The Pied Piper, by Ridley Pearson

Reviewed by: The Blind Monkey
Sunday, July 25, 1999

Waiting impatiently for a recent delayed flight to Seattle, the Monkey decides to venture into that deep abyss of mass market media: the airport book store. Yada, yada, yada, grip ‘em and rip ‘em Romance junket… yada, yada, yada, true crime psycho thriller… yada, yada, yada, special issue Time… then I see The Pied Piper. Hmmm… according to the jacket, it’s “A thinking man’s Robert Ludlum.” Thinking man?? Whatever. I hate any review that says if you liked this book or that author you must be stupid. NEXT!

Immediately moving to put the book back, part of the text suddenly catches my eye, “…featuring Seattle detective Lou Bolt.” After all, I AM on my way to Seattle, so I reconsider. Condescending review or not, Ridley Pearson it is, and the Monkey is set for a 4 1/2 hour flight wedged between a large smelly man and a chatty, giggly pre-teen in an overstuffed, sold-out flight to the Pacific Northwest.

Okay, let’s start by pointing out that I couldn’t find a single similarity between Ludlum and Pearson. Cromwell, Connelly, or Baldacci yes, but not Ludlum. Not even close. So Kirkus Reviews, if you’re reading, go buy a Ludlum and figure out what the hell you’re talking about.

But other than Ludlum, the similarities to those others are unmistakable. Never have I read a character so completely modelled after another!! Lt. Lou Bolt is a thin version of Connelly’s Harry Bosch — and I’m NOT referring to his emanciated profile. Come on, not only does he copy Bosch’s style for crying out loud, he even listens to the same music!! VERY annoying.

Alright, but to get right down to it, the story’s not bad. In fact, Pearson’s got a knack for leading you along. I hate to say it, but I ended up enjoying this one. Bolt is the typical likeable rouge, and the supporting characters are colorful, biting, and well developed. He even threw in a surprise or two that I didn’t anticipate.

But the truth is that he doesn’t break any new ground. You’d be better off to pick up a Connelly or an older Kellerman. I give this book three bananas for good writing — but I penalize him two for trying to con us into thinking this is original material.

Mass Market Paperback – 372 pages (July 1999) Hyperion Press; ISBN: 0786889551; Dimensions (in inches): 1.10 x 6.73 x 4.23