Review: Delusion: A Novel of Suspense

Delusion: A Novel of Suspense by Peter Abrahams
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Alvin DuPree was sent to prison on the testimony of Nell Jarreau, who witnessed the murder of her young boyfriend. Two decades later, evidence turns up in the wake of a horrible flood that exonerates Dupree. Nell is forced to confront the horrifying possibility that she sent an innocent man to prison while trying to unravel what really happened that dark night, twenty years ago.

Peter Abrahams' Delusion is a flawed book falling squarely in the camp "beach reads". One of the biggest faults of the novel is one of ambition, as Abrahams simply tries to fit too much into a book that isn't long enough to do it justice. The multiple layers of conspiracy, recently released con who has spent more of his life in jail than out, racial tension in the deep south, wealth disparities within a tense community, crumbling family dynamic, possible police corruption, various tortured pasts, and flood disaster commentary make for a lot of content for a book that comes in under 300 pages. It's inevitable that some of these end up short changed. Unfortunately, some of the most interesting elements are the ones that get the least attention.

The main plot--is DuPree innocent or not, and if he is, what really happened--is pretty standard "suspense novel" fare. Most readers will probably have figured it out long before poor clueless Nell does (note to the author: please stop having your protagonist repeatedly tell the reader that she isn't smart enough to figure the plot out). The strained relationship with a child subplot felt overwrought and extraneous--I would much rather have had more content about the relationship between Clay (Nell's husband/chief of police) and his former partner.

The cast of characters is a very mixed bag. DuPree is the most interesting character, and the one I think gets short-changed the most by Abrahams. His narrative arc should have been the most compelling aspect, but, by the end of the book, he's largely thrown away. Nell, despite being the protagonist, is too much of a milquetoast to be particularly enjoyable, and her husband is mostly a block of wood moving from scene to scene. The reporter and a number of the secondary characters felt far more fleshed out and interesting than most of the main cast.

Ultimately, the thin, predictable plot (including the unsatisfying end to DuPree's part); the largely forgettable characters; and the overstretched themes make this one a pass.

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Review: The Hunter

The Hunter by Richard Stark
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Parker series, by Richard Stark (one of prolific writer Donald Westlake's many pennames) was one of my first introductions to neo-noir/modern crime fiction. And what an introduction! This is a brutally fast read; Parker is stone cold and laser focused as he moves like a force of nature towards his goal. Unfortunately for Mal Resnick, Parker's goal is to get his hands on Mal. Specifically, around Mal's lying, double-crossing neck.

This isn't the sort of book you're remember for it's colorful language or catchy descriptions. Stark's writing matches his penname; there's not a wasted paragraph in the book. The writing is deliberately sparse and focused on the action. Parker moves through the plot with so much momentum, the reader can't help but get caught up in the wake of destruction he leaves behind. The real beauty of the Hunter (and the rest of the Parker series) is seeing how Parker's mind works. He's a craftsman whose trade is crime, and it's always intriguing to see how he approaches his job.

The Hunter is a brief glimpse into the dark and dirty world of the criminal underground seen through the eyes of the consummate tradesman. The blistering pace, fascinating cast of characters, and the careful plotting make this a must-read for fans of crime fiction.

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Review: Camille

Camille by Pierre Lemaitre
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Camille is a fitting end to Lamaitre's Verhoeven triology. Once again, Detective Camille Verhoeven finds himself drawn into a case that is intensely personal. When the first woman he's dated since his wife's death is brutally attacked during a daring jewelry store heist and one of the robbers makes an attempt on her life, Verhoeven lies to his supervisor to get himself assigned to the case. With echoes of the past crashing in on him and the ripples of his dishonesty threatening his job, Verhoeven is driven to protect this new love not matter what it costs him.

Lemaitre's conclusion to the Verhoeven series is delicately crafted. Each layer of the case is folded carefully upon the next. As with the previous books, Lamaitre employs a dual narrative, this time letting the reader see directly into the antagonist’s mind as he cuts a bloody path through Verhoeven's life. The tension of their cat and mouse game is heightened by the ever increasing uncertainty about which one of them is actually the cat. The case itself grows satisfyingly complicated as the clues and misdirections emerge in dribs and drabs.

Camille hooks you with the explosive opening, but then settles in for a slow build. The simmer builds as Lamaitre ratchets up the tension with each passing chapter, until that final, desperate, moment when everything has to come to a head.

A tortured protagonist fighting his past, a brutally methodical criminal with unknown motives, and a gripping plot that gradually peels back like the layers of an onion make this a compelling read.


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Review: Desolation Jones: Made in England

Desolation Jones: Made in England by Warren Ellis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Desolation Jones: Made in England is a cocktail mixing one part sunshine noir with two parts Warren Ellis gonzo-sauce. Jones, a former spook for the British MI6 turned biological experiment turned low security prisoner in LA (where all former secret service agents are put out to pasture), is tasked with tracking down the private pornography stash (Hitler's home movies) that were stolen from a retired general. Misunderstandings occur when one of the general's daughters thinks that Jones has been tasked with tracking down the middle daughter who has run away from home.

If you've read Ellis before, you have a good idea what to expect--cynical but badass protagonist who hangs out with too-cool chick, a world full of twisted people into some weird things, and an off-kilter world that erupts into violence with alarming frequency.

Ellis' take on the private dick is darkly comedic, at times touching, and utterly intriguing. Of all the crimes in this book (and there are many), the biggest, in this reader's opinion, is that Ellis never bothered to write a second volume.

A solid plot with all the right twists, an interesting cast of characters, a lead with a promise work together to make this a strong read, although an uneven final act prevents it from hitting the five star mark.

For fans of Warren Ellis and hardboiled detectives, this is highly recommended.

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Review: Made to Kill: A Novel

Made to Kill: A Novel by Adam Christopher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was an advanced reader copy provided by the publisher.

This book was practically created just for me. A robot private eye in the Marlowe style, working in Hollywood during the height of the Cold War? Could it be any cooler? Raymond Electromatic is the archetypal private dick... only, you know... he's a robot. He's got a quick wit, a keen eye, and fists of steel (and bronze and titanium). Adam Christopher's voice here is pure Raymond Chandler. Even attempting to replicate Chandler's amazing voice is a bold effort, but Christopher pulls it off with aplomb.

The only criticism I could levy at Christopher is that there's almost *too much* going on here. Having Ray moonlighting in another field felt a little tacked on, but that's a small criticism in an otherwise outstanding book.

A clever take on the noir genre. Highly recommended.

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Review: Trust No One

Trust No One by Paul Cleave
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was an Advanced Reader Copy provided to the library by the Ataria books.

Paul Cleave's Trust No One is a real treat. Jerry Grey, the real name of author, Henry Cutter, suffers from early onset Alzheimer's. As his memories fade and bleed into each other, his ability to differentiate between the Real World and his fictional creations breaks down. Jerry begins to confess to the crimes his characters committed. While his caretakers, friends, and family try to convince him that it's all in his head, Jerry Grey always said "write what you know."

The most powerful aspect of Cleave's novel is the shifting and elusive nature of Jerry's narrative. As his memories fade in and out, his perspective on the narrative changes. In less capable hands, it could quickly become tired, but Cleave manages to pull it off expertly. The central mystery--did he or didn't he?--might not keep every reader guessing to the end, but the fascinating, disorientating exploration of Jerry's rapidly degenerating memories is worth the trip alone.

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Review: Dark Road

Dark Road by Doris Miles Disney
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A fun period crime novel that I knew going in was never going to live up to the cover (which, to be fair, is an amazing cover--the drowning man, the screaming woman pulling her robe together, the giant hammer. What could really live up to the promise of that much danger?). Dark Road tells the tale of a beautiful woman who married a much older man, only to quickly realize that such a marriage is miserable. When she runs into an old flame, she contrives to escape her loveless marriage (through murder, obviously).

This is a fast read, and takes some unexpected, although ultimately believable, turns. It does lag a bit after the crime, and some of the relationships strain even my very forgiving sense of credulity, but for fans of pulp crime, this is a solid pick.

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