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PEOPLE & ARTSWednesday 6 January 2016
Book Reviews:
‘Blackout’ and ‘House of 8 Orchids’ are genuine thrillers
JEFF AYERS This book cover image released by Minotaur shows “Blackout,” pursuing the answers this Younger brother, William,
Associated Press a thriller by David Rosenfelt. time could end his life. is a forger. Older brother,
Rosenfelt avoids the stan- John, has become an as-
“BLACKOUT” (Minotaur via AP) dard amnesia cliches and sassin and the eunuch’s fa-
(Minotaur), by David focuses on character in- vorite son.
Rosenfelt ing his memory, but he seek the truth. He was lucky stead of memory flashes Since neither has any
A cop literally loses his mind feels the need to actively to survive the first time, but when it’s convenient to the memory of their lives be-
chasing a killer in “Black- story. How does someone fore the kidnapping, they
out,” David Rosenfelt’s lat- adjust in a technological have no concept of life
est thriller. world while also essentially beyond their “family.” That
Police officer Doug Brock starting over? The case changes when the eunuch
has been pursuing criminal becomes almost an after- is hired by a wealthy busi-
mastermind Nicholas Ben- thought because Brock nessman to deliver a fa-
nett for years, but hasn’t and his colleagues are so mous Chinese actress for
been able to get the evi- richly portrayed. When the his personal use.
dence he needs to put him future does collide with John is forced to make a
away. Brock’s life unravels Brock and his lack of mem- critical decision when he
when Bennett kills some- ory, readers will want to be learns that William and the
one close to him. there to see what happens. actress are in love, and
Brock is suspended, but he’s asked to help them es-
he continues to dig for the “HOUSE OF 8 ORCHIDS” cape.
elusive proof he needs. (Thomas & Mercer), by Can he betray the man
Brock’s former partner James Thayer he considers his father for
Nate Alvarez receives a James Thayer delivers a his brother’s sake? What
phone call from Brock vivid and compelling thrill- will happen if he turns in his
claiming to have found er set in 1937 China in his brother — or if he lets him
something big that the FBI new novel, “House of 8 Or- go? Family dynamics are
needs to handle. chids.” torn asunder as the de-
Then gunshots are heard. Readers will travel to a time cisions William and John
The phone call is traced and place unfamiliar yet make have unforeseen
to a hotel where Brock also strikingly real. The story consequences.
is found; he’s been shot jumps right in with the kid- Thayer has created a grip-
and is barely alive. He has napping of two American ping portrayal of loyalty
a severe head injury, and brothers in 1912. Twenty- and treachery in a rarely
when he awakens, he has five years later, they are seen world of China at war.
no memory of the past 10 living in the House of 8 Or- The finale doesn’t deliver
years. chids run by a eunuch who the comeuppance one ex-
Brock should keep a low has trained them in the pects in a historical thriller,
profile while slowly regain- criminal arts. but it fits the tale.q
Broadway has a great holiday but data not great for 2015
MARK KENNEDY Monday, the total gross This photo shows a Broadway street in Times Square, in New mances.
AP Drama Writer was $1.354 billion for 2015 York. Broadway ended 2015 and started the new year with a In fact, the week ending
NEW YORK (AP) — Broad- and total attendance was bang, attracting the best attended and highest grossing week Sunday “was the best at-
way ended 2015 and put at 12.98 million. That’s a in history. But box office receipts and overall attendance for the tended and highest gross-
started the new year with decline from 2014’s $1.362 year dipped. ing New Year’s week, and
a bang, generating the billion haul and 13.13 million the best attended and
best attended and high- in attendance. (AP Photo/Charles Sykes) highest grossing week on
est grossing week in history. But there was plenty of Broadway overall to date,”
But theater producers may Champagne popping last according to the league.
have a hangover when week when 20 shows — Over the seven days,
they see that box office among the 38 playing — Broadway box offices
receipts and overall at- grossed over $1 million, with pulled in a staggering
tendance for 2015 dipped four grossing over $2 million $43,065,466, helped by pre-
from the previous year. (“Aladdin,” ‘’The Book of mium pricing, shows add-
According to Broadway Mormon,” ‘’The Lion King” ing extra performances to
League statistics released and “Wicked.”) their schedules and mild
New records were made at weather.
several Broadway theaters, cord set by “All the Way” in with $1,477,174 over nine While new shows like “Ham-
including over at the New 2014. shows and “School of Rock ilton” got much of the at-
Amsterdam Theatre, where The Peter Pan tale “Finding — The Musical” did the tention last year, it was
“Aladdin” made $2,398,110 Neverland” also found a same at the Winter Garden an old favorite that actu-
for nine shows. new weekly record haul at Theatre with $1,671,621 ally won the title of highest-
The return of the super the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre over the same nine perfor- grossing show of 2015 —
magical group “The Illusion- “The Lion King.” It was the
ists” took in $1,801,326 over third year in a row that the
13 performances, smashing Disney show has won the
the Neil Simon Theatre’s re- crown.q
