerie

REVIEW of REQUIEM AT MONZA
FROM LIBRARYTHING, GIVEN COMPLETE

Dakota Franklin is author to the series Ruthless to Win. Each book of the series, however, is stand-alone with references that do not require the reader to know the story of other books. She lives in Switzerland and writes exciting, technical novels. For the average reader, Requiem at Monza might contain too much technical information, yet it will continue to hold the reader in its grip of intrigue.

Jo Ann, the main character, is a securities specialist searching for a vehicle part that the Italian authorities will not release for inspection. The intrigue involves authorities and criminal minds allowing a lot of action and twists to the plot. About the time you think the mystery will be solved, a new twist steps in. Jo Ann, being the strong, tall woman she is (yes, tall is important to Jo Ann), is able to think ahead most of the time to the possible implications of the situation. Jo Ann brings a little humor, a lot of intuition, and her ability to think outside of the box to give the reader enjoyment.

This is not a novel for the light reader, but is one that will probably hold the attention of any racing fan to the brutal end. The race track and drivers figure prominently yet do not overshadow the action. The high-tech influence on the cars is important and explains many things that the non-racing fan might grasp to understand the technology involved in putting these high-dollar cars on the track.

4 stars out of five

sara.edens

REVIEW of LE MANS a novel
FROM LIBRARYTHING, GIVEN COMPLETE

The character of the aspiring female driver Mallory is convincing, and like the author herself, is an engineer. What I most like about this book is that racing is the core of the story. It has all the elements necessary for a good novel: romance, violent crime, and social interaction with the wealthy corporate world so intrinsic to motor sport at the highest professional levels, but those subplots never displace the core of the story. In too many other novels about motorsport romance and the romantic social world overshadow the racing story, but Dakota Franklin avoided this trap. The longish blow by blow account of the Lemans 24 hour race reminds me the movie Lemans, which also devoted a large block of the movie to great racing action. One minor annoyance I found while reading is that tenses too often don't agree. Otherwise it was a good story.

4 stars out of five

flagabrwrite

Good job, Dakota. I'm lucky if I get a single review for my titles, but it looks like you've got the magic to pull in multiples. They're thoughtful reviews, too, with details. That took some effort on the part of your readers.

Nice return from Library Thing, Dakota. Great reviews too!

Good to see things are happening around ROBUST. I was thinking of starting a new thread with a single word, HELLO! so that if one shot off a cannon here they had a chance of hitting something, :-)).

I'm here multiple times a day, even if no one else shows up. I sent a message to Claudine today asking her to come back.

Good for you, Patricia! I hope she does!

Patricia wrote: "I'm here multiple times a day, even if no one else shows up..."

Yeah, we count on you!

Patricia wrote: "Good job, Dakota. I'm lucky if I get a single review for my titles, but it looks like you've got the magic to pull in multiples. They're thoughtful reviews, too, with details. That took some effort..."

Sharon wrote: "Nice return from Library Thing, Dakota. Great reviews too!."

I'm delighted with the reviews but I'm afraid I can't take any credit. Andre wrote the promotional text for the giveaway on Librarything and Gemma put it up and handled the administration.

Sharon, I thought we were counting on you.

Dakota, you get the credit for writing books people react to in a positive way.

I too hope Claudine returns. She is an asset, always good for a giggle.

Yep, Dakota, if the books hadn't been written there would be nothing to promote. Nice that you have such a strong support system...

I'm assuming you are in the grunge work of editing rounds for the next book or two? Or are you taking a break and following the racing season?

Patricia wrote: "Sharon, I thought we were counting on you..."

I am away again for a week or so on Thursday, so I'm counting on you lot to hold the fort... And get some ROBUSTness going!

I'm not sure you can count on me. I'm thinking of going to Myrtle Beach and if I do, I won't be taking my computer.

The racing season runs eleven months in the year. I'm just working normally.

I'm not so much editing as breaking a huge book into two self-standing parts. There are about half a dozen other complete books that CoolMain can publish whenever they like, so there is no urgency.

It's because I am "between books" that I thought I'd try my hand at marketing, with the hilarious results reported in another thread.

Patricia, that sounds like fun!

Dakota said: I'm not so much editing as breaking a huge book into two self-standing parts. There are about half a dozen other complete books that CoolMain can publish whenever they like, so there is no urgency.

Nice...