Uncle Janice

I found this book boring.

Fabulous. Truly. The writing and thought involved is spectacular. That said, I realize this isn't for everyone. Readers who care about atmosphere and fantastic writing will love it. Those who want gunfire and explosions on every other page won't "get" this novel. It isn't "plot rich." If there's an overall plot, it's this: Will Janice make detective in this final month of her undercover work, or won't she? That said, we follow along, watching her ups and downs, successes and failures, and are treated to a terrific look at undercover police work, which isn't always glamorous (at all). That's not the same kind of plot as "Who killed the woman who was dumped in the park?" Or who kidnapped Mary Doe? This is much more subtle than that. But if you want to read a novel in which the author was able to actually think (not something we see a lot of these days), this is a good one.

Wow! This is one helluva book. Burgess can really write --not just good clean sentences but singing prose that jumps off the page. I read lots of crime fiction and it rare when something fresh and new appears like Uncle Janice. The best way to describe the book is that it's an updated 87 th precinct novel, like Ed McBain wrote , with a post modern tinge. But not too oblique or post modernist to render it too difficult to follow. I know I'm doing a bad job explaining the book so just read it. You'll love it.

Excellent frontline novel on street police and narcotics division. Funny and entertaining but very accurate and absorbing. A great read.

An ok read. Not a must read. Didn't really hold my attention. I kept thinking it was going to get better because so many others gave it good reviews.A couple of times I considered putting it down but I didn't want to start another book before finishing it so it took me a long time to finish. I basically only read it on my commute to and from work. After work and weekends I didn't pick it up much.