[JenB]

Heh, yes, exactly! Is that just his style, or did he write the books that way on purpose, I wonder?

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

Well, his series of books featuring Greg Mandel ("Mindstar Rising", "A Quantum Murder", and "The Nano Flower") were not in that style; but they were more science fiction mysteries, so that may have made a difference. His stand-alone book "The Fallen Dragon" was more in the style of the Night's Dawn trilogy, although it was not set in the same universe. It also ended with an old SF cliche, but he did it stylishly enough that I didn't mind!