An Interesting Mystery Based Only on Its Own Merits

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	• Bad Twin (Hyperion) Gary Troup Hyperion, 2006 - 272 pages average customer review:based on 98 reviews view larger image
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Nice plot - abrupt ending

Bad Twin is a well written beach-read type novel. The author does a nice job of keeping it a page turner, as there were many chapter where I just couldnt seem to put it down. However, I was less than pleased with the way it ended. The resolving of the plot happened way too quickly in the last 4 pages of the book and just didnt seem to flow with the tempo of the rest of the story. Not bad though overall - some interesting LOST references too.

An Interesting Mystery Based Only on Its Own Merits

As long as you don't go into reading BAD TWIN thinking you're going to solve the mysteries of the hit television show Lost, then you should be okay. BAD TWIN, on its own, is an intriguing mystery featuring twin brothers--one a bigwig in the family business, the other a ne're-do-well who has gone missing.

Oh, sure, there are a few references in the actual storyline to make you go "hmmm"--the philosopher John Locke, a trip to Australia aboard an Oceanic flight, the totally hyped numbers showing up as the twin's birthday, and the family name of Widmore. But besides those few basic tidbits, this book won't tell you squat. It really has nothing to do with Lost.

On its own merits, though, it's an engaging mystery that I read in one day, and if Gary Troup was an actual person (which he isn't), and had actually written anything else besides BAD TWIN (which he hasn't), I wouldn't hesitate to read it.

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Bad Twin

***spoilers*below***

Alright, so it starts off interestingly enough, albeit kind of slowly. Gets better, mystery, mystery, travel, whoo-hoo. I was highly intrigued by the idea that Zander was the good twin and Cliff the bad one. I really thought that would play out more than it did. But then again, I thought lots of things would play out more than they did, for example, Sky. Oh well. Moving beyond that, you have the detective story. I think that was the biggest mistake the writer could make. You don't say, "oh, here's the best mystery book plotline EVER" and then use it yourself. That hurts you, it really does. Not only are you saying that your story has the best plotline, you're also being idiotically predictable. Lots of people die, it's messed up, Manny tosses around some great quotes [loved him!], and we finally find Zander. Back home, Cliff's been killed, so everyone rushes back for the most rushed, convoluted, and random solution ever, although I did love the reunion between father and son.
The plot then, pretty much was horrible. I have to give some credit to the writing though, which I thought in many places was fabulous. I just wish it had more tie-ins with the show and wasn't quite as horribly rushed. [nice cameos by Mittlewerk and Alvar, though!]

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Quick read, but kinda "flat"

This book was short and I got it used (always a good way to go when you are unsure about a book). It wasn't necessarily a bad investment, but the book wasn't all that great either. If I had the choice, I would probably have rated it a 2-1/2 stars or maybe even 2 stars.

Plot:
Paul Artisan, a private detective, is hired by a rich family to find a wayward son. In the process, he discovers that there are quite a few secrets held by this family that will help lead to the recovery of the missing son.

Good:
There were some great points to the book. I liked Paul and Manny's relationship (something you just don't see between two generations anymore). I also took enjoyment of seeing the Hanso Foundation mentioned (though how would they have let Gary Troup put them in a fictional book is beyond me). Other tidbits from the LOST show were interesting but not essential (which was upsetting).

Bad:
However, the story was flat. The traveling across the world to find the son gets old and feels contrived and more than a little like those connect-the-dots puzzles you do as a child. I had a hard time picturing straight laced, "I-want-to-find-the-truth" Paul with the Paul reminiscing about taking marijuana. The romance between Paul and Pru, which might have made sense if given more time, was rushed. For someone who hasn't had sex apparently in a long time, the thought is always on his mind and apparently every woman he has contact with. I am shocked at how many women are like "I wish I made love to you" after a thirty minute interview. The older son uses more gutter language than he really should (while it is completely absent from the younger). And some of the literary references feel forced (like the author felt he should allude to something later).

Dialogue/Sexual Situations/Violence:
F-word gets quite a work out in this book by pretty much everyone Paul gets in contact with. Sh**, d***, h***, God's name are also frequent. Paul pretty much wants to have sex with any woman he meets (no matter how long or short that is) and does have sex (moderately graphic) with Pru. It is suggested that Xander had a relationship with his brother's wife. The step-mom is having an affair. Violence includes two deaths and several attempted murders.

Overall:
For LOSTies (like myself), this is interesting but not necessary. Do what I did and buy it used. I find it difficult to believe that someone like Sawyer who is obviously well-read (i.e. Of Mice and Men) would enjoy something this mediocre and amatuerish.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Paul Artisan, P.I. is a new version of an old breed -- a righter of wrongs, someone driven to get to the bottom of things. Too bad his usual cases are of the boring malpractice and fraud variety. Until now. His new gig turns on the disappearance of one of a pair of twins, adult scions of a rich but tragedy-prone family. The missing twin -- a charismatic poster-boy for irresponsibility -- has spent his life daring people to hate him, punishing himself endlessly for his screw-ups and misdeeds. The other twin -- Artisan's client -- is dutiful and resentful in equal measure, bewildered that his "other half" could have turned out so badly, and wracked by guilt at his inability to reform him. He has a more practical reason, as well, for wanting his brother found: their crazy father, in failing health and with guilty secrets of his own, will not divide the family fortune until both siblings are accounted for. But it isn't just a fortune that's at stake here. Truth itself is up for grabs, as the detective's discoveries seem to challenge everything we think we know about identity, and human nature, and family. As Artisan journeys across the globe to track down the bad twin, he seems to have moved into a mirror-world where friends and enemies have a way of looking very much alike. The P.I. may have his long-awaited chance to put his courage and ideals to the test, but if he doesn't get to the bottom of this case soon, it could very well cost him his life. Troup's long-awaited Bad Twin is a suspenseful novel that touches on many powerful themes, including the consequence of vengeance, the power of redemption, and where to turn when all seems lost.

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