The Return Hardcover – September 3, 2013

This is Gruber's fifth stand alone novel; he has alo written a series of three other novels. "The Return" (TR) is the first Gruber book I have read and I was attracted to it for two reasons - it got a very good review in my local newspaper, and I have seen a number of very favorable comments about Gruber's writing. But a red flag should have gone up when I read the newspaper review and saw the label "literary thriller". I don't like thrillers generally be they books or movies and I tend to avoid them. The reviewer labeled TR literary because he felt it dealt with a number of issues and he listed half a dozen, none of which I can recall now. But I was hooked. And disappointed....a literary thriller is still a thriller. The story is about a very successful man living in New York and in his 60's who's just been told he has inoperable brain cancer and likely has but a couple of months to live. He decides it is time to bury his wife's ashes in her native Mexico, and he further decides to buy an expensive property in the heart of drug cartel lands. A sidekick buddy from Nam days decides to tag along and on the way he initiates a bar fight in the Deep South by bad mouthing the confederate flag. Sounds like a plain old thriller at this point to me. What follows is a lot of shooting, a lot of dead bodies, a lot of ruminating about Nam experiences. The writing is very good and there are sidetracks into Mexican culture, the US role in drug wars, etc. Whether or not that makes this book "literary" I have no idea. I was too distracted by the usual thriller stuff. So TR was not my cup of tea but I suspect most other reviews are a lot more favorable.....

Michael Gruber is one of my all-time favorite authors! His writing is so intelligent, so clean, his plots are engaging and push the normal bound of reality, without being unrealistic. The Return was one of the best book I've ever read. It follows the journey of the protagonist deep into Mexico and confronts him not only with his past but with current reality of the narcoviolente gangs. It's steeped in Mexican culture and explores the intricacies, inherent fatalism and tragedy, as well as the childlike innocence and joy of the Mexican psyche. I lived in Guadalajara for 2 1/2 years many years ago and I found that his accounts were accurate and insightful, and could only have come from someone who spent significant time in the heart of Mexico - or did one hell of a lot of in-depth research. As with all great books, I found myself trying to find time to keep reading more, became absorbed into the story and the characters, and then felt sad when it was over. This is a book that I will read again in a couple of years.

If anyone but Michael Gruber, one of my absolute favorite writers, had written this shallow shoot-em-up I'd have probably given it another star. I suspect it was written in hopes of a fast Hollywood sale, and for Gruber's sake I hope he gets it. In some ways it reminded me of late James Crumley--though better. Or maybe one of Don Siegel's late, lesser movies. The plot is pretty shaky, and several "surprise" endings telegraph a mile out. And in order to make the plot work, Gruber depends on several shameless deus-ex-machina twists. If you don't believe in God (or at least angels) the story will make you crazy.Having said all that, I must also in fairness say that I couldn't put it down, absolutely loved it, and plan to read it again soon. I have huge respect for Gruber; his best books are simultaneously thrilling, disturbing, and thought provoking. Whatever happened to this one on the way to the publisher, I wish Gruber best of luck on the next one--which I'll surely buy as soon as it's published.

Michael Gruber is one of my favorite authors and The Return was no disappointment. The story is engaging and interesting, with antihero characters who are credible. It is rare for a book to have a protagonist who is old enough to have fought in the Viet Nam war. Other than the Stephen Hunter Bob Lee Swagger series, I can think of no other authors who have made solid protagonists from that era. The book is somewhat complex, in the enjoyable Michael Gruber style and though it lacks the intrigue of the supernatural that is so enjoyable in some of his other work, there are other twists that draw the reader in. There is a fair amount of violence in the story that some readers may consider it to be graphic. Still, it is a solid work with interesting, compelling, and mostly believable characters.

I have now read four of Gruber’s novels: The Forgery of Venus, The Long Con, The Book of Air and Shadows, and now The Return. All four are immensely enjoyable - clever plots, credible characters, amazing amounts of interesting background information - all presented in witty, intelligent prose. What a comment on the publishing industry, which inundates us with third rate books, that Gruber has had to resort to self-publishing. Thank goodness he did, or we would have been much the poorer!

Michael Gruber is, by far, one of the best writers of our time--a time when there is so much entertainment competition and a lot of drivel. The characters are fully exposed and always fascinating. The character introspection is clear and captivates your imagination and your own ruminations. The flashbacks to Nam in this story are artfully done, clear and concise and to the point. The juxtaposition of wacko alter ego/friend, daughter, deceased spouse and others and the main character are perfectly crafted and draw you in for the long run. It is a "what would you do if" story, which I find compelling and then, the unfolding of that answer is pure entertainment and a thought provoking ride. This one does slip a little into the genre of James Lee Burke, Randy White and others, but I don't care. Gruber does it better.

as with all Gruber's books, somehow appealing even in midst of utter violence - i think it's Marder with a past as a elite soldier and his pal Skelly whe makes it work - two bad boys doing good - it's a buddy novel too, and that strong attachment of friendship that elevates to family ... he goes south when he knows he has a terminal condition to revisit his wife's home in Mexico - and it all comes back to haunt him in a modern, drug cartel laden city . he does good .. Skelly lops along, and then his daughter turns up - utterly a page-turner and substantive - more than the average thriller - Gruber is top value

Michael Gruber is a genius. The only writer that sends me to the dictionary. He is erudite, clever, amazing. This is my least favourite of all his amazing works.

Gruber is fantastic as usual. Really good read.

Wonderful writer really unusual themes that take you to unexpected places