Celine

Celine is a crusty old lady with a checkered past, an artistic talent with creating grisly artwork out of animal skulls, and a nose for solving cold cases, specifically those that involve tracking down missing persons to reunite them with their families. There are reasons for her passion in taking on these cases, often pro bono, and these are revealed through her backstory that intersects with her latest case, where a young woman, Gabriela, seeks to find closure in the sudden disappearance of her famous photojournalist father, assumed to have died from a bear mauling a decade ago, though his body was never found.An intriguing enough storyline, and Heller does paint a rather convincing picture of hard-nosed and feisty Celine, aided by her husband Pete, the taciturn but resourceful sidekick in her mission. As a presumably standalone novel, however, it felt like Heller was trying to accomplish too much because he needed to flesh out Celine’s character and history, while at the same time, paying attention to the case and the characters involved, which made for quite an information overload. If it had been a series, Heller could have taken time to get into the case while pacing his examination of Celine over the course of the other novels. And yet, by the end of the novel, it felt like there should be more to come, by way of Celine’s personal storyline, while the resolution of the case felt a little uninspiring, for the fact that Gabriela, who had been a major character at the start of the novel, makes her reappearance, but more as a cameo.That said, Heller knows his subject matter well, as well as the terrain of locales like the Yellowstone National Park where Celine and Pete venture into as they encounter mortal danger, and outsmart oppositional forces with wit and candour. This is a vastly different novel from the dystopian thriller “The Dog Stars”, which first introduced me to his writing, and yet his flair with depicting natural landscapes are evident in both works. Not a dud, but not wholly satisfying either.

Generally very good, though I thought Heller went a little overboard in some scenes trying to make Celine come across as too badass. The scene with the biker comes immediately to mind. It's a thin line, where on one side it works and Celine is cool and the writing interesting, and on the other her coolness feels forced and the whole thing is cringe-worthy cheesy. But mostly it worked; I liked Celine and loved Pete. Though if I'm honest, I couldn't figure out why Hank, who was barely a character at all, was given a point of view.This is ostensibly a mystery, but that's really just the framing to allow the reader access to Celine's history. She's a fun character and it's not often you come across elderly, debutant PIs with emphysema as main characters. The writing is very good, though the whole things is quite slow and some of the leaps of logic the characters make to solve the mystery are a bit unbelievable. This is a book you read for the characters, not the action. It was my first Heller book and I finished it happy.Note: I won a copy through Goodreads.

I bought it as a gift. The book is printed on paper of very poor quality. Additionally, sheets of paper are cut unevenly. I am not happy at all.

Reading Peter Heller reminds me of that line from The Sundance Kid: who IS this guy? I had the same reaction to Celine as to The Painter: equally frustrated and dazzled, but the dazzling is worth the frustration. Plus it's about two kick-ass older people (Celine is a very old and sick 68; Pete is a bit older but healthier) and I definitely will add it to my collection of older adult fiction on my Facebook page.The good: Peter Heller is a top-notch wordslinger. His descriptions of people and places are fresh and original. They resonate. I can sink into them; suddenly, I'm outside Celine's house on the East River in Brooklyn, I'm in the mountains of Montana just as fall arrives, I'm in the biker bar. His descriptions are so pure and authentic. Just the right words, and no extras. Same with his characters. They're original and fascinating. His knowledge of the world impressed me. It informs the story. Heller is either involved in everything (painting, shooting, fly fishing, overthrowing Latin American governments...) or simply erudite.The bad: a very slow start, which I confess I failed to pay enough attention to (ending a sentence with a preposition reminds me of a funny conversation in the story, but never mind.) It's a lot of backstory and character development, and until I got to the very end of the book I didn't think I'd need it, but now I think it might have been more important. Rats. The action only got going at about the 2/3 point. So if you're planning to read this novel, don't be in a big fat hurry.Also, and I've picked this bone before, I don't buy the trick/device of Heller's signature one word sentence (Well.) And now it has a new sibling (But.) Sometimes they appear together. (But. Well. / Well. But.) This feels to me like an affectation, it's annoying, it's overdone. Mr. Heller, please stop. If you can't go cold turkey, try to cut back.And the point of view drifts. Sometimes we'll be in Celine's head, and she'll get done with a thought, and then the narrative voice steps in and caps it off with an observation. And I'm thinking, who just said that? It takes you out of the story a bit, even if it is a personable narrative voice. Like there's another character we're supposed to know, but can't quite grasp. This feels to me as if the author can't bear to sit on the sidelines. I get that, but it distracts.What offsets a lot of the above negativity is the depiction of these two older people. They're so impressive. Like MacGyver impressive. Or Sheldon Horowitz impressive, from the novel Norwegian by Night, by Derek B. Miller. They inform the experience of aging by showing us a way--albeit superhero way--of living a full second half of life. Giving each other space. Having the confidence to live together and love fiercely without losing oneself in the process. Being mindful in the moment, savoring the details, having the maturity to know what's important. Being fearless, as is Celine. God, the scene in the biker bar...I'll reread that a few more times just to savor. She's such a Samurai.Celine is a fine book by a standout author. In spite of my confusion (and allowing for the possibility that he's a better writer than I am a reader), the novel is well worth your time, and I recommend it.

Few male authors write well from a female point of view and Heller is no exception. Celine is a quirky New York City P.I. around retirement age or better from the upper echelons of society who is not quite believable but suitable for today’s over-the-top fiction. She is assisted by her husband, Pete, from Maine, who is such a trail-along that it’s pathetic. Supposedly Heller went for character development in this mystery but unfortunately fell into a lot of feminine clichés with Celine. The phrase “she adored” and Celine’s fantastic intuitive powers were way too overdone. Nearly every time she made a phone call to an unfamiliar character, she connected with them and procured some new information. I can’t even do this with my own daughter. Equally annoying is the author’s preoccupation with guns which shows up in all his novels through one or another character. The best writing in this book are the passages of nature writing about areas of the West in autumn that are unique, fresh and beautifully descriptive. These are all worth rereading and savoring. So far, Dog Stars was Heller’s best book.

Absolutely adored this book! I was on vacation at the time someone recommended it to me, and I was in Yellowstone and in Glacier National Park as the story wove through it. Celine's emphysema kept her from being surreally above being human. She's a complex and infinite character who has a heart for separated families because of her own experience.If you need a book to disappear into, this is the one. Celine's family, the folks in her travels, and her intuitive understanding of human nature make her one you want to embrace. I'd love to have a cup of cocoa or a glass of scotch with this strong women and the men who respect and acknowledge her value in their lives.She was especially great in the bar scene with the bikers. I wouldn't mess with Celine when she's educating others not to victimize others.Take the time to read it. I think it was one of the best books I've read in a while.

I am a Peter Heller fan, & I pre-ordered this book which I have never done before. Big mistake. I was very disappointed in this book, altho I did read it to the end because I am such a fan. I kept thinking it would get better! The plot was fairly predictable, & the characters weave in & out of their lives in a very convoluted manner. I really had a hard time keeping up with the shifting of characters, which usually doesnt throw me. Every now & again there would be an exquisite description of nature - one of his best writing attributes - but this would just hang there, not really connected to whatever was going on. The book was too long, & told 2 tales that tried to connect, but fell short, even after too much to say. If you are a Peter Heller fan, reread one of his previous novels & call it a day! I love his writing style, & this is not it.

This is an absolutely lovely mystery. I await another book about Celine! I loved the atmosphere, the settings, the western feel, the two older folk at the center, and the very believable situations. I'm surprised that the whole world doesn't agree with me. I'm in despair that the trip is over and I must get back to real life. I recommend this novel to all readers for a great ride!