4 Definitely better than I expected. I watched CSI from the beginning (& really miss Grissom, so book helps a little) & watched all 3 cities over the years (& still miss CSI: Miami even though last yr I binge watched all 8 or 9 seasons on Hulu & still appear on A&E or some cable channel, BUT new ones would be great OR let some of the characters fr NY & Mia show up or short runs on the one that's left; I haven't watched weekly for a few yrs but watch On Demand/binge watch). OK, back to the book, this is the 1st in CSI series, as well as 1st one I'm reading & it definitely took me back to the beginning. I like the amount of technology they share and show that it takes a little time and not quite as fast as it appears on TV (but still faster than the real world). This is the 1st, true to the series, it didn't give us all their backgrounds in detail right away so I can see why some book-only fans can think it lacks some character development or they are too perfect, long-time watchers know that is not the case & I'm guessing, or at least hoping, that readers will learn more & see more of the personal sides as the series continues (I mean there's 18 in series, can't just dump everything out in #1) & they did give that little bit abt Warrick (oh I so miss him too & his beautiful eyes) & his gambling addiction. I did like that book was fast-paced and a decent length, not too short or long but a few more pages giving a little more character background would have been nice. I know w/the series being around so long & my watching so much & reading so much similar books, it's not going to be really mysterious w/overall storyline, but it could have been a little less obvious w/FBI Agent Culpepper only making 2 very brief appearances (& 2nd was so short you could blink & miss it) while they were supposedly working together. A few individual scenes were a little suspenseful, but really so much of that was in my head since most of the times, it didn't turn out to be much. Ahhh & it brought back fond memories I had w/ a friend when Catherine & Nick went to H.D. Cafe; funny thing, it was about the same time this book was published. I really enjoyed & look forward to working through the series.
Being an avid fan of CSI and having finished a marathon of all the series, CSI:Double Dealer was a godsend to me! I was excited to learn about books based on the T.V series and bought the first book as quick as I could. Max Collins has obviously researched CSI because he was aware of every character and their traits – my only issue, however, was that he spent way too much time describing them as pretty characters. Yes, we know they're pretty. It's an American T.V show. Of course, they're pretty. Move on – as well as being highly accurate in the writing of the team dynamic. He had the friendship between Sara and Warrick which happens mid season one, the flirting between Catherine and Nicky as well as the friendship banter between Nick and Greg. Nicky, as always, was in trouble most of the book for being too hot-headed which is exactly how he is in season one. The story in CSI:Double Dealer is exactly like reading an episode. Two individual cases which splits the team up but you still have the odd moment where they meet up to share information, bait the others that they're gonna catch the killer first as well as providing each other with ideas. Reading this book was almost like watching the T.V. I could hear the voices of each character in my head, could see them as they interacted with each other and could imagine their frustrations and joys throughout the case. Max Collins, in my opinion, has captured CSI perfectly in this first book and I hope it continues for the rest of them!
What do You think about Double Dealer (2003)?
Better than most tie-in books, altho that's not saying a lot. Not even half as good as the most middling fanfic....I continue to be bemused by the cash economy, which means good fanfic writers hide their work on the net under pseudonyms with elaborate disclaimers meaning "PLEASE DON'T SUE ME I HAVE MADE NO PROFIT FROM THIS WHATSOEVER," while "pro" writers take tie-in and spin-off and novelization hack jobs basically to eat, and those books are promoted with all the considerable force of the Hollywood/publishing entertainment industry. Could Dickens possibly have foreseen this?(If you are wondering why on earth I read this: I got it for a dollar a while back. I was bored because I have a bad cold and can't really intellectually focus. I used to really enjoy the show ((quit after the Tarantino-directed ep)). I have some X-Files novelizations, also bought for a buck or less, but they look unreadable.)
—Moira Russell
Double Dealer is the first in a series of tie-in novels based on the hit TV series, CSI. Written by famous mystery author, Max Allan Collins, I give this one a full five stars. It progresses just like an episode of the show, except it's a book.There are two cases, the first is the death of a man in a Vegas casino that leads Grissom, Sara, and Warrick into the path of FBI agent Rick Culpepper again, due to the killer's particular "double tap" signature when he executes his victims.The second case is about human remains unearthed at a construction site that turns into a fifteen year old cold case for Nick and Catherine.
—Jonathan Gentry
I was addicted to CSI and when summer hit and I was out of episodes to watch, I headed straight for these books. And usually, I like to read books involving TV shows and movies so I can get an insight into the characters minds - monologues and such. I will admit that the characters were somewhat out of character from their TV counterparts, but that's also not too unusual. This book is set up sort of like a CSI episode where the team gets split up to work multiple cases and throughout the cases they'll occasionally meet up to debrief or mention in passing what they've found. It's all very good and suspenseful, just like a CSI episode. I really enjoyed reading this as it definitely fulfilled my CSI cravings!
—Maura
