GOT THE LOOK by James Grippando
Every once in a while you start off with an author who is a pretty good writer but doesn't overwhelm you. Still you follow their books and hope one day he or she will truly hit their stride. Such is the case of James Grippando. His previous novels have been enjoyable thrillers but with GOT THE LOOK he finds the absolutely right combination of characters and plot.
In this novel Attorney Jack Swyteck is once again the leading character. He is living in Miami and trying to make ends meet. He has found a woman named Mia he is serious about, but she has an air of mystery about her he can not quite fathom. Then one day he finds out she has been kidnapped. He also finds out she is married.
So begins his quest to save Mia. She has been abducted by a serial kidnapper who demands as ransom "the amount of money she is worth." Mia's husband is reluctant to pay anything since his wife was cheating on him, and Jack doesn't have the big bucks he thinks the kidnapper will require in order to free her.
The subject of kidnapping for ransom has been a common one in thrillers lately, but Grippando manages to keep the plot going at an exciting level over the full length of the story. This is not an easy task as there are lulls here and there but Grippando manages to create side stories that still move the plot forward and also fill in the characterizations he has started.
Swyteck becomes a fully recognized hero in this story. He has moved out of the shadow of his once famous father and has become totally his own man. His investigator Theo is also his best friend and is a fun addition to the Swyteck bunch.
GOT THE LOOK moves between Miami and Atlanta and both cities are made a part of the plot. Grippando knows his locales and uses them to substantiate the actions of his characters. Both cities have unique areas of interest and history that Grippando uses to flavor his story.
If you have read Grippando's earlier novels and weren't blown away by his style, read GOT THE LOOK to see how his talent has developed. This is a writer who has hit his stride and uses his skills to thoroughly entertain the reader. The book is GOT THE LOOK, but the secret of its success is the fact Grippando's "got the talent" to create a chilling thriller.
GOT THE LOOK is published by HarperCollins. It contains 390 pages and sells for $24.95.