Review: Martin Compston's New Thriller Falls Short

Viktoria Ivanova

5 min read

Post on May 06, 2025

4.0

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A Weak Plot That Lacks Suspense

The plot of The Granite City Gambit is riddled with issues that significantly hinder its effectiveness as a thriller. Several key elements contribute to this disappointing outcome:

• Predictable Plot Twists: The twists and turns feel telegraphed, failing to surprise even the casual reader of crime fiction. The "big reveal" is easily foreseen, robbing the narrative of its intended impact.
• Unconvincing Motivations: The characters' actions often lack logical reasoning, making their motivations appear contrived and unconvincing. This undermines the reader's engagement and belief in the narrative.
• Plot Holes and Inconsistencies: Several plot holes and inconsistencies throughout the novel disrupt the flow and credibility of the story. These lapses in logic detract from the overall experience and leave the reader questioning the author's attention to detail.
• Over-Reliance on Thriller Clichés: The novel leans heavily on well-worn thriller clichés, offering little in the way of originality or fresh perspectives. This predictable approach results in a derivative and uninspired narrative.
• Slow Pacing in Crucial Moments: The pacing is uneven, with crucial moments dragging on unnecessarily, hindering the development of suspense. This lack of tension undermines the impact of the plot's more dramatic events.

For example, the seemingly crucial discovery halfway through the book feels entirely unearned, a consequence of poorly explained events rather than a moment of genuine suspense. This lack of carefully crafted suspense is a significant weakness. Compared to authors like Lee Child or Gillian Flynn, whose plots are meticulously constructed to maintain constant tension, The Granite City Gambit lags considerably.

Flat and Unmemorable Characters

The characters in The Granite City Gambit are arguably its biggest weakness. The novel suffers from a distinct lack of character depth and development:

• Underdeveloped Protagonist: The protagonist, while presented as a complex individual, remains largely underdeveloped, lacking the relatable qualities that would allow readers to connect with them emotionally.
• Stereotypical Supporting Characters: The supporting characters are mostly one-dimensional and rely heavily on stereotypes, failing to offer any unique or memorable traits.
• Unclear Character Motivations: Many characters' actions lack clear motivation, making their behavior seem arbitrary and unconvincing.
• Lack of Character Growth: There's little to no character development throughout the novel, hindering the reader's engagement and interest in their journeys.
• Forced Relationships: The relationships between the characters feel forced and unconvincing, failing to create genuine connections or emotional resonance.

The protagonist, for instance, undergoes little to no transformation despite facing significant challenges. This lack of growth makes them a passive observer rather than an active participant in their own story. The supporting characters fare even worse, serving primarily as plot devices rather than fully realized individuals.

Pacing Issues and a Disappointing Climax

The uneven pacing further contributes to the book's shortcomings. The Granite City Gambit suffers from:

• Slow Start with Excessive Exposition: The novel begins with an excessively long exposition, slowing down the narrative and hindering its ability to grip the reader from the outset.
• Uneven Pacing: The pacing throughout the novel is inconsistent, with some sections dragging on while others feel rushed and underdeveloped.
• Anticlimactic Resolution: The climax is anticlimactic, failing to deliver the satisfying resolution that a well-crafted thriller should provide.
• Unsatisfactory Explanations: Several key plot points remain inadequately explained, leaving the reader feeling unsatisfied and confused.
• Rushed Ending: The ending feels rushed and abrupt, leaving many loose ends and unanswered questions.

The excessive exposition at the beginning makes it difficult for the reader to become invested, while the rushed ending leaves a feeling of incompleteness. This unevenness severely impacts the overall reading experience.

Lack of Compston's Signature Intensity

Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of The Granite City Gambit is the absence of the intensity and edge associated with Compston's on-screen persona. The writing style lacks:

• The Gripping Intensity: The narrative voice is surprisingly flat, failing to capture the gripping tension typically associated with successful crime thrillers.
• Engaging Narrative Voice: The writing lacks the emotional depth and impactful delivery that makes Compston's on-screen work so compelling.
• Inconsistent Tone: The overall tone of the book is inconsistent, hindering its ability to create a cohesive and engaging reading experience.

This lack of intensity is particularly noticeable when compared to other crime thrillers. The narrative feels detached and unemotional, failing to create the same level of suspense and engagement as Compston's acting often achieves. The difference between the actor's powerful screen presence and the relatively subdued tone of the novel is stark and disappointing.

Conclusion

This review concludes that while Martin Compston's new thriller, The Granite City Gambit, holds promise given his considerable fanbase, it ultimately falls short in its execution. The weak plot, underdeveloped characters, pacing issues, and lack of Compston's signature intensity combine to create a disappointing reading experience. While the concept holds potential, the execution fails to deliver the high-octane thrills expected from a crime thriller by an actor of Compston's caliber. Despite the underwhelming result of this first foray into crime fiction, we hope for future improvements and a greater showcasing of his narrative skills in subsequent works.

Have you read The Granite City Gambit? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below! Let's discuss what makes a great Martin Compston thriller, or indeed, what constitutes a great crime thriller in general.