Lizard Skin Hardcover – August 1, 1992

This was Stroud's first novel, after two works of non-fiction. And unlike most journalists who have great difficulty making the transition from fact-based writing to fiction, Stroud has no problem at all. This is an outstanding book: characters so real you can practically touch them, humor so outrageous that sections provoke out-loud laughter, a complex completely viable plot-line, and sections of writing lyrically simple and beautifully constructed. Stroud is one wonderful writer.Aside from all the above assets, the author's feel for place is so powerful that Montana comes alive in its vistas, its climate and its denizens. There's also a lot of native American history, integral to the plot, that isn't sentimentalized but made to come alive--via hero Beau McAllister's sensibilities.A good author always, always leaves the reader wanting more. Lizardskin is a signal accomplishment in that it practically begs for a sequel. Stroud has gone on to write other, equally fine books, resisting the temptation to overwork a winning hand. Smart fellow, first-class writer.My highest recommendation.

An excellent thriller with many unpredictable twists and turns. Stroud also really captures the spirit of the land. His characters are written in such a way that you truly care what happens to them. Highly recommended.

Excellent plot, the characters really breathe. Highly recommended. Entertaining and thought provoking, action that has plausibility, what's not to like?

As far as I'm concerned this is Stroud's best. Try it .... you'll like it if you like this kind of book.

I picked this novel up in the Salt Lake City Airport in August of 1993. I was on my way to Germany where I would spend the next three years courtesy of the United States Army. It's a long plane ride from Salt Lake City to Frankfurt, Germany (with a long layover in St. Louis). I read this novel on the way there and have since re-read it a couple times since. It's remained one of my favorites and the very battered paperback is still in my library.Like all of Stroud's books this one is strong on atmosphere, character description and action pieces. It's a little different for Stroud in that it's his usual police procedural novel/mystery meeting up with a Robin Cook medical mystery novel. To be honest I didn't see that part of the story coming and I know some of have been crtical, but I didn't mind it. Oh and there are definte aspects of the Western as well. The protaganist is a Montana State Trooper after all and the story involves Native Americans, wealthy and powerful ranchers (well their descendants - both blood and spiritual) and even a Dog Soldier - of sorts.There isn't much more I can say without ruining the novel. Except give it a try. Shouldn't be too hard to find a copy in a used bookstore.

Carsten Stroud writes police procedurals from the perspective of the patrolman on the beat. They encounter life at its rawest and most primal and the author does nothing to spare the reader the gory details of man's inhumanity to man. The present opus was published over 2 decades ago. Somehow I cringe at the Female District Attorney's admonition that if you're going to be forced to shoot a perp, shoot to kill and spare the county the cost of settling the ensuing lawsuit out of court; burial costs are cheaper.Like so many books written since the arrival of computer word-processors this one suffers from word-bloat. The author waxes lyrical describing landscapes and people and how they dress. He digresses frequently at length to pages of background history which tends to make the story drag. It often takes him a long to get where he intends to go. A less is more approach would tauten the storyline.

I've reviewed Carsten Stroud in the past. I've always stressed his atmosphere and characters. In my opinion he excells in his books at being able to take you into the story and make you genuinely care for his chatracters. the same is true of Lizardskin, but here his dialouge is also very finely done. Yes the conclusion is a little weak but it's such a pleasure getting there that I will readily forgive Mr. Stroud and his Robin Cook ending. Actually I found myself enjoying the story so much that I really wasn't in all that much of a rush to see it end. I have read this novel several times over the years and every time I enjoy it immensely. Read this novel if you enjoy storytelling at its finest.

Stroud has always been under the radar in the world of mystery novelists, which is a shame because his books are always interesting and well written. As another reviewer mentioned, he excels at creating a real sense of atmosphere, and characters you care about. This one, set in Montana, with some Native American characters is no exception. A book, and a novelist, well worth checking out.

Carsten Stroud hat ein grandioses Setting für seinen Krimi geschaffen - Montana am Little Bighorn, und die Niederlage von Custer zieht sich wie ein roter Faden durchs Buch. Der Krimi spielt in den 90ern, und Montana erwacht dreidimensional zum Leben. Mit Beau McAllister hat der Autor einen harten Kerl ersonnen, der sich als State Trooper mit weißen und roten Einheimischen herumschlagen muss. Schießereien zwischen den Fraktionen und Handgreiflichkeiten allerorts, Tote rechts und links, mit weißem Zynismus und rotem Mystizismus wird facettenreich gespielt, auch wenn Gut und Böse ein wenig schablonenhaft geraten sind.Warum keine 5 Sterne? Mir gingen anfangs die dämlichen Machosprüche und ha-ha-ha-Witze auf den Keks, die scheinbar endlos vom Stapel rollen. Irgendwann mal gab's weniger Sprüche und Witze, aber zugleich fand ich's seltsamerweise immer weniger spannend, je weiter ich im Buch kam. Die letzten Seiten hab ich das Buch beinah quer gelesen, weil mich das Wiederkäuen von Warum-hat-wer-was-getan gelangweilt hat, selbst wenn die Akteure in eine Auseinandersetzung auf Leben und Tod verwickelt sind. Vielleicht hätten mich ein paar Machosprüche eher bei der Stange gehalten? Deshalb nur 4 Sterne.

very enjoyable