The Crack in the Lens by Steve Hockensmith

Okay, you know I've been ranting and raving about these books since I discovered them but lately, my feelings have changed.

This book has the brothers heading back to San Marcos to solve the murder of Old Red's fiancee from years before. The boys don't get the sweetest welcome and a whole bunch of bad things happen in their pursuit of the truth. There are old friends, old enemies, and trouble around every turn.

The first book was great. You can read all about it here. The second one was pretty good and my thoughts are here. The third was just okay and my review is here. This one....

It's just not quite the same. There was a lot less fun, less humor, and a lot more destruction then before. There was so much stumbling around of the characters that it just all feel into place, albeit awkwardly. The deduction portion of these books that I had loved just seemed to be missing here.

At first I was a little sad that there was so few of these books written but not anymore. I am okay that there was only a few, and I don't think I'm going to be reading the last of them. These books are turning out to be more violent then I really like without needing it to happen.

I wasn't super happy about the ending either, I really wouldn't have written it this way. I didn't even really like how the title was so connected to the core of the story. It was just a little too obvious for me.

Recommendation: If anything, read the first one, and the second one. Those are gems. This one kinda wasn't.