Richard BelzerCritiques

I'll give Mr. Belzer this, at least he knows how write in his own voice and it's obvious he had a blast writing this book. While not as funny as I'd hoped it would be, it was nice to see a slice of New York you don't often see in books, like the Russians who inhabit Brighton Beach and the Russian mafiya which has reared its ugliness in recent years.

As with any book in this genre (accidental detective?) the situations are a little, OK, a lot improbable, but then it wouldn't be much fun to read otherwise, right?

couldn't get interested

A hilarious novel written by one of New York's finest - well, on TV at least. Our hero, the snarky actor-turned-investigator Richard Belzer (yes, the same Belzer!) tracks down the people responsible for his friend's disappearance with his usual dry wit and unapologetic way with words. Drags a bit at places, but wraps up nicely at the end and never fails to satisfy. I'll definitely be reading the next one in the series - and I really hope Mr. Belzer (the actor, not the character) continues his latest career as fiction writer for a couple more novels, at least :)

Some interesting point made in reference to the Kennedy assassination. Otherwise too over the top for me.

Interesting forensic & evidence analysis book that, if it doesn't have full answers, at least finds a lot of holes in the official ones.

Molto ben documentato, riporta anche fatti poco noti in modo dettagliato.

Very interesting, almost conversational tone to this book. I'm liking it so far. Definitely feels like I'm sitting at a table and the actor is telling me a story.

I think I'm getting spoiled by movies and TV, where the building, suspense, and clues are either more obvious or less scattered. This book is opening lots of empty closet doors, or so it seems. I have a suspicion about a character, but it would be a standard trope...

As I read, I'm definitely getting the sense that the main character is a Mary Sue of the actor, with what he'd hope would happen. Which is coloring my view of the book even more.

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Okay, so I am definitely either reading too many of these type books or something. The suspicion I had of one character proved to be true. In fact, I knew it the moment the character appeared on the page. Shoot, most of the last two chapters read like a cliché. Even the ending had that predictable trope like ring to it. One other twist I wasn't completely buying, really I still don't, though it does sound plausible.

For a fiction book by a stand up comic and actor, this probably isn't that bad for a first attempt. I could see places I'd tighten the prose, places where I'd add description, and places I'd just drop.

A good decent read when you really don't want to think...½

This book points out the highlights of the events leading and up and after the accident. It is written as if it were a conversation between two people. Great book to read another conclusion about the tragic accident and the very well known cover-up.

Dead Wrong 2: Diana, Princess of Wales – Chillingly Comprehensive

Diana, Princess of Wales, met a tragic end in the early morning hours of August 31, 1997, in what appeared to be an unfortunate traffic accident. Supposedly speeding through a Paris tunnel, driven by an intoxicated chauffer, her boyfriend by her side, the car wrecked as it was chased by a horde of paparazzi.

At least that's what you're supposed to believe.

Authors Richard Belzer and David Wayne know the truth: Princess Diana was not only assassinated, she knew she would be murdered. She even knew how it would happen, it was simply a matter of when. Belzer and Wayne present the facts to prove what is easily one of the most shocking, deliberate acts of murder of all time. Even more chilling, when you realize those who carried out this heinous scheme got away with it…scot free.

Two young boys lost their mother because their grandparents, especially their grandfather, Prince Philip, felt nothing but antipathy toward the beloved woman who was truly “The People’s Princess.” You, too, will feel the bile rise in the back of your throat as you discover the ways in which Princess Diana was used and abused by the Royals and those closest to the Mountbatten-Windsors.

All too many of the terrible things you’ve heard about her, Dodi Fayed, Henri Paul, and others sadly involved in the tragedy simply are not true. Belzer and Wayne have impeccably researched this e-book, as they have their other collaborations, “Dead Wrong” and “Hit List.” The facts written here (and most carefully footnoted) are irrefutable – and terrifying. Thanks to Richard Belzer’s engaging writing style, his voice comes through as if he was sitting with you, relating the story personally.

Princess Diana was only five minutes from a hospital, suffering internal injuries that she would have survived. A complex, covert plan was underway to ensure she didn’t live to see another day.

That plan also included killing Henri Paul (her sober driver that night) and Dodi Fayed, her boyfriend whom by all accounts she planned to wed. In the process, bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones was so badly injured his face needed extensive reconstructive surgery and he has limited memory of the events of that fateful moment. Ironically, he was taken to the very hospital where Princess Diana’s life would have been saved.

"Dead Wrong 2" lays it all out there in extensively researched truth, so intensely compelling once you begin reading this e-book you won't be able to stop until you've finished. What you thought you knew has nothing whatsoever in common with what actually happened. This book sets the record straight, once and for all.

Available through Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Dead-Wrong-Diana-Princess-Wales-ebook/dp/B00GH6XBKC/ref=sr...

The book covers unlimited speculation and intrigue surrounding the deaths of the famous and not nearly so famous, ten in all. I read only the parts covering President Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, and Vince Foster. For conspiracy advocates this book presents will provide a fool's paradise.

Some day we may find that one of the theories was in fact real, but most of us will be long gone ourselves and what difference would it make other than exposing the plot long after the event with little consequence.

I personally do not believe in the great conspiracies posed, primarily on the Kennedy assassination but they do make interesting speculation considering motives ranging from the mafia to LBJ. In Vince Fosters case they don't even speculate on those behind it which I found puzzling, apparently leaving it to the reader's imagination. The most annoying aspect of the book was a repetition of similar angles to seemingly fill up space in the book.

Not a bad presentation overall but nothing particularly new or sensation just the typical hype and fodder for late night talk radio.

I really liked this book, which was somewhat of a surprise. I decided to try it because I like Richard Belzer as Detective John Munch on Law & Order SVU, but loved him in the same role on Homicide: Life on the Streets where the role originated.

So, I figured I would give the book a try, see if he wrote as well as he acted - and surprisingly, he does!

It was a bit of shock to realize that the main character in this book is Richard Belzer, that took a while to get used to but paid off in the end. Because he used his own voice he was able to really give a feeling of familiarity and some great inside looks at the making of a blockbuster TV show. He was careful to not bring other members of the cast into the story, other than by inference, like - yeah, he knows which "she" someone is referring to when they want an autographed photo.

The mystery is built around friendship, one of his close friends disappears, then sends him a mysterious letter with a riddle he feels he has to solve. When he starts running into a few of the less "kind" members of the Russian community (Little Odessa) things start getting interesting.

Kalisha (Kali) is introduced as Belzer's shadow, appointed by the brass of the show to try and keep him out of trouble. Of course, they had no idea that she would jump right in to help out any way she can.

It was a fast, fun read and I'm going to read the next in the series.

Given the fact that this this is a novel by a standup-comic-turned-actor who's writing about a fictionalized version of himself (a standup-comic-turned-actor who finds himself embroiled in the disappearance of a friend), this isn't half bad.
But it's not really half good, either. Way too many dei ex machini for my taste. Not to mention too many kung fu heroics by the protagonist.
Still it was good enough that I finished it.
Keep your day job(s), Richard. You're not going to be able to afford that home in France on your royalties as a novelist.

As much as I believe in certain conspiracy theories myself, this was not a particularly spectacular research book.

Funny as heck though.

Richard Belzer is starting to really show his skills as a writer in his second novel. The sequel to "I Am Not a Cop," "I am Not a Psychic" is witty and a wonderfully suspenseful read.

to long winded½

OK, this is humor not investigation. But SVU Munch fans will enjoy this funny and also though provoking book. All three pieces are a laugh and a half.

The quality of The Belz's book depends mostly on how you approach it: as a theory-and-evidence book on conspiracies and cover-ups, or as a humour piece.

As an academic book, it has major failings. You have to take Belzer's word, or the word of several references of unknown credibility, on a lot of things.

The humour aspect saves it somewhat, as long as you like Belzer's snark. Being familiar with his stand-up definitely helps, as you'd have a better idea of his tone during his rants.

Also, lest the title lead you astray, there is nothing about Elvis.

Possibly one of the funniest books I have ever read. If you happen to be a fan of his character, John Munch on Law and Order: SVU please give this book a read.

Case 13 shelf 4

Case 13 shelf 4

Case 13 shelf 4