Don't Look Down

When her sister calls for her help, Lucy Armstrong leaves her job filming dog-food ads and heads for the swamps where her sister and ex-husband are involved in filming a movie. Then the star shows up with an Army Special Forces Captain, J. T. Wilder, as stunts advisor and ex-husband Connor gets bent-out-of-shape by the sexy soldier. It doesn't take long for Lucy to figure out something is very wrong with the movie. First, there's her sister who is abusing drugs. Second, there's the assistant director who's secretly the screenwriter who believes her movie is being hijacked, and finally there's the mysterious investor who insists that filming take place exactly his way. Oh, and down in the swamps is Moot, the alligator who's increasingly enjoying the food people bring him.

There's instant attraction between Lucy and J. T., but it takes a while for each of them to overcome a long-held unwillingness to trust anyone. Still, if anyone is to survive the increasingly dangerous filming (and when the CIA gets involved, J.T. knows it is dangerous), the two need to work together. But will the secrets each refuses to give up destroy their chances for a relationship?

DON'T LOOK DOWN is an intriguing attempt to combine the rich and quirky characters that Jennifer Crusie (see more BooksForABuck.com reviews of novels by Crusie) is famous for with convincing thriller action (co-author Bob Mayer is an ex-Green Beret). It's a good idea and it nearly works. The guns, helicopters, and male/male relationships add interest and depth to the story. I felt a bit short-changed both by the characters and by the action. J. T. was two-dimensional, Lucy wasn't much more (unlike Crusie's usual deeply layered characters). On the action side, the entire plot seemed too complicated, too far-fetched, and too incompetent for who was supposed to be involved and for what they were trying to achieve. Perhaps the Wonder Woman theme introduced early should have been a warning to expect comic-book characters and schemes.

After a rough first chapter, though, the writing smoothed down and the Crusie/Mayer combination kept me intrigued and reading. Flaws and all, DON'T LOOK DOWN was a hard book to put down.

Lucy Armstrong makes a good living by filming commercials. When Lucy's sister asks her to shoot the last four days of an action movie, she agrees, if only to find out why her young niece is so unhappy. She plans on a few days to film and sort out her sister's problems, not worrying about Irish terrorists or finding her own G.I Joe.

J.T. Wilder is a Green Beret officer who has agreed to be a military consultant for the star of the movie. He plans on a few days of well-paid work, not ducking real bullets or falling for an the store of a woman in Lucy.

Neither of them expect the shoot to turn into a disaster. With a sniper hiding in the swamp, a gator named Moot lurking near the movie set, and a precocious five-year-old noticing more than she's supposed to, this shoot is anything but dull.

With Crusie starring as Lucy, and Mayer as Wilder, this novel moves with unique characters, lush settings, and intense moments. The writing is well paced and inviting, with wonderful cohesion of both authors' styles.

While some of Wilder's early attitudes about the women may be questionable, it is easily trumped by not only his good deeds, but with the subplot surrounding Lucy's adorable niece, Pepper. The scenes involving the sniper are especially well crafted, leaving the reader on edge.

Fans of Crusie and/or Mayer will find this an enjoyable read.

Reviewed by Christina Wantz Fixemer
5-12-2006

I've liked most of Crusie's novels (Manhunting is great!!), but this one was a dud. The writing was overworked and self-conscious, and lacked any real humor. I guess this author combination just didn't work. I couldn't get attached to any of the characters, even the "spunky kid" who was clearly thrown in there to give a little life to a soulless character list. After about 100 pages, I asked myself why I was bothering continuing a book that I found so completely uninteresting--and promptly put it down.

This book is a valiant attempt at merging genres: Mystery/Action and Contemporary Romance Novels. There have been successful novels that mix these genres, but this book is not one of them.

Reading this book was a little bit like watching two people waltzing when both are trying to lead. One of the genres should have taken precedence and been allowed to control the pace and timing. Instead, both genres speed along at full throttle and the result is a cacophony of brilliant action scenes, zippy dialogue, sexy love scenes and cumbersome plot devices, each drowning the others out until none of the very excellent writing here can be appreciated. This is a shame, as Bob Mayer, well known for his military novels, holds his own with Crusie. This is no small feat as Crusie is a master of dialogue and character development. Both authors have created a strong common voice, but they have too much to say. This book could have been fantastic if it had a discernable story arc, appropriate pacing, and if the authors or editors had been willing to cut one third of the events this book contains. Instead it sags under it's own weight, and fails to be the credit it ought to be to both authors.

Promising start, but then it just got way complicated and Wilder turned into a lecherous pig, sleeping with Althea. It just seemed to drag on and on to the point where I was just looking forward to being done. The only character I really liked was Pepper; she was adorable, but she couldn't carry the story on her own. Just not a good read.

thank goodness I got this from the library and didn't pay for it. It was awful.

I like Jennifer Crusie, finding her light, fun, with great characters I can believe in. This had none of those qualities. The characters were cardboard, impossible to believe in or care about, and the action/drama was really heavy. skip it.

I have to agree with other reviewers. This book was disappointing. I didn't like the characters, they had potential that never developed. I thought the plot was disjointed and confusing. By the end I really didn't care about any of them. I was so sick of the 'alpha' male thinking 'get out of the kill zone' I was ready to kill him myself. I normally LOVE Jennifer Crusie's books, but I had to rate this one a one star read.

I thought this was laugh out loud funny. I enjoyed the banter and chemistry between J.T and Lucy. I thought the action was dead on, and I really liked the personalities of all the people in the book. Even the bad guys were described spot on. I will agree that the action at the end was a little more difficult to follow, but not so much to take away a full star. I look forward to reading their next book.

I love Crusie's witty, sassy, feminine books, and hated this one! What's with all the army, guns, macho stuff - Ugh! The only decent line in the whole book was when Lucy says, "I just don't understand how you guys got control of the world. Half the time there's no blood in your brains, and you're still in charge of most of the governments in the world, most of the companies, and all of the military. Which actually explains a lot, now that I think of it."

Please Ms. Crusie, drop Mr. Mayer and go back to writing what you do best. Fun, witty modern romance with interesting characters we actually care about.

All in all a very uneven, not fun book. Don't waste your money!

I read the other reviews - after I read the book. I really enjoyed this book and don't quite see what the other reviewers saw. This not just a Crusie book - it is a Crusie & Mayer book. I found the male perspective pretty humorous. The 'hero' had a hangover and didn't want to be a hero - he was attracted to Lucy against his better judgement. First, her ass. Second, her 'take charge' attitude. Third, her gumption in the swamp.

He found her attractive but didn't want to think about it and he didn't want to articulate it - and yes, most men with a 'live for the moment' life of a soldier (who was not married or in a relationship) probably would have sex with the woman they found naked in their hotel rooms. And feel only kinda bad about it the next day!

She didn't want a hero but kinda fell in love with someone she could count on to do the things he said he would do... and someone who had her back.

There are some things that could use more development & perhaps a little more about the characters motivation. But this was a very fun, light & frothy read. This was also the first collaberation and I think these two authors works will only get better with time.

I love Jenny Crusie and have actually purchased all of her books (unusual for me) because I love her witty dialogue and intelligent characters. This book however was a struggle. Still the same Crusie dialogue...but I didn't especially care for the characters. And the plot was SO STUPID! I mean really...it was completely and totally improbable that the only thing I could think of was the authors are trying to write a movie script posing as a novel. And, yeah, this would probably make a good movie, but as a novel it was a disappointment.

Still, the dialogue moves it up to a 4*.

Complaining that Don't Look Down is not a typical Crusie novel is like saying that a triple rich mocha chocolate raspberry mousse with whipped cream and a cherry on top is not a Hersheys bar. Those who have grown comfortable with the formulaic girl meets boy, girl loses boy, girl gets boy back and lives happily ever after of the standard romance novel will perhaps have difficulty comprehending this delightful blend of witty romance and suspenseful action adventure.

Lucy, the heroine, is a competent, take charge, look out for everyone else kind of woman who is suddenly faced with a situation in which she can't protect the ones she loves. Is it an unrealistic situation? Sure, but this is fiction, meant to entertain. It is not a factual recitation of what happened last week to your neighbor down the street. JT is a refreshing change from the cliched hero who walks onto page one with his only flaw being that he doesn't immediately understand he is in love with the heroine. He, too, is a take charge kind of guy; he just wants to get the job done and go home. Instead he finds himself drawn into the lives and troubles of other people, and falling in love.

The secondary characters are finely drawn, from the heartbreakingly precocious Pepper, trying to be the grownup her mother is not, to the charmingly misbehaved LeFavre who, for all his recklessness, is the definition of loyalty and backs up our hero when needed.

Crusie and Mayer are to be congratulated for this well-written, highly entertaining blend of genres and voices. Nothing wrong with Hersheys bars, I love those too, but I'll eagerly await the next Crusie/Mayer creation. And don't forget the cherry on top.

I would say Jenifer Crusie should stop writing with Bob Mayer. The characters lacked depth. Was there romance between the so called "special forces" man and the director? No chemistry and a little more research on special forces to make the character believable. The one bright character was the five year old. Her lines were great. The story itself isn't worth buying/reading I was very disappointed with this book as were friends of mine that read Cruises books.

I love Jennifer Crusie. She has written some wonderful, engaging books. This isn't one of them. I read the whole book and now wish I hadn't wasted my time. I had to read the first chapter twice just to figure out who all of the characters were. Anyway, between the weak character development (which is one of Crusie's strengths) and the macho military jargon to the Wonder Woman plot line, the whole thing was simply awful. I will not give up on Crusie, she's too wonderful, but this was awful.

Do yourself a favor and read Agnes and the Hitman instead...Its Crusie/Mayers next book, and I am glad to say they have better honed their skills in it. Dont Look Down has potential, but somehow gets boring and loses the thrill 2/3 through.

It is difficult to believe Jennifer Cruisie actually had a part in writing this book. It reads like a macho male author deep into special forces effects and language. Where is the quick wit and laugh out loud comedy she is known for? Not here, for sure. There is nothing clever or funny about this book at all. Please return to your own style.

Just a quick note to encourage readers to buy the book... it was very entertaining-- I agree that the first chapter was little confusing with so many new charachters, but after that it was a fast paced fun story. I think a lot of the other reviewers were expecting straight up Crusie and were judging the book solely on the criteria that this was different. I'm betting if it was released under a psuedonym the readers would judge the book more on its own merits rather than it's differentness from sole Crusie fare. It's a well plotted

"Romancing the Stone" sort of story and I very much enjoyed it.

This foray that Crusie and Mayer have taken into writing a novel together worked out really well. At the beginning I could tell the difference in the writing, but towards the end I didn't care, they both do a wonderful job folding in wit and emotion and action all into one novel. In the end I was very satisfied, I loved Lucy and I loved J.T., and I want to see more Pepper!!!

Jennifer Crusie novels are not the appropriate place for the technical specifications of a 9mm semiautomatic handgun. I loved all the Crusie novels before this one because the dialogue is so witty it made me laugh out loud. Not this book. There's one cute line from the child in the story and that's it. I can't believe Bob Mayer messed up Crusie's writing this much. It was a waste of time.

This book was extremely disappointing. Not what I have come to expect in a Jennifer Crusie novel. It was hard to read, the characters pathetic and the story was so slow that halfway through I jumped pages....Don't waste your time, read one of her older books they are MUCH better.

Don't count me among those that were diappointed that this wasn't the usual Crusie frothy romanctic romp. I thought that the his/hers point of view storytelling worked well. It contained the Crusie things I love - unique heroine, screwed up family, snappy banter and offbeat music references. If you can't keep up with it when you first pick it up, stay with it and you'll be rewarded.

The characters were shallow. The story dragged. I could not get engauged. I am usally easy to please. I have read over 2000 romance novels in past 10 years and I would give at least 90% 4-5*s. So this book must be really baaaadddd to get 1*. In fact, I would give it a 0* if I could. I have enjoyed Jennifer Crusis' books before, it was like the magic writing button was turned off when she was writing this one.

What happened to you Jennifer Crusie???? Please,please,please go back to writing by yourself! No offense but I had to force myself to read this book,in the hope of it getting better or even interesting! I waited so long for something from JC and I get this!! Where is the humor and romance of it all ? This is the only book of hers that I haven't loved and read over and over. If ur a JC fan skip this book! Don't waste your time or money! Sorry to be harsh , but this book is definitely below par!

Don't Look Down by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer (audio version read by Patrick G. Lawlor and Ren?e Raudman), is just not a very good book.

The main characters, Lucy Armstrong a director of television commercials and Green Beret captain J. T. Wilder are thrown together for a 4 day shoot of a horrible movie which is merely a front for a more sinister plot. The story is uninteresting and the dialogue is not the witty banter I've come to expect from Crusie. There's little suspense and no humor to this book. There is however, a lot of yelling and talk about Wonder Woman.

The readers do a decent job and having both a male and female reader makes the reading better... however, it's just not a good book. The best part was the very last scene.

Personally, I loved it - its a fabulous read filled with suspense, humor and lots of great dialogue. Both authors are similar in writing tone and snappy wit and the change in POV's were virtually seamless to me. The heroine still has Jenny's characteristic features...she's strong, smart and definitely *snarky* - just what we've come to know and love from Crusie. The secondary characters were filled out well - I so loved Pepper's interaction with JT and Lucy. I'm really looking forward to more books from this partnership.

I read the book without expectation and really enjoyed it. Lot's of characters and secrets revealed. Only now do I see what a departure it was for Crusie. I'm definitely on board for the next collaboration!

I love Jennifer Cruise! This book is awesome but I will admit she kind of lost her vocie, that signature charm that lured me into her other titles. It took me awhile to get started on this one, but once I got started, I couldn't put it down!! It is a faced pased good with wit and romance. It's not her best (seeing as it is a co-written book) but it's definatly high on my list!

Jenny Cruise fans wonder whether they will see the true Jenny in the collabaration with Bob Mayer. The answer is YES! And Bob brings the strong silent type along with J.T. Wilder to play against Jenny's outstanding women's characters and dialogue. And don't forget the one eye'd alligator, Moot!

This romantic adventure is witty and a MUST READ. RUN, don't walk to the nearest bookstore and buy this for you and all your friends. They will love you for it!

This is a Chick-lit meets thriller classic, and I never thought I would see those two genres together. Think Steve Horsfall meets John Grisham and you'll get the idea, i.e. Don't Look Down has all the romantic characterization of Steve Horsfall and all the intriguing plot development of John Grisham. A reall winner and quite unique

I was disappointed in this book because it lacked a lot of the light-heartedness we have come to expect from Crusie and had too much technical info re: guns and explosives (an attempt to appeal to male readers?). I would read more by this team but hope they will not be so stereotypical in future.

this book is truly aweful and a total disappointment from someone who was before this one of my favorites. don't get me wrong i will try a jennifer crusie book after this even though i am sooo disappointed in this one its not even funny! to sum up what's wrong with Don't Look Down would literally take too long. the dialogue is hokey, the shift from male to female point of view is awkward and off-putting, the characters are too cardboard to care about and the half-baked subplots are an insult to the average person's intelligence. there is so much going on in this book and little of it comes together in a cohesive logical way in the end or throughout. for the life of me i couldn't figure out WHY we were suppose to give a d*mn about Lucy, JT, or the precocious-to-the-point-of-artificial kid Pepper. i am hoping that where Jennifer Crusie went wrong with this was in collaborating. otherwise she has really lost her special touch with fleshed out characters, clever dialogue and interesting stories, but that's something i am not willing to consider until i read her next offering. in the meantime Don't Look Down is a total miss for me.

This book started off poorly with the strange description of what was going on with the movie set. The plot of the book seemed to be contrived, trying way to hard and not always making sense. It read like it was written by two people, not always melding well. It read as though a bunch of situations occuring that didn't always make sense. It would have benefitted if the characters were developed more and the plot simplified to something more basic and believable.

Cardboard chacters, stock situations and a remarkable lack of depth make this book a real standout, in all the wrong ways, from Crusie's other work. One example: the heroine's obligatory gay male best friend tells the hero to "take care of my girl" because she's so special. After two days. In fact, one day after the hero couldn't say no to sex with one of the most two-dimensional bimbettes in history. What kind of a best friend is that? And has either author ever been on a movie set??? Ohmygosh... a dreadful disappointment. (I'd give it no stars if the store had that option.)