What do you think about the introduction of the VK motorcycle gang in Mississippi Blood?
Created: 06/25/18
Replies: 15
Join Date: 09/17/11
Posts: 19
Join Date: 10/15/14
Posts: 363
The introduction of this group was, for me, one more example of Iles overwriting this trilogy. Though he used them to wrap up the third book, I felt it was just one more piece of an already too big puzzle to sort out. He obviously committed to a trilogy before he began writing, and I applaud his effort. There is much here to enjoy and admire, but somehow, for me, he got carried away and kept expanding and expanding in order to bring conclusion to all he addressed. As a result, I thought book three became tedious and unrealistic in many ways and the inclusion of this gang was one more example of that.
Join Date: 09/17/11
Posts: 19
Join Date: 11/29/17
Posts: 25
I agree!
They added nothing to the story line, just more pages to the book. Snake and his gang of thugs were much more interesting, better developed, and satisfied the message of the tragedy of prejudice. I thought the same thing of the Kennedy assassination - an interesting twist that represented over writting - contributed little to the story.
Join Date: 03/11/15
Posts: 120
I agree that the VK gang added little to the story. And the Kennedy assassination story line seemed to disappear in thin air. Am I the only one who feels that this trilogy should have had a better editor and been two books, or better yet, one?
Join Date: 09/04/16
Posts: 110
It could have been eliminated. There was too much characters. JFK, Robin Kennedy and Martin Luther King jr conspiracies were bad enough keeping everything straight. The JFK conspiracy has been overplayed with other books and movies.
Join Date: 04/21/11
Posts: 281
Only filler. Not an ending to the group (what happened to them). They worked with Snake because they were of his violence level, and because they were his young go-fers regarding hard physical gore and guts.
Maybe that's why Iles felt they were needed: someone available to do the more laborious dirty work. But at his level of novel writing, it seems he could have done better.
Join Date: 04/21/11
Posts: 281
Gloria, I so agree with you regarding the JFK assassination. No point in it from the beginning if there was no further mention as to the reason why it was even part of the story. Possibly the editor and Ilse were in cahoots . . . .
Join Date: 08/01/16
Posts: 70
Join Date: 01/25/16
Posts: 183
It seemed to me that the VK motorcycle gang came out of nowhere. Snake needed someone to help him do his dirty work after Forrest's death and the unraveling of the drug business. I think if the VK gang or one of its members had been involved and woven into the story line earlier, it would have seemed an extension of Snake's reach rather than just a sudden introduction of random guys who agree to do Snake's bidding. But then maybe their presence was to show exactly how much influence and power Snake really had in the area, that he would be able to convince this gang, while his business and his family are unraveling, to join him.
Join Date: 10/12/11
Posts: 256
Join Date: 04/07/12
Posts: 250
Wow, I agree with all of the above! The author should check with us after he writes a book and before it’s published - we could provide some crucial editing. I definitely thought there was just too much of everything to keep track of, especially if time has passed since reading the previous two books.
Join Date: 03/11/12
Posts: 102
Join Date: 04/23/12
Posts: 182
Join Date: 05/29/15
Posts: 460
Join Date: 07/16/13
Posts: 45
I agree with everyone. They were just filler. If they were going to be a part of the story, they should have been developed early on in the trilogy. This makes me think that if Snake returns, they are part of the next trilogy??????
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