Dead Game (John Marquez Series #3)

fine fish and wildlife police procedural

California Fish & Game Special Operations Unit Warden John Marquez is concerned with the poaching of sturgeon in the Sacramento/San Joaquin River delta. Someone was killing the sturgeon to ¿extract¿ the eggs to make caviar and is unconcerned about collateral damage to other fish. However, Marquez does not have the manpower to stop the poachers as his unit has shrunk down to three while the criminals have gotten smarter, bigger, and more energetic, and the FBI steps in and out looking for sound byte poser cases only. --- Still he tries using informants to help him catch the crooks such as former sturgeon poacher Abe Raburn who Marquez pressures into testifying against former KGB agent Nikolai Ludovna, who came to the states allegedly as a realtor, but is the caviar poaching kingpin. Abe proves uninformative perhaps out of fear of retaliation. Russian-born field guide Anna Burdovsky agrees to help, but she vanishes without a trace following a meeting with specialty food storeowner Don August, who Marquez believes sells illegal caviar. With potential problems at home, Marquez concentrates on expediting Anna from danger though he fears he is too late. --- The key to this fine fish and wildlife police procedural is the different personalities that make up the sturgeon poaching crowd as readers will understand the economic motivations of poachers, sellers, storeowners, users, law enforcement officials, and informants. The story line is somewhat typical of the undermanned and under-equipped cops struggling to defeat superior forces while knowing a victory today just means a new criminal takes over the territory. DEAD GAME is a fabulous tale that entertains the audience while also educating readers with how complex the environmental-economic issues are. --- Harriet Klausner

15 out of 25 people found this review helpful.

an ok book

The book drug in places and didnt have enough action.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Adequate

It's an OK read.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Seriously?

I can't believe I actually finished this book.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great writing with a solid plot that kept me wanting more.

Great writing with a solid plot that kept me wanting more.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Anonymous

I started out liking the John Marquez series, but after reading through several books, it was the same ole same ole. I became bored with them. Different characters same plot. Maybe some day I'll come back to them.

Good Book - Moved along well

Story moved along well.

Interesting book, well worth the read.

I live in Sacramento, so the book appealed to me partly because I recognized so much of the settings. It isn't a nail biting thriller, but learning more about fish and game wardens and sturgeon fish makes it very worth reading. I will be looking at more of the author's books.

Hard going. In a sense this really isn't fiction. There's lots

Hard going. In a sense this really isn't fiction. There's lots of "he did this" and "she said that," but really no character development, almost no interior monologue or thoughts, very little in the way of compelling or dramatic relationships. I will say the progress of the case seemed extremely realistic. I felt as though I could drive the roads and see the exact sites the author was describing I real life. In fact I suspected he really was just describing places he knew and people he had encountered. I struggled to finish this book.

Hmm...

I liked Russell's second book in this series better but this book wasn't too bad. I really liked the idea of the book but felt some parts could have been developed more. There were a few times I had to stop for a second and fill in the gaps on my own...maybe that was Russell's intention?

Suspense

Good suspense yarn!

good read

Read while on vacation. Looking to read previous book.

Dead Game is a slow read

Very very slow going. Like others, I put this book on hold and read another book or two, hoping Dead Game would get better. I cant recommend this book unless you enjoy a very slow pace. I dont plan to read any other books by this author.

Kevin

Kevin!!!!^

0 out of 19 people found this review helpful.

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