“Queen of the Night,” by J. A. Jance

FM's ratings:

          1. Premise 7
          2. Prose 8
          3. Plot 6
          4. Characters 9
          5. Overall 7

Comments (optional - but try to keep it under 3000 words!)

This novel would warrant a higher rating if not for the extremely slow start.  The first quarter of the book was a setting of the stage, the beginnings of several sub-plots that had seemingly nothing to do with each other.  Yes, the connections were eventually made, and were even satisfying, but in the meantime the feeling was like watching a soap opera, not yet familiar with the various characters.  Toward the end, there are quite a few very moving moments; even “tear-jerkers” if you will, now that we care about the characters.  Perhaps if the murder had happened near the beginning of the story rather than well into it, there would be more buy-in on the part of the reader.  The book does make me want to try another one by the author, in the hopes of a better plot and/or a more dynamic premise.