Nick of Time

I was excited to read Nick of Time: A Bug Man Novel, by Tim Downs, and I liked the overall idea of the book, but I have some complaints about the main character, Nick Polchak. Throughout the book, Nick is attempting to solve a mysterious murder before his wedding, which is only a few days away. What follows is a mystery that Nick becomes so wrapped up in, he nearly forgets about him wedding. There were some twists and turns that led to the final conclusion, and I can honestly say I did not forsee what would be the conclusion to the book.

Although I liked the idea behind the book, I did not like the character of Nick AT ALL! He seemed to be very condescending and rude to others. It’s one thing to become completely absorbed with solving a mystery, but it’s an entirely different matter to be rude to those in positions of authority. In addition to Nick’s attitude, his fiancée seemed to have the same problems with authority. Neither of these characters had social skills, and I didn’t find myself rooting for them as I read the book. I recognize that this difficulty with authority might be what others find interesting in the book, but it didn’t make me more interested in the book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."