Jumping The Shark, Part One

Today I just finished a novel and ever since, I’ve been contemplating the idea that not only TV shows, but authors and/or book series can Jump The Shark. I’m saddened by the admission, but a few of my favorite “go-to” authors upon whom I always counted for an interesting read, a great story and a suspenseful tale have totally jumped the shark.

Linda Fairstein prompted this introspection after I completed Death Dance. I loved her previous mysteries featuring Assistant D.A. Alexandra Cooper and detectives Mercer Wallace and Mike Chapman. I enjoyed reading the narrative portions having to do with the trio’s personal lives as much as the mystery/investigative parts. This latest, however – what a letdown! I was semi-enjoying it until the big dénouement but jeez, this has to be the Lamest. Motive. Ever. I can’t finish my snark without spoilers, so if you plan to read Death Dance, skip ahead. Ross Kehoe kills dancer Talya Galinova why? Because Talya was trying to blackmail producer Joe Berk into giving her a starring role in his next Broadway venture, which will not do at all because Ross (in cahoots with Joe’s son and niece) has arrangements in place to kill Joe so the kids can get their hands on their inheritance.

Think you missed something? Imagine how I felt after 482 pages.

What the hell? Why Talya’s starring role/blackmail attempt matters in the slightest in terms of the Nefarious Master Plan totally escapes me. What difference does it make if her blackmail attempt succeeds or fails, since Joe’s getting offed in the next few days anyway?

I wrote that I was only “semi-enjoying” it earlier because, aside from the Lame Motive Letdown, I hate it hate it hate it when writers get sloppy on the details, especially writers who make a living at it. I can take 10 seconds to Google something to make sure my facts are straight and all I write is a personal blog, why can’t you when you’re getting paid for it?!? Fairstein lives in Manhattan and much of this story is set at the Met, so you’d think she’d know – or at least bother to confirm - her facts. Not so. For example: there are twelve chandeliers in the main auditorium, not the THIRTY-TWO she postulates. There are five tiers of seating, not six, and there are 195 standing-room-only spaces available, not the 275 of which she writes. I live in Atlanta, and I found this out. My super-secret inside source? The Met’s web page.

But that’s a personal peeve. The other two authors of whom I was thinking in regard to jumping the shark are James Lee Burke and Patricia Cornwell. To be continued...