Official Review: The Falcon Descends by Mary-Ellen Pecci

[Cecilia_L]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Falcon Descends" by Mary-Ellen Pecci.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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"The falcon symbolizes wisdom, vision and victory.”

In The Falcon Descends by Mary-Ellen Pecci, attorney Maddie Archer is intent on finding justice and questions the ethics of the judge who presided over a case that resulted in a family member's conviction. Maddie accepts a temporary position as a deputy clerk of courts and utilizes the hacking skills of her best friend, Gorgeous George, a cross-dressing private detective. She finds an unexpected ally in Gabby Hebrisa, a local officer and law student, who also has personal reasons for uncovering the corruption of the courtroom players. Meanwhile, Maddie has hired handsome Micah for his carpentry skills and as a pet sitter for "her girls" while she is away investigating. Micah has firsthand experience with the prison system, but Maddie trusts him, and sparks are beginning to fly.

The 333-page book is divided into two parts: "Cross Threaded" and "The Woman Who Crawled Out of the Sea." Pecci skillfully intertwines fast-paced plots, suspenseful twists, and a cast of well-developed characters. Her writing style is slightly satirical, and she weaves interesting background details throughout the plots that illustrate her characters' strengths and weaknesses. I particularly like the strong female presence exemplified through Maddie and Gabby. Readers will relate to the pair of headstrong women and the camaraderie they share. The second storyline also features Maddie and Gabby plus other notable returning characters, such as sidekick GG, love interest Micah, the primary antagonists, and the law enforcement team.

On the other hand, I disliked the conclusion of Part I. Pecci never returned to a portion of the introductory plot, and I was left with unanswered questions. I would have preferred a more satisfying ending to the first storyline before proceeding to the next one. Also, Pecci's use of the word "transvestite" may be offensive to some readers; trans people prefer the term "cross-dresser."

Unfortunately, the book has not been professionally edited and is rife with errors, including misplaced quotation marks, incorrect punctuation, and the use of possessives instead of plurals. The following example illustrates the types of errors present throughout the book: "Why Richmond," asked Micah? Unfortunately, the lack of editing detracts from the book as a whole.

Overall, I rate The Falcon Descends 3 out of 4 stars for its engaging plot and strong characterization. However, I reiterate that the editing issues need attention. I also caution sensitive readers that the book contains nonborderline profanity, violence, and sexual content. I recommend the book to readers who appreciate satire, suspense, and relatable characters.

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The Falcon Descends
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[AvidBibliophile]

I was curious about this one, since I could find little about it online, but it's interesting to hear it involves the prison system, plenty of suspense, twists and turns, strong women, and some nice camaraderie. Were there any falcons?

[Cecilia_L]

Yes, the falcon's role is revealed near the end of the book.

[readerrihana]

Sounds like an interesting storyline, since I enjoy reading books that contain lawyers, the prison and legal systems, but at the same time due to the profanity, violence and erotic content I am sure I would not enjoy it. Thanks for the review

[Cecilia_L]

Sounds like an interesting storyline, since I enjoy reading books that contain lawyers, the prison and legal systems, but at the same time due to the profanity, violence and erotic content I am sure I would not enjoy it. Thanks for the review

I understand. Thanks for your comment.

[Salma_asa]

Suspense thriller is one of my favourite genres. Reading your review, it seems like this book is worth trying. Eager to read this. Great job with the review!

[Nisha Ward]

Oof. Any story about a woman taking on the justice system is sure to be a tough read, and it looks like Maddie has a tough road ahead of her. I do wonder how much danger she's in and if she can really affect the change she's trying to, though I'm sure the errors would be distracting while trying to find this out.

[Cecilia_L]

Suspense thriller is one of my favourite genres. Reading your review, it seems like this book is worth trying. Eager to read this. Great job with the review!

Thank you. I appreciate your comment.

[Cecilia_L]

Oof. Any story about a woman taking on the justice system is sure to be a tough read, and it looks like Maddie has a tough road ahead of her. I do wonder how much danger she's in and if she can really affect the change she's trying to, though I'm sure the errors would be distracting while trying to find this out.

Thanks for your comment, Nisha.

[Ogoskino]

I am interested to see how Maddie proves that the judge was dirty. I also want to see how her relationship with Micah develops.