The Emperor of Ocean Park - Dark Publications

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Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
A riveting novel of ambition, revenge and the power of familial obligations.

Talcott Garland is a successful law professor and devoted family man. When his father, a disgraced former Supreme Court nominee, is found dead under suspicious circumstances, Talcott suspects foul play. Guided by the elements of a mysterious puzzle that his father left, Talcott must risk his marriage his career, and even his life in his quest for justice. The Emperor of Ocean Park is a captivating legal thriller set in the privileged worlds of upper crust African American society and the inner circle of Ivy League law school.

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars

Where was his editor? October 2, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

Stephen L. Carter is a fine writer, and his first novel has a worthy and interesting premise. It's also fascinating to get a glimpse at the world of elite African-American power-brokers. The chess framework here also is promising, and reflects the intricacy of the plot.

But who in his right mind could have thought that it was a good idea for a book like this to linger on for more than 800 pages!? Where was his editor? In his inexperience, Carter seems to think that, every time he wants to introduce a new twist in the plot, he needs to create a new set of characters to put that in motion. The result is a meandering, disgressive, over-hyped pilgrimage through all the places of his protagonist Talcott ("Misha") Garland's past, present, and future. This protagonist is constantly taking his own temperature, and each time he does a new twist in the action must reflect it. Mental and physical landscape here are intertwined in a messy mish-mash that submerges the clear outlines of plot that a good mystery needs.

Way too long and way too self-indulgent. Too bad: with a firm hand and a bold red pen, this might have been a good book.

5 out of 5 stars

Gets under your skin (pun intended) August 28, 2007
1 out of 2 found this review helpful

I love books that take me to a different place in my head, the kind of book that keeps you thinking about it even when you're washing the dishes or getting ready for bed, whatever.

I'm a polar opposite of the protagonist, being an older working class white female, but I'm also like him in so many ways, having lived in Washington for a couple of decades and having worked in private (and elite) higher education all my working life. Because of the juxtaposition of the similarities and contrasts, this book was really fun for me.

Carter's descriptions are, for the most part, excellent (although at times unnecessarily detailed). Characterization is where he really stands out, though. The protagonist is accused by several other characters (in particular, his wife) of becoming so obsessed with the mystery that he's getting "crazy", and I certainly bought into it: there were times I had to wonder if that was going to be the plot twist, that it really was all a figment of his over-active imagination. I loved that he had character flaws that felt real to me, unlike the way so many other authors write their main character's flaws, the way a politician who is running for president describes his biggest fault ('I care too much about doing The People's business').

Along the way, he drops in some really wonderful mini-essays, bon mots and zingers about American society today, often with a slightly different slant, which make one stop and think. That's the other thing I really loved about this book, it just makes you stop and think. I have to admit, I would like nothing better than to have perhaps half a dozen long lunches with the author, and I've already ordered his next book.

4 out of 5 stars

Entertaining and Insightful Reading! June 1, 2008
I read this long before ordering books from Amazon so please excuse my forgetting a number of details of this book. I do remember enjoying this read very much and shared this with my spouse, as well as co-workers. I don't do this with books I do not find interesting. I enjoyed reading about Ivy League academia, as well as the African-American experience in same. Tal was a likable character as was his sister [or was it sister-in law?]. The mystery surrounding the Judge's death was a compelling read. This book and the mysteries within sustained this reader's interest from beginning to end. Can't wait for more from this author. Highly recommended reading!

3 out of 5 stars

Hard Read August 25, 2008
This novel was hard to understand. The story's direction was slow and painful for a group of lawyers. Throughout the novel are moments of ambiguity. The characterization of legal personalities in the novel left me disappointed. I am looking forward to the second novel with hopes of redemption.

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