Review Archive for author's that start with ... F
Review Archive for author's that start with ... F
Reviewed on this page Ice Lake (John Farrow), Il Dottore (Ron
Felber), The Boy Who Loved Anne Frank (Ellen Feldman), Scottsboro
(Ellen Feldman), Missing Pieces
(Joy Fielding), Heart Stopper
(Joy Fielding), Charley's Web (Joy Fielding), Escape (Anna
Fienberg), f2f
(Phillip Finch), Paranoia
(Joseph Finder),
Company
Man (Joseph Finder),
Killer Instinct (Joseph Finder),
State
of Emergency (Sam Fisher), Therapy (Sebastian Fitzek), Dead
Lovely (Helen Fitzgerald), Hush Hush (Becca Fitspatrick), Storm
Peak (John A Flanagan), Avalanche Pass (John A Flanagan),
The Unknown Terrorist (Richard Flanagan),
The Berlin Cross (Greg
Flynn), Whiteout (Ken Follett), The Machiavelli Covenant
(Allan
Folsom),
Blood Storm (Colin Forbes),
A Blind Eye (G. M. Ford),Red
Tide
(G. M. Ford),
Who The Hell Is Wanda Fuca? (G. M. Ford),
Cast
In Stone (G. M. Ford),
No Man's Land (G. M. Ford),
The Veteran
(Frederick
Forsyth),
Avenger
(Frederick Forsyth),
When The Devil Holds The
Candle
(Karin Fossum), Black Seconds (Karin Fossum), Broken
(Karin
Fossum), Malicious Intent
(Kathryn Fox), Without Consent
(Kathryn
Fox), Skin and Bone (Kathryn Fox), Blood Born (Kathryn Fox),
Stray
Dog Winter (David Francis), Kingdom of Shadows
(Alan Furst)
ICE LAKE
by John Farrow
Century. London
ISBN 0-7126-8052-7
$30.45
August 3 2001
reviewed by Denise Wels
John Farrow is the pseudonym of Trevor Ferguson, a writer who lives in Montreal. He left school early, his career since being a testimony to the theory that life is the best teacher. One of his earliest jobs was working in a Mafia run bar so he would have had a first hand glimpse into organised crime. No doubt nights spent driving a taxi in Montreal would have furthered his education in the seamy side of that city, a far cry from his later occupation of teaching creative writing at University. During his time of driving a taxi, Ferguson produced his first novel, High Water Chants , followed by Onyx John then The Kinkajou.
As John Farrow, his first novel was City of Ice. This book concerned crime in Montreal and featured as hero the same protagonist as in Ice Lake: Sergeant Detective Émile Cinq-Mars. A newspaper article written by Trevor Ferguson makes it abundantly clear he has closely researched... and deplores... the biker gang controlled crime scene in Montreal. Ice Lake bears chilling (sorry) testimony to his research.
The narrative begins with Cinq-Mars and his partner, Detective Bill Mathers, waiting in an ice fishing hut on Lake of Two Mountains outside Montreal. Émile has been contacted by a mysterious woman and instructed to meet her there as she has some important information for him. The meeting does not take place because, while the duo waits, a woman with a seven year-old daughter enters a nearby fishing hut then emerges screaming and frantic: there is the corpse of a man in the ice in her hut.
Cinq-Mars realises the murder is outside his jurisdiction since he is with the Montreal Urban City Police Department and the crime must be investigated by the Sureté, but he fishes on the lake so takes a proprietary interest in it. He manages to insinuate himself into the investigation by acquainting himself with the Sureté investigating officer, Charles Painchaud (a surname translating deliciously as 'warm bread'.)
It soon becomes apparent that there is a conspiracy afoot involving two pharmaceutical companies. The corpse, Andrew Stettler, was chief of security for one and had worked as a lab rat for the other. Native American Lucy Gabriel is another employee as is her friend Camille Choquette, who found the body and, with Lucy, is part of the plan that summoned Cinq-Mars to the lake.
The author uses a device of switching around in time to heighten the tension. After seemingly establishing the characters he travels back a day to reveal the murder itself together with the identity of the murderer. This particular revelation made me gasp. It was an excellent strategy yet in no way lessened the tension and mystery surrounding the crime together with others both revealed before and subsequent to that execution. The reader is left in doubt as to just who, apart from Cinq-Mars and his cohorts, is to be trusted. The narrative takes place against the background of crises in the protagonists' personal lives.
The novel deals with sensitive issues such as AIDS and the testing of new
drugs on human guinea pigs as well as the crime hierarchy in Montreal.
Farrow has created as nasty a bunch of villains as I have ever encountered.
The book is wonderfully structured and truly enthralling. The language
is so evocative that my discomfort caused by the cold of Adelaide's winter
was greatly intensified by Farrow's descriptions of the Montreal climate.
I've no doubt that anyone discovering Farrow will anxiously await more
of his work.
IL DOTTORE
by Ron Felber
ISBN 1863255133
278 pages
Bantam
January 3 2005
$23.95
reviewed by Denise Pickles
March 20 2005
If, Dear Reader, you are a fan of true crime, specifically that occurring in the United States, then this is the book for you. On the other hand, if you pick up this rather slender volume, as I did, believing it to be fiction, you may just be disappointed. The blurb informs a casual browser (in the old sense , not the instrument whereby you came upon this web page) that the protagonist of the work is a "Socialite Manhattan surgeon by day, Mafioso by night: the story of one man's life in the fast lane and how it all came crashing down..." While the bare bones of the tale could have had fictional flesh laid upon its skeleton fascinating enough to maintain the interest of a crime fiction aficionado, the author seems to have gone overboard in providing a history of the Mafia rather than a thrilling tale of one of its peons. The author describes how he met the real-life Elliot Litner who was agreeable to having a book written about him; thus, this novel.
Elliot Litner, a young Jewish boy, child of Russian emigrés, lives in the Bronx. He has friends who are Jews and other friends who are Italian Americans. Elliot is a clever boy to the extent that the parents of his Italian friends ask him to tutor their children, who are not as bright as the Jewish lad. Elliot, at the time, is not aware that the fathers who, for a living, do 'dis and dat' are, in fact, Mafiosi. For his pains, he is protected from bullies by his friends and when he completes school, is awarded a scholarship so he can study Medicine.
Everything comes with a price. Elliot discovers he is to attend criminals, 'men of honour', who come by illicit illnesses - bullet wounds and the like. Despite his reputable day job his moonlighting occupation stimulates appetites costing far more than his visible earnings and thus binds him to the dark side of New York life which pays more than his brilliance as a surgeon can supply to feed his cravings. Another aspect of his supplementary job is to act as a courier on behalf of high profile 'godfathers'.
The opening chapters of the story tell of the dilemma posed for the young surgeon: he has an important witness for the Commission which is determined to put the Mafia out of business, on his operating table. His Mob friends have ordered him to make sure the by-pass operation on the man, Ralph Scopo, fails. On the other hand, the quasi-respectable law enforcement men dictate that he and his family will be ruined should the witness die.
How the Mafia obtained such a hold on American society is indeed a fascinating tale. It is unfortunate that the narrative becomes more a relating of historical fact than an enthralling fiction. At times it seems that Elliot himself has vanished from the story as the gangsters become the main characters. At times, too, I found Felber's sentences ambiguous and difficult to translate into comprehensible English. Certain aspects of the book provide intriguing insights into modern figures - for example, I would never have guessed the antecedents of that American hero, Rudolph Giuliani, had I not read this work. Other recognisable figures, such as J. Edgar Hoover and the Kennedy clan, have whatever secrets they previously retained revealed to public viewing. The author also casts marrow-chilling light on the lethal antics of latter day police.
The book is certainly well worth its small cost in order to provide
a better understanding of American society.
THE BOY WHO LOVED ANNE FRANK
by Ellen Feldman
ISBN 0330441442
264 pages
Picador
August 3 2005
$30.00
reviewed by Denise Pickles
July 24 2005
Even taking into account her output written under the pseudonym "Elizabeth Villars", Ellen Feldman cannot be accused of prolificacy in her auctorial career. What she lacks in number of volumes is more than compensated for by the high standard of quality in books such as Lucy, Rearview Mirror or Conjugal Rites. Now she adds to her reputation for excellence with the release of The Boy Who Loved Anne Frank. The novel was inspired by Feldman's visit to the house where the doomed Holocaust victims found a measure of protection and the deferral of their eventual fates. At the time of the author's visit, the guide informed the group that the deaths of all the refugees had been documented, with the exception of that of Peter van Pels. In The Diary of a Young Girl, Anne Frank mentions that Peter wished, should the war and persecution ever end, to put behind him all memories of his past and begin a new life, free of all the attributes of his former life, including his Jewish religion. Feldman's imagination built up a complete history of what might have happened to Peter if, at the conclusion of the war, he had migrated to the United States. By the time she learned that van Pels had, in fact, died in Mauthausen just prior to its liberation, it was too late to dismiss the alternate history she had built. Fortunately for us, as readers, she published her invention as this powerful narrative.
Miraculously, Peter van Pels arrives in the United States, despite near brushes with death during his capture and subsequent internment. His familiarity with English permits him to understand the racist comments made by an Immigration officer. He decides to perpetuate the disguise he adopted during the war and pretend he is not Jewish. This subterfuge later permits him to go into partnership with a Jewish builder since loans to Jews by financial organisations were not at that time easily obtained. Peter's surname is in keeping with the best traditions of a New York founded by gentile Dutch so the two friends, van Pels and Wolfe, are able to set themselves up in a successful business. Ironically, Peter is denied marriage with his first American love simply because he claims not be Jewish. Susannah's sister, Madeleine, does not feel herself so restricted and marries Peter.
Years later, Peter is afflicted by a loss of voice - a psychological affliction. His voice is returned to him after he sees The Diary of a Young Girl and he retrieves some of his memories of the dreadful time, prior to the betrayal into the hands of the Nazis, when the families were hidden in the Amsterdam house.
This book is no mere pastiche taking advantage of the constant interest,
even now, in the thoughts and dreams of Anne Frank. The fictional Peter
presents with very real and understandable consequences of his past life
and past lies. His almost subconscious drive to regain his religion and
become true to himself is powerfully painted. His psychological difficulties
and the hardship and anti-Semite prejudices he witnesses are surely enough
to shame any gentile reader who must empathise with the semi-historical
protagonist of this puissant writer.
SCOTTSBORO
by Ellen Feldman
ISBN 9780330456142
363 pages
Picador
July 2 2008
$22.99
reviewed by Denise Pickles
August 5 2008
Ellen Feldman is no slouch when it comes to conjuring up characters burdened by immense problems. In SCOTTSBORO, she brings to life men and women of three quarters of a century or so in the past.The women, because of fear of what might happen to them should they tell the truth, lie for short term gain (and safety) thereby condemning nine black youths o a sentence of death in the electric chair.
Ruby Bates and Victoria Price hop a freight train, at the beginning of the 1930s. They are not averse to some ìfunî, although the person with whom they share it might find themselves charged two bits for the privilege. They witness an incident between white and black boys, in which the blacks behave extremely magnanimously (thus establishing the essential goodness of the blacks for the purposes of the book.) When the train stops in Scottsboro, white men appear, anxious to take out their own vengeance on the blacks who dared fight with white boys. Rubyís and Victoriaís presence complicates matters as white women fraternising with blacks might provoke severe harm to them, so when it is suggested to the two girls that the black boys raped them, Victoria, the brighter of the two, assents and, at her urging, Ruby agrees.
Alice Whittier is a journalist. She is the voice of reason in the tale. She takes Ruby under her wing, to a degree. She attempts to get the girl to recant her testimony, but doesnít really understand the girl, nor her motivations.
While this tale is founded on fact, it is, nonetheless, fiction. The dreadful case on which it was based was, however, true. The appalling social conditions detailed in the novel were, indeed, a mirror of what pertained at the time. Feldman makes Alice Whittier something of a social conscience for the time and her horror at the injustices done in the name of justice would surely be reflected in more than one person of the time, had they but been aware of the details of the case.
Mind, I was horrified at the notion of humans being able to treat other humans in such a way without batting an eyelid, until memory stirred and I was taken back to my own childhood in New Guinea. All of a sudden, Feldmanís scenario took on a whole new aspect of credibility. Alas, my belief in Ruby and Victoria became firm and the entire scenario completely plausible.
Feldman is an excellent writer and her reconstruction of the characters
of Victoria and Ruby is superb. Alice, the journalist, is an equally successful
creation and the entirety of the tale comprises an extremely powerful novel.
Missing Pieces
by Joy Fielding
Island Books
copyright 1997
It has long been a difficulty with me that Americans speak a different language from Australians: thus, many of the books I read contain, for me at least, baffling passages at the meaning of which I can only guess. Just today I heard a gerontologist (geriatrician?) from Stanford pontificating on how bad it was for us 'when we sedentate in front of our TVs'. Far be it from me to take issue with such a learned man about a possible misuse of a common language. He obviously has a good command of American, his native tongue, whilst I plod along talking in Australian. Unfortunately, Joy Fielding writes Australian just like I talk it, so I could not take refuge in misunderstanding as I gulped all of her book in one go.
Missing Pieces'is a thriller. Yea, verily it is. It is my misfortune that I graduated with high honours from the School for Wimps.
The story is told in the first person by Kate Sinclair, a family therapist. In the first few pages she establishes that a crime of violence, probably murder, has taken place in her house. The main excitement centres on the possible identity of the victim and that of the perpetrator.
Fielding somehow incorporates some of my own worst dreads and horrors. I am beginning to suspect that these fears are shared by quite a few people, unless Fielding was aiming at a very limited market.
Kate's half sister, Jo Lynn, falls in love with a newspaper photograph of a man on trial for the murders of thirteen women. She announces to Kate that she is going to marry that man, whom she thinks looks a little like Brad Pitt, and drags her unwilling sister along to the courthouse where Jo Lynn becomes something of a celebrity in her own right as she lets the entire world know she believes Colin Friendly is innocent.
The author is an artist in her own masterful way as she weaves the individual threads of unpleasantness ...a wilful sister, an ungovernable adolescent daughter, a mother who is falling prey to Alzheimer's, an old flame tempting Kate to adultery, with the horror of the murders and the murderer into a colourful tapestry of fear. Everyone is at risk and the tale seems to speed on to a certain doom.
Fielding creates real human beings to populate her work: Larry, Kate's husband, is a supportive, loving man who, nonetheless, can be driven to impatience by Kate's unreasonable and inconsistent behaviour. Kate herself makes her living by solving the problems of other folk while being totally unable to come to grips with what is going on in her own family. Jo Lynn is shown with all her baffling self destructive behaviour yet, for the many clues Kate relates, the reason for her confusing actions only becomes clear to Kate when Jo Lynn explains the origins in their shared childhood. Michelle, Kate's too-perfect younger daughter, develops into a believable adolescent towards the end of the book, whilst Sara, the older and more troubling daughter begins to shed the worst of her antisocial adolescence. Kate suffers tremendously as she begins to convince herself that her mother really is an Alzheimer's victim, something she would have recognised immediately if presented with a description of such behaviour by a client. Kate's own dalliance with the notion of adultery with a chance met boyfriend of her youth, again, is something she would discourage in a client.
Against the all too believable background of Fielding's characters, the horror and tension of the Colin Friendly violence stand out in great contrast to the unfortunate normality of the ordinary life of the other protagonists. As the plot zooms toward the ghastly climax, the writing never falters.
I am afraid that
while I appreciate the writer's takents, I did not enjoy her book, but
that is my problem, not hers. I would recommend this novel to all aficionados
of thrillers who possess a stronger stomach than my own.
HEART STOPPER
by Joy Fielding
ISBN 9781847390455
549 pages
POCKET BOOKS
January 1 2008
$19.95
reviewed by Denise Pickles
January 31 2008
What a charming little work this one is. It grabbed me from start to finish - where it still leaves one on a tenterhook or two.
Chapter 1 begins the tale with the killer's journal. There, the description of the murderer's treatment of the latest victim and this voyeur's mode of operation is disclosed - without a clue as to the identity of the sadistic killer.
Sandy Crosbie is a high school teacher in Torrance, Florida. She has moved there at the insistence of her womanising doctor husband Ian, who, unbeknownst to her, had a prospective mistress in his sights. He had met Kerri on an Internet site and couldn't wait to move more closely to her. Once living in Torrance, he has moved out of the matrimonial home to be near his girlfriend and Sandy and their daughter and son are left on their own.
The schoolteacher does her best not to forgive her husband his philandering - she has done so many times before - and settle down to a single life which would give her the freedom to date. Some people are unable to cast off their own inhibitions, especially when they have a teenage daughter to whom they wish to serve as a model, so Sandy dithers.
Megan, Sandy's daughter, has problems of her own. She has a crush on one of the school's jocks but she is convinced she can win him over - especially when they are cast together in the school's production of Kiss Me Kate.
Of course, in a small town there is bound to be at least one case of wife abuse so when Fiona Hamilton disappears, it is a reasonable assumption that she has simply run away rather than fallen victim to the serial killer -but given she has become so cowed through the years of being married to Cal Hamilton, perhaps it's not quite such a wild assumption that she, too, has been taken for the predator's amusement.
I had not read any of Fielding's books for some years because I felt queasy at some of her scenes of mayhem. I did, however, gird up my metaphorical loins when this novel appeared and I am glad I did. Yes, she is not averse to depicting a whole heap of gruey gore but my goodness, the lady can write.
The characterisation is quite good. I was suitably repelled by the gloating of the murderer, felt, at one remove, the teenage angst of Sandy's daughter, not to mention the collywobbles of fear experienced by Sandy herself, as she contemplates dating and I could quite easily see the validity of the entire Torrance population. Certainly, there are some nasties amongst them but all are quite real - insofar as their artificially enhanced breasts and lips permit them.
The prose is well done. Fielding has the nasty knack of building tension and exaggerating horror to the nth degree. As for plotting - that is masterful. She had me completely foxed when it came to the identity of the murderer.
I am very glad I overcame my prejudices about Fielding's work. I would
not have missed out on this thriller for quids.
CHARLEY'S WEB
by Joy Fielding
ISBN 9780743296014
437 pages
ATRIA BOOKS
April 1 2008
$24.95
reviewed by Denise Pickles
February 8 2008
Joy Fielding is an author who does a really nice line in menace. She is one of those people who can inspire readers to shout warnings at her protagonist not to do venture into a place where we are absolutely sure something nasty is lurking. The author callously continues to march her heroine into the room where we know something is about to jump out and sink its poisoned claws into her soft, yielding, endangered flesh, but the reader is unlikely to cease her shouted warnings.
Charley Webb writes a weekly column for The Palm Beach Post. It actually reminded me of J A Jance's protagonist's blog in WEB OF EVIL, which I had only just finished prior to beginning to read Charley. Like Ali Reynolds, Charley receives well intentioned advice from readers. Mind, some of it is not as good humoured as it might be and some is downright malicious.
Charley and her sisters are named after the Brontë girls, but their brother is simply called Bram, rather than Branwell. He, unfortunately, is a drug addicted alcoholic. Their mother deserted their icily cruel academic father when they were very young but she returned two years previous to the beginning of the tale. Only Charley deigns to talk to her, and even she is very distant with Elizabeth.
Charley does not wish the complication a serious relationship would bring but she did want children, so she set about getting herself impregnated and now has a son and a daughter.
The columnist is approached by notorious child killer Jill Rohmer. Rohmer claims she has a story to tell and wants Charley to write the book. Through Jill, Charley meets lawyer Alex Prescott, a very attractive man and one who soon starts seeing a lot of Charley, despite his obvious disapproval of the project.
I have to admit I found myself holding my breath in some of the scenes this talented author created. Her bluffs and double bluffs are things of beauty and, unfortunately, her characters bear the imprint of Life.
It's hard for loving parents to conceive of creatures who gain pleasure from the suffering of children but the popular press ensures we are aware of these horrible entities. Suffice it that Fielding has created convincing child murderers in Jill and the pseudonymous Jack, the villains of the tale.
I couldn't help but wonder if the research involved in writing such a book necessitated the author meeting and interviewing such malefactors as she portrays so well. If so, I don't envy her, but really admire the result.
So impressed am I with this novel, to my own utter amazement, I just
found myself exhorting a publicist from a different publisher to read the
work! She has promised to try to do so.
ESCAPE
by Anna Fienberg
ISBN 9781863256681
437 pages
BANTAM
September 1 2009
$32.95
reviewed by Denise Pickles
August 19 2009
Shall we go for a dip in the mainstream? Iíve been exceedingly adventurous recently but am not certain that mainstream is for me, after this brief venture into it. I found it exceedingly harrowing, if this is a representative sample, but I declare myself open to having my mind changed on the genre as a whole.
Part One is entitled The Last Supper. Rachel is nervously carrying home the loot from a shopping expedition, a very important one since the supper in question is the last for her daughter, Clara. Sydney born and brought up, Clara is spreading her wings and going overseas. In less than the space of one page, Rachel allows the reader to learn that she used to be desperately in love with her beautiful husband, Guido, but that he has worn out that love.
Rachel is a magician. Guido was also, when Rachel first met him, but he outgrew that. Rachel remains fascinated by escapology, with Harry Houdini being her hero. She is also an author, having made a career from writing books for children. Guido is a writer, too, a poet. He now conducts classes and even has a favourite pupil, Silvia.
The description of the farewell meal is an indictment of the family life. Of course, most of the fault lies with the abominable Guido. No matter how hard Rachel tries, she is unable to please her husband. Her parents obviously feel for her and her mother, who seems to be in the early stages of dementia, voices her opinion of the ìdreadful marriageî.
Rachel is the unfortunate owner of a voice, an internal critic of her life and choices that only she can hear.
On the whole, I rather enjoyed the book, despite mentally cheering on Rachelís mother when she vilified Guido.
The characterisation was well done. I might have thought Guido somewhat exaggerated, had I not met quite a few European men who were all too similar to the dreadful fellow.
I might escape back into the realm of crime fiction now, just so I feel
cushioned from some of the dreadful aspects of Real Life!
f2f
by Phillip Finch
Bantam Books
copyright 1996
The June '98 issue of Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine carries the usual Reflections column written by Robert Silverberg, this one entitled The Science Fictionization Of Everything. In the article, Silverberg discusses how, over the years, he has seen ideas propounded by his peers in science fiction stories, become reality. He cites discoveries, such as those of scientists at the University of Munich who announced they were able to demonstrate from DNA extracted from the bones of a Neanderthal man, that Neanderthals had been a separate branch of the human race. Another quite delicious remark equates developers in a Japanese electronics firm with Asimov's famous fictional roboticist Susan Calvin, since they have developed a walk around robot which can climb up and down stairs.
The relevance of the above is that twenty five years or so ago, f2f would have been considered science fiction, and a great deal more background would have been necessary within the book to set a firm foundation for the story that followed. As it is, today just about everybody, and certainly anyone bothering to read this review, is well acquainted with the marvels of computers and the Internet which comprise the necessary basis for the novel.
In former days of story telling, the scene for one of the ancestors of the modern thriller, the ghost story (and yes, I realise the horror genre is a legitimate descendant of that category, but I feel that the thriller or suspense story is equally entitled to claim such ancestry) would probably be placed on a dark and stormy night. In Adelaide we have had out fill of dark and stormy nights and it was on one such night, when I was by myself, that I read f2f in its entirety. I found it terrifying, and an answering machine propelling a disembodied voice throughout the house did nothing to reassure me after I had failed to hear the telephone ring. Truly the reaction one would expect accompanying the old fashioned supernatural story.
I have never tried to participate in any of the chat groups available on the Internet, so must be excused if I use incorrect terminology in trying to discuss this thriller. At the beginning of the book someone using the code name or 'handle' of 'Snowflake' participates in a chat group and makes inflammatory statements which cause six other people logged on to the group to respond unfavourably. Snowflake tells them they have been noticed and makes vague sounding threats to each. The title, f2f means a face to face meeting between people who have only previously met in cyberspace.
Part One of the novel describes the discovery of the first corpse of the members of the group. Homicide assigns a computer illiterate to the investigation since there is certainly no sign that a serial killer with a predisposition to using computers has begun to strike. Lee Wade, the homicide detective assigned to the case, inadvertently neglects evidence in the case when he turns off the computer, displaying the familiar 'Flying Toasters' screen saver on the monitor, belonging to the first victim.
Mr. Finch establishes the groundwork for the real chase as he delivers the first three victims to Snowflake before he settles down to the real thrills in endangering the three surviving people to offend Snowflake: a woman, 'Ziggy' the former wife of 'Avatar', a computer genius, and Joyboy, a child who displays the accustomed ease of children in becoming assimilated into the high tech world of computing.
The story is very well written, moving along at a desperate pace. The plot is satisfyingly involving despite a perhaps lamentable inclination to dwell on the gore. The name of the killer when it comes is not really important, although the signs are there for all to see when the murderer makes his appearance in the story. The thrills are on two levels, in the techno chase as well as in the physical world.
Phillip Finch has manufactured a first class thriller.
PARANOIA
by Joseph Finder
ISBN 0752860917
426 pages
Orion
July 9 2004
$29.95
reviewed by Denise Pickles
June 8 2005
Just in case anyone is in any doubt prior to reading PARANOIA, Joseph Finder is something of an authority on espionage. His abilities would not be in any doubt to any reader subsequent to reading the work. He is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers although a brief inspection of his website did not reveal when and where he practised this interesting profession; given his interest in Russian studies, one can only assume.
Adam Cassidy is a good-hearted twenty-six year-old unmotivated to get ahead in his low level position at Wyatt Telecom. A "loading dock guy", Jonesie, working at the same firm as Cassidy is retiring. Unsure even of his own motivation (although Adam suspects it may in the nature of 'a raised middle finger') Cassidy arranges, at the firm's expense, an unauthorised birthday bash for the retiree. Unfortunately, Wyatt's CEO keeps more of an eye on detail than Adam credits and pursues, with heavy threats, payment in kind from Cassidy. If he wishes to avoid prison with its potential for physical abuse, Adam must spy for the Wyatt organisation at Trion Systems. He would be supplied with useful information about technology by Wyatt but must, in return, worm himself as far into the inner sanctum of Trion as possible and keep Wyatt abreast of any secret moves by the rival organisation.
A series of actions, some positively serendipitous, sees Adam lodged in an advantageous position within his target and he discovers an unsuspected propensity for spying and double dealing. He relinquishes his past life and friends, caught up in the glamour of the life of a fast moving young executive. On another level, however, Adam must question his actions in the light of the idealism and vulnerability of the CEO of Trion.
To say the suspense within this novel is intense is something of an understatement. I had to remind myself to breathe at times as Adam found himself in hair raising situations. Something unheard of occurred - I even had to look at the ending of a chapter before I could bear to read the details of some of the situations in which this anti-hero found himself.
What may appear impossible to a casual reader is made all too conceivable within the boundaries of this novel. The psychological aspect is very convincing, as is the characterisation of the actors in the drama. The plot is beautifully constructed with an amount of technological detail sufficient to convince the most informed reader of the validity of the science involved.
It is unfortunate for aficionados of suspense fiction that Finder came
relatively late to the genre. One trusts he will write quickly and attempt
to make up for his slow start.
COMPANY MAN
by Joseph Finder
ISBN 0752868888
520 pages
Orion
June 1 2005
$29.95
reviewed by Denise Pickles
July 8 2005
Joseph Finder is an excellent writer of both non-fiction and fiction. He has an interest in espionage - a fact made manifest in his previous book, Paranoia - both between countries and between companies. While there is no obvious espionage, per se, in Company Man, he exhibits a deep knowledge of the commercial world in general and certain companies in particular in this thriller.
Prior to the opening chapter, Finder has a quote from August Strindberg from 1886, one that no doubt will resonate with all parents: "That is the thankless position of the father in the family - the provider for all and the enemy of all." While Nick Conover, widowed a year before the opening of the tale, is not the enemy of his beloved ten year-old daughter Julia, his sixteen year-old son, Lucas, certainly seems to view him in that light as, increasingly, does the town of Fenwick, Michigan. Himself the son of a tradesman working for Stratton Corporation, Nick became a white collar worker at the same plant where he was, almost inexplicably, appointed to be CEO upon the sale of the company to Fairfield Equity Partners. After the sale it becomes apparent that dramatic cuts to the worker population must take place so half of the ten thousand workers are fired. The sackings affect almost every family living in the town and Nick, now dubbed 'The Slasher', is the most hated man in Fenwick. Small wonder, then, that his home, despite its supposed security within a gated community, becomes the target of vandals. The attacks culminate in the slashing murder of the Conovers' pet dog, Barney. This precipitates an overhaul of the home's security, undertaken by Stratton's Chief of Security, former hockey team mate of Nick's and a disgraced policeman, Eddie Rinaldi. Rinaldi insists that Nick borrow a gun from him but just after the security system is installed, the suspect in the dog killing, a schizophrenic, comes calling and is later found dead.
Detective Audrey Rhimes is a black detective, appointed against the wishes of her male colleagues who seem to despise her on the grounds of her race, religion and, most of all, sex. As the wife of a worker fired by Conover, she has little cause to have any warm feelings for that CEO but when she must investigate the case, attempts to put aside her personal feelings and conduct an impartial examination of the circumstances. In the meantime, Nick is having problems within the corporation as he feels his authority is being bypassed and some nefarious plans are underway.
While the action is not quite as hectic as that of Paranoia, it is far from slack. Finder is not afraid of gorily unpleasant scenes but neither does he toss them into the narrative with gratuitously wanton abandon. His characters are beautifully drawn, with the sleazy oozing greasy unpleasantness while anxious parents have their problems understandingly presented. The human weakness of men is painted plausibly and the reader can feel sympathy for actions taken from desperation by the protagonist. The unhelpful officiousness of some bureaucrats is all too convincingly drawn and the violent insanity of a paranoid schizophrenic frighteningly depicted.
Given the publicity afforded the machinations of Big Business in contemporary
times, the plot of this novel could be believed were it presented in a
tabloid newspaper as fact. The writing is taut, with no wasted words and
the research has obviously been meticulous. A worthy follow-up to Paranoia.
KILLER INSTINCT
by Joseph Finder
406 pages
ISBN 0752874810
Orion
August 4 2006
$29.95
reviewed by Denise Pickles
August 24 2006
KILLER INSTINCT is, like Finder's previous two novels, set in the world of Big Business. His protagonist, Jason Steadman, is an easy-going, laid back executive who is never likely to achieve great things. That all changes one night when Steadman is talking to his wife on his mobile phone whilst driving home. He damages his car and has to call a tow truck to rescue it. The tow truck driver, Kurt Semko, is, like Jason, a baseball enthusiast who, prior to joining the Special Forces was likely to have a successful baseball career. Semko tells Jason that he was given a Dishonourable Discharge from the Special Forces but that it was undeseerved.
Steadman enlists Semko to play on the Entronics softball team in an intercompany match, despite the pitcher's ineligibility as he doesn't work for the company. Entronics wins, courtesy of Kurt, and both men achieve heroic status with the team. Soon thereafter, Entronics needs a Security man and Jason vouches for Semko, who is hired. Semko vows he will help Jason as he 'owes him one'. Jason accepts Semko's help with a background check which allows him to close a necessary deal but Kurt's help doesn't cease there and soon Jason is being propelled upward through the executive ranks of Entronics. Jason's wish for promotion is partly fuelled by his feeling that his wife deserves better than his ability to provide on his relatively low salary and partly by the pair's future needs when Kate falls pregnant.
Kurt insinuates himself into the Steadmans' lives and lonely Kate soon learns to rely on his abilities as a handyman.
Jason finally tumbles to the fact that Semko is 'helping' him by extremely unethical means but when he seeks to break the association, soon finds himself the target of malevolence rather than beneficence.
As Jason stumbles blithely up the corporate ladder, the reader must surely feel the same apprehensions experienced by movie audiences when the heroine is about to go into a dark room or even the bathroom of the Bates Motel. I found myself mentally warning Jason 'No! Don't do it!' as he accepts Semko's help on various things then later makes no secret of the fact that the friendship is at an end. Ruin seems to be the inexorable fate of the executive -- not only reputation ruin but also physical.
Finder has created a memorably nasty villain with more of a stage presence, despite the first person narrative, than that of the protagonist. The author must have spent a lot of time researching various aspects of both technology and company psychology, not to mention features of pregnancy.
One of the characters introduced, no doubt to show Steadman's potential for parenting, is Jason's nephew Ethan. Jason takes a great deal of time and trouble establishing a bond with the child who is very much neglected by his parents. I would have liked to have seen more of this character but there is no doubt his share of the tale was sufficient for the narrative.
Joseph Finder has a great ability to draw a reader in. While the
only real mystery in the story is whether Jason and his family can survive
Semko's attentions, the narrative is thoroughly absorbing and well laced
with excitement and intrigue.
STATE OF EMERGENCY
by Sam Fisher
ISBN 9781863256919
376 pages
BANTAM
July 1 2009
$34.95
reviewed by Denise Pickles
June 17 2009
If you, Dear Reader, enjoy loads of adventure, better than good heroes and more dangerous, capable and evil villains, this is one for you.
The book opens with Mark Harrison attempting to convince a group of four rather interesting people of the need for a special E-force, or Emergency Force, to be created. He next travels to a gaol, where a hacker extraordinaire currently resides, and persuades that individual that it would be in his interests also to join the force.
The force (whose original number is increased to six when an initial holdout requests admission) have operations performed on them in order to enhance their already superb senses. Not only are the humans enhanced, but so, too, are suits with which they are fitted.
It is only reasonable to assume that such a force of good be counterbalanced by one of evil and so is the case here. The evil doers are the self dubbed Horsemen of the Apocalypse. They have an assassin in their hire, the amoral Dragon. To emphasise his essentially evil nature, he sports a tattoo of a coiled dragon on the inside of his wrist, one which, mysteriously, is possessed of ìa lascivious, lashing tongueî.
Senator Kyle Foreman is in a condition of anxious bliss. His pregnant wife is within a couple of days of giving birth and he is about to give an extremely important speech.
In the lead up to Foremanís speech, a disparate group of characters, including the Dragon, is approaching the Conference Centre where the speech is to be given.
When Foreman begins his speech, the Dragon strikes-- and the first bomb goes off.
The E-Force, of course make their way to the conference centre in the hope of performing a gallant rescue, especially concerned with the well being of Senator Foreman.
This novel is, of course, big on action and adventure. It is, perhaps, a little ambitious to expect depth of characterisation as well as inventiveness and shock, but the one makes up for any lack in the other.
One thing that impressed me with this narrative is the obvious enthusiasm
of the author. I have quite enjoyed other books by him under his ìMichael
Whiteî nom-de-plume so can only wonder what the future holds for ìSam Fisherî.
THERAPY
by Sebastian Fitzek
translated by Sally-Ann Spencer
ISBN 9780330453158
293 pages
PAN BOOKS
September 19 2008
$19.99
reviewed by Denise Pickles
February 11 2009
This is a dark tale by anyoneís standards. It begins with Dr Viktor Larenz taking his daughter Josephine to see an allergist. Josy has been suffering a mysterious illness for some time and the allergist is a friend of her father, who is a psychiatrist. Mind, I raised my (professional) eyebrows to see that the allergist had prescribed a homeopathic drug, expecting it to effect a cure. Regardless, Josy disappears from the doctorís surgery. Viktor, when he comes back to collect his daughter from the rooms, turns the place upside down, but finds no sign of the twelve year-old.
Years later, Viktor is strapped down in a psychiatric institute, being treated by fellow psychiatrist Doctor Roth. Roth requests that Viktor tell him the story of the whole unfortunate episode. This begins on the island of Parkum.
Larenz is alone in his house when his solitude is shattered by the intrusion of a woman. She claims to be a schizophrenic, referred to him by a distinguished colleague.
Anna Glass tells Viktor that she is a well known childrenís novelist but her psychiatric condition causes the characters about whom she writes to come to life in the real world. She claims that psychiatrists at an expensive private clinic have recommended she come to see Viktor, whose ìspecialismî is schizophrenia.
Larenz tries to get rid of Anna, since he retired four years ago, when Josy disappeared, and tells her to catch the ferry to the mainland the following morning. She leaves him-- but not in the direction which Viktor indicated.
The mayor of Parkum is watching the psychiatrist and, as soon as Anna has left Viktorís house, visits him and warns him about Anna, because ìsheís not right in the headî.
I often have difficulty with translations. Somehow, I always feel a certain disconnection with the author simply because of the presence of the translator interpolated between the book and the reader. This volume produced such a reaction in me although Iíve no doubt the translation was perfectly adequate.
To me, the characterisation didnít seem particularly strong, although, given the story, perhaps that might be a plus. The psychiatrist seemed more to be acting his suffering at the disappearance of his daughter, rather than experiencing the suffering.
The concept of fictional characters coming to life in the real world is scarcely a new one. Mind, I canít say I remember such a conceit in partnership with a missing person, but feel thatís by the way.
For all that I understand THERAPY was a huge success in Germany, I just
didnít feel it quite succeeded.
DEAD LOVELY
by Helen Fitzgerald
ISBN 9781741752281
298 pages
ARENA
ALLEN & UNWIN
August 30 2007
$22.95
reviewed by Denise Pickles
November 13 2007
The first chapter of this debut novel could well be seen as somewhat unsettling. Krissie Donald describes finding herself. The first part of herself that she discovers is when her best friend Sarah is asleep in a tent, while Sarah's husband Kyle is being fellated -- by Krissie. Next, an unfortunate part is discovered when Krissie is dragging Sarah's dead body across some rough terrain. Sarah's death is caused by Krissie.
There is really no need for an adulterous relationship between Kyle and Krissie. She had, after all, been living with Kyle and Chas, a man who later winds up in gaol, but Krissie introduces Kyle to Sarah, who has been her best friend since childhood, and the two immediately fall in love and marry soon after. Then Kyle, Sarah and Krissie embark on the disastrous hiking trip during which Krissie fellates Kyle.
Meanwhile, Krissie has borne baby Robbie following a transient holiday affair. Sarah, who has always wanted a child but seems fated to remain childless, cares for Krissie during the pregnancy and is devoted to the baby. All the time, Sarah desperately tries not to envy nor think ill of Krissie.
The story is told partly in the first person, from Krissie's point of view, and partly in the third person. If any reader has had unfortunate experiences with social workers, no doubt the opinions they have formed of that denigrated ilk will be reinforced by the portrayal of Krissie, who is a social worker.
The plot is more or less easily followed, despite time frames switching rather confusingly from time to time (so to speak) as well as the points of view. The writing is good and the prose flows effortlessly.
Readers of today are, from constant repetition of the theme, familiar with the obsessive compulsion to have children experienced by women of a certain age, so Sarah's character, up to a point, is comprehensible. Krissie's persona is even more recognisable in today's world.
Some readers may have difficulty with some of the concepts. Perhaps
they are the sort of thing people would prefer not to acknowledge in modern
society. For that matter, given the settings, perhaps the tale could be
seen as overly gruesome. Nonetheless, it is quite an entertaining story
and it will be worthwhile to keep an eye out for Fitzgerald's next opus.
HUSH HUSH
by Becca Fitzpatrick
ISBN 9781847386953
390 pages
Simon & Schuster
November 1 2009
$24.99
reviewed by Denise Pickles
October 13 2009
Thereís nothing wrong with a fantastic tale being put before the public every now and again. HUSH HUSH injects at least one angel into the mix. The publishers also blessed me with some black feathers, so that when I opened the envelope in which the book arrived, I got a bit of a shock. I was pleased I had recently been given a clean bill of health by my cardiologist.
Teachers donít always pander to studentís wishes and a seating rearrangement in Grade Ten Biology sees Nora unhappy at being separated from best friend Vee and instead being seated next to a new student, Patch. Patch seems remarkably well informed about Nora, telling her things about herself she doesnít think he has any right to know. To add to her discomfort, an assignment means that she must interview Patch, although he manages not to answer her questions. Then, when Nora returns home, her imagination peoples her surroundings with frightening creatures.
Noraís self medicating with iron tablets several times a day (I canít believe America is so far behind us with treatment) catches Patchís attention, quite understandably. I know Iíd comment, too, if I saw someone popping pills several times a day (she canít know about Ferrogradumets!)
Noraís equilibrium is further upset when she thinks she sees a Peeping Tom at her window, then thinks someone is stalking her.
Then things for which there is no possible explanation begin happening. How could something have attacked the car which Nora is driving when there is no visible evidence of the attack on the apparently intact vehicle? Then there is the ride in the fairground, from which she was certain she had fallen.
Patch eventually permits Nora to know his true identity and the species to which he belongs -- but then Nora is caught up in a battle involving Patchís species and another with which they are at war.
The tale should interest any young adults with a penchant for fantasy. The characters, when one makes the necessary allowances for creatures not of this world, are credible, even the baddies. The plotting is quite intriguing, too, and I have to admit I was surprised at the identity of the chief villain, once he was unmasked.
I have to admit to being a real pushover when it comes to a well told
fantasy and this book fulfils that description.
STORM PEAK
by John A Flanagan
ISBN 9781863256360
355 pages
BANTAM
January 1 2009
$32.99
reviewed by Denise Pickles
December 16 2008
Australian author John A Flanagan has made a very good fist of portraying the Colorado snow fields -- at least, to my uneducated eye-- in STORM PEAK, a novel in which the titular peak has every right to be counted as one of the cast of characters.
The prologue depicts Detective Jesse Parker shooting, and killing, albeit accidentally, Detective Tony Vetano. The effect on Jesse is to make him leave Denver and retreat to his home town of Steamboat Springs.
Sheriff Lee Torrens finds herself lumbered with a dead body and no suspects. She happens to discuss the case with Jesse who, despite no longer being a cop, displays an interest. Before too long, Lee makes Jesse a deputy and together they go a-sleuthing.
The point of view is constantly shifting, from Jesse and Lee to the murderer, The killer, generously, speaks in italics so that if the reader needs to look back to check something that has gone before, it is possible to narrow the action down according to the form of the font.
While the killer doesnít care much for the entire township of Steamboat Springs, he takes a particular dislike to Jesse Parker. It seems to be a personal affront that Jesse should hit on the killerís motive-- namely, that he hates everyone associated with the mountain.
The killer is extremely proud of his inventiveness and ability to kill, seemingly at random, and leave no trace. He plans his hits carefully and relies on his excellence as a skier to help him elude any pursuit.
Of course, there is a rekindling of the passion once felt between Lee and Jesse, but there are complications. Jesseís former wife, Abby, a journalist, comes to town and both Lee and Jesse are nervous as to how Abby might portray the law enforcement officers of the little community. They need not worry-- at first. Abby has more on her mind than crime.
No doubt Flanagan felt he had to make a determined effort to lift this novel into the adult category, so there is some graphic sex-- graphic, but not terribly exciting. There are also red herrings and some delays to hinder the hard working law enforcement officers.
The characterisation of this piece was reasonable, although I felt the murderer leaned toward the cartoonish. Both Jesse and Lee (try to keep in mind which is male and which is female, when reading the opus, Dear Reader. The names donít help) are, perhaps a trifle overdrawn. I canít say I was terribly impressed with Jesse, but to say why would divulge too much of the plot.
As previously indicated, to my mind, the descriptions of the mountain
and the ski slopes are rather more convincing than the portraits of the
people. Even so, as a thriller, the book lives up to its description.
AVALANCHE PASS
by John A Flanagan
ISBN 9781863256377
301 pages
BANTAM
January 1 2010
$32.95
reviewed by Denise Pickles
January 29 2010
Jesse Parker has taken time off to recover from injuries, more psychological than physical since his leg appears to have healed completely, after being broken. His skiing prowess is in danger because he is now afraid of more difficult exploits. At Snow Eagles resort in Utah, he is attempting to ease himself back to his previous level, but is finding it exceptionally difficult. He settles up his bill at the lodge so that he can leave early the next morning, so effectively becomes a non-person, so far as the list of guests goes.
The resort is in a precarious position because of its situation with regard the surrounding snow. A previous resort had been buried but precautions, involving carefully placed explosions, are taken.
Jesse, despite his attachment to Lee, the Sheriff of his home town, is not averse to some playing around, so indulges in some casual sex with Tina Bowden, unaware of her role in Security at the resort.
Senator Carling, from Washington State, brings a group of high powered businessmen to the place every year, and he and his people are there at the same time as Jesse.
A man calling himself Roger Kormann arrives with a group at the resort.
He claims his group has been booked in on that day, but the girl on the
desk is unable to find it. A member of the group starts to
create until the girl on the desk calls the duty manager. When
he appears, the group drops all pretence of being a genuine tourist set
and they take over the desk at gunpoint, after first checking the guest
list.
The captors select a group of people who are to leave-- but it is soon obvious that they have no respect for human life and they have no qualms about extinguishing large quantities of it.
When I read SNOW PEAK, I had occasion to say that I didnít find Jesse Parker, the protagonist, a very attractive character. I canít say that AVALANCHE PASS has caused me to change my opinion. For that matter, I didnít think the characterisation was exceptionally strong, on the whole.
The action of the book, on the other hand, was very well done. There was a nice building of tension and at times I wondered (even though I really knew he would be safe) how Jesse Parker could extricate himself from some of the dangers.
THE UNKNOWN TERRORIST
by Richard Flanagan
320 pages
ISBN 9780330422802
PICADOR
November 3 2006
$32.95
reviewed by Denise Pickles
November 13 2006
Novelist Richard Flanagan is a multi-award winner, so obviously some of his fellow Australians like him; from what he has written in THE UNKNOWN TERRORIST it seems equally obvious that he doesn't like his fellow Australians much.
Flanagan grabs the attention even before the beginning of the action, when he describes Jesus as 'history's first, but not last, example of a suicide bomber'. Eyebrows must surely have been raised, too, at his dedication which is to David Hicks, the Australian described by the US as a terrorist, one who has been imprisoned at Guantanamo for around five years. Perhaps the author is attempting to draw parallels between his heroine, the Doll, who is innocent of the ridiculous charges of terrorism and his feelings concerning Hicks.
Gina Davies, aka the Doll, is a pole dancer at a club in Sydney's notorious King's Cross. Her main ambition is to save enough for a deposit on an apartment, a basic flat which she could transform, redecorating and employing her "flair". Not trusting banks with her precious money, she has a hiding place for it but regularly takes it out as she likes to emulate that well known uncle of the comics, Scrooge McDuck, in that she enjoys covering her naked self with hundred dollar bills.
One night, after entertaining loathsome journalist Richard Cody at the club, she insults him while trying to hail a taxi, after he proposes a method to enrich her while gratifying himself. Cody carries grudges, particularly about women who don't share his own high opinion of his masculine charms.
The Doll goes to the Gay Mardi Gras and there encounters Tariq, a man who, earlier that day, had saved the small son of her best friend from drowning. The two hit it off and retire to Tariq's flat for a night of concupiscence and cocaine. The following morning, Tariq has gone, leaving a note to say he won't be long, but he doesn't return. Gina leaves the apartment, noticing that the forces of law and order seem to have set up barricades around the building but is not particularly concerned; not, that is, until she sees herself on television described as the accomplice of a known terrorist. In fact, Tariq is no terrorist but an 'innocent' drug smuggler, employed by a Chinese criminal.
While the action begins lightheartedly enough, the continuing narrative, with Gina compounding her mistakes at every turn while Cody takes his revenge on her by identifying her and making her the subject of a story that he hopes will reinvigorate his flagging career, is gutwrenching. Flanagan takes every opportunity to pillory shock jocks, pollies, dirty old men who exploit girls and even the girls themselves. He drags in innumerable crimes to spice up -- or is it to darken-- his tale. Drug smuggling, flesh peddling, people smuggling, callous murder, all are grist for his mill. Terrorism is, of course, his major platform.
It is difficult to say if the author is attempting to deride the fear of terrorism imbued into the Australian psyche these days. He certainly makes a case for the possibility of a panic stricken public -- Sydney has been horrified by the discovery of three unexploded bombs at the Homebush Olympic Stadium -- seizing on commentary from a malicious journalist to condemn an innocent. The author saves his most devastating comments for the closing chapters of the tale.
The novel is not one delivering sweetness and light to the reading public
but it certainly underscores human failings and conceivable government
manipulation of the population, a terrifying possibility which readers
may like to contemplate for some time to come.
THE BERLIN CROSS
by Greg Flynn
ISBN 1863255559
285 pages
BANTAM
December 1 2005
$29.95
reviewed by Denise Pickles
December 22 2005
Australian Greg Flynn has, in his career to date, combined the best aspects of both newsgathering and literature. THE BERLIN CROSS fairly oozes the enthusiasm he must have felt as he travelled to both Berlin and New York on several occasions in order to provide validity for the scenes depicted in his novel. In one chapter of the book, a character falls and in a publicity handout Flynn describes how he examined the terrain in order to provide verisimilitude for the accident. Now there is devotion to duty and accuracy!
Chapter Eins begins the mystery with Captain Beauchamp, attended by the faithful Corporal White, both of the Royal Military Police in Berlin in May of 1948, examining a corpse. There is no identification on the body, which bears evidence of having been tortured pre-mortem. There is an inconsistency in its presentation in that although only an American could afford the expensive clothes, the health care, most evident in the dental work, is European.
Beauchamp, prior to being ordered to pass responsibility for the case to the Americans, is summoned to Spandau by prisoner Albert Speer, former Minister in the Reich. The Nazi implores the Englishman to track down a piece of the True Cross that had been stolen from Speer. In order to ensure the policeman's aid, the German insists that the disappearance of the Cross and the murder are linked.
In New York, former US Army Lieutenant John Docker, also a Military Policeman, has fallen on difficult times and is now working as a private investigator. He receives a commission to obtain possession of the Berlin Cross, that same relic which Beauchamp is seeking, but Docker is told it is being held in New York.
This is a good fun tale for all it is told against the backdrop of the difficult post-war era when ill will is manifest between the former allies. The new Deutsche Mark is about to be released, the Soviets are determined to monopolise the new German currency, the partition of Berlin is imminent and lack of cooperation and rivalry between former uneasy friends is manifest. German atomic scientists have fallen for the blandishments of the American way of life as an ideal habitat for them to practise their research and development. Spies, both beautiful and otherwise, labour in almost every nook and cranny as they attempt to further their countries' ends. As indicated before, a great deal of meticulous research has gone into the construction of an entertaining and convoluted read which tastefully combines historical fact with fiction. It takes a reader who is prepared to accept a certain amount of superstitious credibility with regard the beliefs of the characters that such a relic as the Cross (although the author assures us it is real) first of all exists and second of all would be available for a price and credited with supernatural powers. I must admit, too, to a certain bemusement in that I saw no reason for the chapters to be headed from Eins to Neunundzwanzig when the text is in English.
The author acknowledges his debt to American writers of hard boiled
fiction such as Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett, while also crediting
Graham Greene as an inspiration. Flynn admits that quitting his day job
in order to write THE BERLIN CROSS was probably a mistake but this
reviewer trusts that the writer perseveres and has this adventure as only
the first in a long line of books.
WHITEOUT
by Ken Follett
ISBN 0330490699
473 pages
Pan Books
July 3 2005
$19.95
reviewed by Denise Pickles
June 18 2005
If you, like the characters in Follett's thriller WHITEOUT have been isolated from the world by a blizzard, albeit one lasting the better part of three decades, you may have missed out on hearing that Follett is a best selling author. Of course, there is also the possibility that you might be dead! Follett has a knack for creating exciting situations as well as violent action and intriguing characters. He is known for his strong female actors. This narrative exemplifies all of those tendencies.
One time policewoman, Toni Gallo, is head of security at the Kremlin. No, not THAT Kremlin, but Oxenford Medical laboratories, located near Glasgow in Scotland. She is working on Christmas Eve prior to departing to a spa for a get together over Christmas with friends. Storms, both literal and metaphorical are gathering and Toni, as a result of learning of a discrepancy in the records of the lab, is horrified to discover a dying technician. Michael Ross has become involved with an animal rights movement and smuggled a test rabbit out of the laboratory. It has been infected with a deadly virus, Madoba-2, a variant of Ebola. He has stolen a new antiviral drug developed by Stanley Oxenford, thinking to cure his rabbit and, if he manages to contract the disease (which he does), himself. He fails as the remedy has not yet been perfected.
Oxenford is hosting a family celebration over Christmas but his house becomes isolated as snow continues to fall. Toni's plans for pleasure are thwarted by her sister's defection so she must pick up her mother in order to look after her over the holidays. A further incident at the laboratory sees her going there to be confronted by a lack of cooperation from her former lover, Superintendent Frank Hackett who displays a wish to avenge himself on her despite the fact that it was he who was responsible for their breakup and her leaving the police.
This is an exciting tale well told. Some of the characters could be
seen as not terribly adequately portrayed but others, such as the teenagers
with their perceived important dilemmas, are done well. Follett has obviously
researched the development of new antivirals and the measures that must
be taken to prevent infection by those experimenting with them. The atmosphere
of the snow-bound people and their frustration is portrayed convincingly.
To offset the treachery of various people, a note of humour is injected
into the narrative by the inclusion of the idiosyncratic and indomitable
Mrs. Gallo, Toni's mother, as well as a small puppy and some pet rats.
The villains are truly villainous and a reluctant hero unexpectedly brave.
The seesawing of the action is calculated to maintain the tension throughout.
On the whole, Follett provides yet another good read.
THE MACHIAVELLI COVENANT
by Allan Folsom
ISBN 9780765318398
554 pages
Forge
August 3 2007
$32.95
reviewed by Denise Pickles
September 12 2007
The final sentence of the first paragraph of this opus had me wondering: "....the sound of Caroline's labored breathing as she lay on the bed next to him." Huh? In a hospital? It sounds as though that institution is permitting unwonted chumminess between patients and visitors, but that misapprehension on my part was soon corrected. It was simply an unfortunate juxtaposition of words (rather than people) on the part of the author, but an example of the less than perfect standard of writing/editing to be found in this overlong work.
Caroline Parsons, newly widowed and bereaved, too, of her young son, is dying of a staph infection which, she tells Nicholas Marten, cop on the run, was deliberately inflicted on her . Not only that, she claims her congressman husband and their son were also murdered. A specialist who attended her and whom she is convinced aided in her murder, had a strange tattoo on his left thumb, a tattoo to be found on many of the characters peopling the novel.
The President of the United States, John Henry Harris, is just too late to see Caroline whilst she is alive. He does, however, meet Marten, across the woman's corpse and it is fortunate for him that he does since, after a clashing of circumstances wherein he refuses to authorise the killing of the Chancellor of Germany and the President of France, Harris feels he must flee the dubious comforts of the White House and all his "friends" and seek out Marten, whom he feels he can trust.
Marten, meanwhile, is determined to solve the mystery of Caroline's death, to discover if there is any truth to her claim. He knows he is onto something when Caroline's doctor commits suicide rather than talk to him. Harris and Marten then go on the run, determined to get to an international conference of VIPs, at which Harris is supposed to deliver a surprise address.
We all understand that for a book to work, there must be a degree of cooperation from the reader -- in other words, a suspension of disbelief but this much suspension to bridge the gap? Folsom has the world virtually being run by a secret cabal inspired by an equally secret manuscript by Machiavelli. The people of the tattooed thumb are part of a coven of witches who take part in an annual ritual murder. They have their sights set on a French female journalist, the women of whose family have been sacrificed for twenty-six generations. It is not made clear just who are to be sacrificed when that family has no one further available.
To pad out the action, there is also an exceedingly polite assassin named Victor, who is run by an equally polite person calling himself Richard. Their place in the general narrative is not made plain until the closing pages -- and even then, they don't seem to be completely necessary to the tale.
The characters are not terribly convincing. Nor, for that matter, are the characters' motives. Given that the top figures in the government are all members of the cabal, one can only wonder how an unsullied President could have made it to the top job. It's fortunate that Harris is fluent in Spanish, too, since he and Marten are forced to do part of their run in Spain. By a strange coincidence, they encounter an Australian educated Spanish limousine driver who happily throws his lot in with them, together with the young men of his family. All terribly likely.
The book is far too long and far too badly edited. One wonders
how Folsom, an author with a fair reputation, could have allowed such nonsense
to have appeared in his name. Had a competent editor set to work on the
manuscript, slashed a goodly portion and tightened the action, the whole
would have been improved, perhaps to an acceptable standard. As it stands,
I would doubt that it will do the reputation of the author any good but,
rather, considerable damage.
BLOOD STORM
by Colin Forbes
ISBN 0743263618
303 pages
SIMON & SCHUSTER
February 2005
$29.95
reviewed by Denise Pickles
August 21 2005
Colin Forbes, who was born Raymond Sawkins probably more years ago than most of his readers, did not begin writing fiction until the '60s. He experimented with various pen names, beginning with his birth name, until finally settling on "Colin Forbes" under which nom-de-plume he has been producing novels at the rate of one a year, for many titles. In the "Author's Note" after the conclusion of the story, Forbes announces that the time location of BLOOD STORM is the near future and that all characters and institutions mentioned in the volume are fictitious. It is a pity that he did not place the note at the beginning of the work as I was, whilst reading it, attempting to work out just what SIS, the organisation for which Tweed, his protagonist, works, stood for. In any event, the instrumentality is the Secret Service.
The tale begins, promisingly enough, with Tweed (never a given name appended to the surname) dining with a beautiful woman, sometime call-girl Viola, who is seeking his help. Unfortunately, someone drugs Tweed so that he is unable to take his supplicant home. Unable even to get himself home, Tweed sleeps in his car for seven and a half hours. When he is, eventually, able to return home, he discovers his flat has been broken into. Soon thereafter, Paula, one of Tweed's assistants, calls into Tweed's flat and learns that something has been planted there - something which would frame Tweed for a murder they are as yet unaware has been committed.
Three brothers, the Macombers, all junior ministers in the government, comprise The Cabal and are plotting to turn Great Britain into a police state by uniting various government bodies, such as the SIS, MI5 and the police, into an organisation to be known as State Security. Tweed, Paula and Bob Newman are set to do battle to prevent this merger when Tweed is ordered to investigate the killing of his erstwhile dinner companion, Viola. Then follow an horrific series of incidents involving criminals, politicians, further murder and torture. Quite a witch's cauldron!
This is an action driven narrative so best not look for characterisation beyond the placing of good and evil people. As one would expect from such a seasoned writer, the plot is suitably competent. The (literal) unmasking of the murderer takes place in the ultimate chapter - although there is an epilogue. The several contenders for the honour of killer keep the reader guessing as they are all rather nasty human beings.
The story moves at quite a pace although at times the prose seems a
bit disjointed. For all that, it will provide entertaining reading for
a couple of hours.
A BLIND EYE
by G M Ford
ISBN 033042016X
294 pages
Pan Books
February 3 2005
$19.95
reviewed by Denise Pickles
April 4 2005
Now in small paperback format, this reissue is of the third episode in the Frank Corso series. The tale first appeared in 2003. Despite, to my mind, at least, being rather darker in tone than Ford's Lou Waterman adventures, true crime writer Frank Corso's outings invariably provide great entertainment and, indeed, humour for fans of G M Ford.
Frank Corso and Meg Dougherty are in trouble. O'Hare National Airport sees the dauntless duo reluctantly imprisoned in Chicago, at the mercy of the weather. Never a sterling example of patience, Corso is making himself unpopular with the attendant at the Courtesy Desk with his insistence that he has to get out of there. Eventually, he hires a vehicle and he and Meg set out into a truly dreadful blizzard in order to drive to Madison, a town two hundred miles distant but which boasts an airport which is still functioning. Meg, in the meantime, has discovered Corso has inveigled her into the entire adventure on false pretences but, stubbornly, refuses to be dropped at this point.
As Corso and Dougherty fight a losing battle against the elements, they are brought to a standstill near a town named Avalon. Both Meg and Frank are badly hurt as a result of the storm and, while attempting to warm themselves in a derelict house, find the mortal remains of a long dead family, buried beneath some floorboards. Corso is wanted by the Texan authorities but is able to evade them as a result of a deal he makes with the local sheriff. His part of the bargain is to attempt to solve the mystery of the murdered family. Thus begins an examination of extremely unsavoury history, both family and local, in several states.
There is no denying that Ford is superbly accomplished at descriptive
writing. Here, in the middle of an Australian heat wave, I found myself
attempting to warm my hands as I read of the dreadful conditions the author
described as assailing his protagonist. He is a dab hand, too, at creating
larger than life characters, both sympathetic and wicked. The narrative
is chock full of ferocious humour guaranteed to force a reluctant smile
from even the most fastidious reader at the same time as making that self-same
reader grimace with distaste at some of the pictured scenes. This is a
book which can only be highly recommended, both for its ingenious plotting
and its macabre characters.
RED TIDE
by G. M. Ford
ISBN 1405051701
313 pages
Macmillan
January 3 2005
$30.00
reviewed by Denise Pickles
February 7 2005
It is, perhaps, understandable that someone with the name "Jerry Ford" would prefer to write as " G. M. Ford". Might he otherwise fear the public would deny him the doubtful pleasures of gum chewing were he to have his given name on the jackets of his books? Regardless, Ford, a former teacher of creative writing, has mastered the art of heart-bursting action writing in his numerous works. RED TIDE is the fourth in the Frank Corso series.
True crime writer Frank Corso is reluctantly attending the photographic exhibition of his friend and sometime lover, Meg Dougherty. The show - which has almost sold out despite it being only Opening Night - is to make Meg's name. To her horror, and that of Corso, the entire gathering is evacuated. Something toxic has been released in the bus tunnel necessitating the removal of all living people from the area. While Dougherty intends going home, Corso decides to wait around the area (he obtains the key to the underground tunnels) to satisfy his curiosity.
Meg catches a taxi but, on seeing Brian Bohannon, the former boyfriend who, sadistically, had years previously drugged her and tattooed much of her body, near her home, insists the taxi follow him. Just as well, since the chase eventually helps resolve the mysteries.
The toxic substance is eventually identified as an accelerated form of haemhorragic fever. It has been the cause of the death of more than a hundred Seattle residents. Because of his proximity to the scene of the outbreak, Corso is taken into custody as a suspect. Then the city receives another warning - while the terror this time is restricted to a small area of the city, within a very short time there will be a further attack that will threaten the entire world.
This is not a pretty tale. Ford tends to give gore spattered descriptions of the play. Nonetheless, the plot is good and the action fast and thrilling. The story contains some very troubling notions about just who are the victims and who are the perpetrators of evil. There is also some reflection on how America is seen by the eyes of the rest of the world.
I read an interview with the author wherein he said he was not particularly
mindful of accuracy within a book so long as the story was good. Perhaps
he should reconsider this notion with regard some aspects. I felt that
some skimping on what could be perceived as correct procedure introduced
some dubiety into the story. To me, at least, it detracted from the idea
of Corso as hero. This having been said, it is a good narrative and
should not lose the author followers.
WHO THE HELL IS WANDA FUCA?
by G M Ford
ISBN 0330427512
393 pages
Pan Books
March 3 2005
$19.95
reviewed by Denise Pickles
March 29 2005
This is a small paperback format reissue of G M Ford's first Leo Waterman novel which first saw the light of day in 1995. Considerably less dark in tone (although containing very serious issues and some extremely nasty characters) than the author's perhaps better known Frank Corso series, it is, like its predecessor, also set in the author's home town of Seattle.
Leo Waterman is a private investigator. At the beginning of the book we see him attempting to talk down a would-be 'jumper', a man whose young son has been removed from his care to be returned to the lad's uncaring mother who hired Waterman. Leo almost compounds the error made by a volunteer social worker but manages to retrieve the situation to almost everyone's satisfaction.
Waterman is summoned to the home of gangster Tim Flood, formerly a thug and friend of Waterman Senior but now a sick old man who nevertheless still wields considerable power. Tim's granddaughter, Caroline Nobel, is a wilful nineteen year-old. She lived with Tim briefly but then moved out. When he tried to track her down, he learned that she was involved with a group known as Save The Earth. They probably see themselves as conservationists but in plying their trade tend to do more damage than benefit to the environment - and what they do is inclined to verge into criminal territory.
Reluctantly, Leo accepts the task and sets out to recruit his usual team of helpers. These comprise a charming group of derelict alcoholics and near homeless. Those of them who have the good fortune to occupy a boarding house are soon to be dispossessed of their domicile as it is to be sold. Leo, almost an alcoholic himself, albeit one who is attempting to restrain his inclinations, hires them, knowing that their appearance makes them almost invisible to the general public - even when he provides them with a most remarkable form of transport.
Needless to say, it is not long before there are murders and attempted murders. One of Waterman's cohorts becomes a victim and his entourage is enraged to the extent of vowing revenge.
The investigation leads Waterman through many unexpected by-ways - including a Native American reservation. All kinds of nasties are uncovered as the investigator persists, despite Caroline's attempts to seduce and deflect him.
This is a pleasant, semi-lighthearted work which introduces a delightful
assortment of detectives. There is an emphasis on family loyalty and the
necessity for community and belonging. While the topics and some of the
action are grim the well plotted narrative comes off as interesting and
not at all dated.
CAST IN STONE
by G. M. Ford
ISBN 9780330427524
388 pages
PAN BOOKS
April 3 2007
$19.95
reviewed by Denise Pickles
April 4 2007
For those of us who missed G. M. Ford's CAST IN STONE on its first release, it's great that Pan Books has been releasing Ford's books in small paperback format. While it's good to keep up with new books, it's also good to catch up with earlier titles that may, somehow, have eluded one when they first came out. CAST IN STONE is the second of the Leo Waterman series, following WHO THE HELL IS WANDA FUCA.
Leo Waterman was indebted to Heck Sundstrom from when he was in high school and Heck gave him a holiday job on his fishing boat, the Lady Day. Now a PI, Leo is fresh from a distasteful surveillance job after which he was supposed to return an errant husband, unharmed, to his wife, when he finds a plea for help from Heck's wife, Marge. Heck had been investigating the death of his son and his son's new wife after the boat on which they were travelling mysteriously blew up. Heck felt that the wife was not, in fact, on board and that the explosion could have been murder. Before Heck could do much investigating, he was hit by a truck and lies gravely ill in hospital. Marge wants Leo to investigate.
Leo calls upon 'the Boys', the group of drunken derelicts who aid him in his investigations, to help him with the case. They do so, travelling around the countryside and through various strata of society.
'The Boys' are a great inspiration, as entertaining in this outing as they were in the first. Somehow, they are reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes' Baker Street Irregulars. At least they are reliable in their sleuthing during the day prior to a little too much alcohol having been taken.
The mystery is well constructed, although one might wonder if the motivation for the crime is quite sufficient for the deed. The characterisations are likewise well done -- though it might have been nice had more attention been paid to 'the Boys'. The humour throughout is delightful and helps lift the dark tone of the narrative.
One may only hope that Pan Macmillan do not dally in releasing further
books in the Leo Waterman series.
NO MAN'S LAND
by G M Ford
ISBN 1405055693
310 pages
MACMILLAN
October 3 2005
$32.95
reviewed by Denise Pickles
October 11 2005
Former Creative Writing teacher G M Ford has distinguished himself in creating the series featuring writer Frank Corso as well as the lighter series whose protagonist is investigator Leo Waterman. Ford writes a slick thriller and NO MAN'S LAND exemplifies his talents admirably.
Timothy Driver, a Captain of the US Navy, forcibly retired after murdering his wife and her lover, has taken over Meza Azul, the high security Arizona prison. Driver, whose notions of 'honour' form a large part of his character throughout the story, has Cutter Kehoe, a notorious murderer who likes to keep things tidy by slaughtering witnesses, as his henchman. Driver demands that Frank Corso, who wrote a book about him, be delivered to the prison. In order to while away the hours until Corso arrives at the facility, for light entertainment the duo executes a hostage every six hours. Corso, brooding on the defection of erstwhile lover Meg Dougherty, forsakes his near anchorite existence in order to prevent further killing and allows the authorities to send him within the prison walls in exchange for the hostages remaining alive.
Melanie Harris is the presenter of television's American Manhunt. Plunged into the publicity spotlight following the abduction and killing of her young daughter ten years earlier, Melanie now stands at a nexus point in her life: her marriage is failing and her show is losing ratings. Suddenly, a gift from the gods (or something inhabiting a less elevated plane in the cosmos) sees her covering the hostage taking at Meza Azul and the subsequent escape of Driver and Kehoe, accompanied by Frank Corso, dragged along to tell Driver's story.
While the action of this tale sizzles along, blood and guts bubbling in its wake, the details of some of the characterisations are, perhaps, somewhat less finessed. Driver's escapade is made possible by a medical appointment which is supposed to assess his psychological status, but the author can't seem to make up his mind whether to portray the baddie as a superbly clever schemer in possession of all his faculties, or a thorough crazy, babbling inanities and insanities to himself as he frees his dungeon inhabiting dregs colleagues in pursuit of exculpation in the public mind. Corso himself is not depicted as noble to the nth degree, nor is Melissa portrayed as terribly tragic. At times she seems quite cruel. Regardless, the violence inherent in the book leaves nothing to be desired by those enamoured of that sort of thing.
Doubtless, aficionados of Ford's Frank Corso will enjoy this further
outing for the disgraced journalist - but who cares about the disgrace
when the wealthy, successful, fictional writer has probably achieved what
his creator would have as an aim in real life?
THE VETERAN
by Frederick Forsyth
Bantam Press
ISBN 0-593-04892-X
$45.00
September 7 2001
reviewed by Denise Wels
If ever there was an author for whom the description 'master story teller' is not an exaggeration, Frederick Forsyth is that man. He has said that he always studies the places about which he writes by going there. He seldom frequents libraries in order to research. Certainly his life has been a rich source for inspiration for his fiction. Forsyth was one of the youngest pilots ever to serve in the RAF. Following that stint, he became a journalist. He spent time in Eastern Bloc countries and also covered the Biafra-Nigeria war. This latter experience provided material for his 1969 book The Biafra Story. Following this, he turned his considerable talent and real life experience to producing thrillers, the first of which was his renowned The Day of the Jackal.ÝThe Odessa File, The Dogs of War, The Shepherd ,The Devil's Alternative, No Comebacks, The Fourth Protocol, The Negotiator, The Deceiver, The Fist of God and Icon were other thrillers but his The Phantom of Manhattan saw him break out of that mould and instead concentrate on the theme of the redemption of a man (Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom, in fact) who originally pursued evil as a consequence of the way he had been treated by the world that shuddered at his ugliness. The author prided himself on his use of a typewriter to produce his novels. He did not possess a computer yet saw all the stories in this anthology, The Veteran, published on-line before ever being released in hard copy.
The first story of the collection is the titular The Veteran. A shopkeeper in a seedy district of London observes a man being kicked by two thugs. The victim subsequently dies and it is with great difficulty that the police succeed in establishing his identity. Peter Benson had been a soldier involved in fighting on the Saudi peninsular in 1972. The official identification is not made, however, until after the Hon. James Vansittart Q.C. had taken over the case for the defence on a pro bono basis from the lawyer originally employed. There is a delicious sting in the tail of this story.
The Art of the Matter is about the defrauding of an old, impoverished, out-of-work actor, Trumpington Gore. He takes a painting, the subject of which can scarcely be discerned because of the accumulation of centuries of grime, to an art house for valuation. The young valuer who suspects it to be the work of an Italian master hands it on with the recommendation that the identity of the painter be further pursued. Unfortunately this is over the Christmas break so that only one man sees the suggestion. As he, too, is impoverished, he sees the possibility to profit mightily. The young valuer, Benny Evans, is dismissed for incompetence but soon realises the extent of the dishonesty working against both himself and Gore. The two, together with Benny's girlfriend, an expert with computers, team up in an attempt to seek redress. It is interesting to note that the author has his protagonists employ the technology of computers and hacking for this story, given his stated lack of experience with the science.
The Miracle, like the first two stories, contains a twist. An American and his wife are in Siena to witness a brutish festival there. The woman twists her ankle and delays her husband who wishes them to hurry to the location of the celebration, difficult to find because of the dark, winding streets which they must first traverse. They are approached by a gardener who tends the woman's ankle and tells the two the story of why he is praying in preference to watching the parade. As he recounts his tale it is the wife who wishes to leave and find their destination but the husband is transfixed by the story of what happened to the gardener, who admits to being a German surgeon present during the fighting and an active participant in the miracle that he details that occurred toward the end of World War II.
The Citizen concerns an airline passenger who witnesses an in-flight meeting between an incongruous duo outside a toilet. The conspiracy behind a drug haul is disclosed.
Whispering Wind, the ultimate work in the book, is very different from its predecessors. The first part of the narrative is set at Little Bighorn in June 1876: Custer's Last Stand. Ben Craig is a 24 year-old frontier scout working for Custer and his men, but not much liking them. A Cheyenne girl, sixteen year-old Whispering Wind, is shot and taken prisoner by Sergeant Braddock. Ben translates during her interrogation. The Captain orders that the girl be killed but Braddock seeks permission for him and his men to have 'a little fun' with her first. Ben is sickened and rescues Whispering Wind, sending her off on a pinto pony to seek out any relatives who may have survived. Then comes the battle and Ben is the only white survivor. He is taken prisoner by the Indians and falls in love with Whispering Wind, who returns his love but she has been promised to a brave. The lovers escape from the camp into the mountains but the Everywhere Spirit forbids Ben to take the girl as his woman promising that she will eventually be his. In the intense cold, Ben falls asleep in a cave . When he awakens a century has passed. I felt this story worked despite its supernatural theme. Forsyth obviously researched his history and geography extremely well. One thing I particularly admired, too, was the fact that he seems to have mastered the American idiom, something that most American writers attempting to write with British protagonists seem unable to do.
It will be interesting to see what form Forsyth's future fiction will take.
AVENGER
by Frederick Forsyth
ISBN 0552150444
431 pages
Corgi Books
September 1 2004
$19.95
reviewed by Denise Pickles
August 21 2004
To say Frederick Forsyth writes international political thrillers with an emphasis on things military would be something of an understatement. Forsyth cemented his reputation when he wrote the unforgettable THE DAY OF THE JACKAL in 1971. The effect this book had on the world in general was seen when a terrorist was exposed in a shootout in Paris and the press nicknamed him Carlos The Jackal. The author has a background as an RAF pilot as well as a journalist who covered many of the world's trouble spots. His novels reflect his professional life as he melds fiction with fact in a manner that frequently makes it impossible, unless one does some research of one's own, to determine where the one leaves off in favour of the other.
AVENGER begins with a fifty-one year-old practising the discipline of the triathlon. The fact that he is well outside the record set by Olympians does not please lawyer Calvin Dexter. This sets the scene for the hero of this tale. He laboured on building sites with his father when a lad but joined the army as a volunteer in order to obtain a decent education at the end of his time. During the Vietnamese war, Dexter became one of the elite Tunnel Rats, soldiers who descended into the myriad of tunnels of the Viet Cong in order to defeat the enemy. He was teamed with a superior officer and together they became known as the Mole and the Badger. An efficient assassin, Cal would appear to need to drop that aspect of his career when he successfully completes the study of law and sets up his own small private practice but instead, having lost both wife and daughter, as a sideline, he takes on extremely lucrative work as the Avenger.
The grandson of a successful Canadian businessman goes missing in the former Yugoslavia, where he went, driven by his conscience, to act as an aid worker. He is murdered by a group of men led by Zoran Zilic. The millionaire calls upon the Avenger to trace Zilic, who leaves Yugoslavia on the fall of the savage regime and finds refuge in the tiny country of San Martin.
For Cal Dexter, the assignment is tricky and uncomfortable. What he does not at first know is that the CIA have plans for Zilic which involve keeping him alive. Thus, the Avenger must view all sides as the enemy despite his own nationality - and there seems to be someone with an interest in keeping him, partially at least, informed.
This is an extremely exciting narrative. There is a great deal of credible detail involved in telling just how Dexter goes about his seemingly impossible task. He is beset by enemies on all sides and the reader might well believe that his assignment is hopeless. There is, in fact, a surprise for everyone at the conclusion of the book.
Forsyth fans will no doubt be quite satisfied with this small paperback
edition of the novel which first appeared in 2003.
WHEN THE DEVIL HOLDS THE CANDLE
by Karin Fossum
translated from the Norwegian by Felicity David
ISBN 1843430916
230 pages
The Harvill Press
London
September 1 2004
$32.95
reviewed by Denise Pickles
August 10 2004
The jacket photograph of Karin Fossum, much translated award winning author of WHEN THE DEVIL HOLDS THE CANDLE , shows a seemingly happy person from whom one could expect upbeat writing. Not so. The content of this novel is very dark and depressing indeed. Originally released in 1998, this episode in the adventures of Inspector Konrad Sejer will no doubt be greeted with some enthusiasm by those crime fiction readers who demand a high literary standard from the authors they enjoy.
The book opens with the visit to a police station by Irma Funder, a social misfit of about sixty. She attempts to tell Jacob Skarre, the officer on duty, something but he misunderstands, thinking she wishes to report the disappearance of her husband. Irma leaves the police station before correcting Skarre's misapprehension - she is actually attempting to tell him that she knows the whereabouts of teenager Andreas who had vanished some days previously.
On the last day when Andreas and his best (and only) mate Zipp are seen together the duo are hell bent on mischief. They harass a coloured lad, Matteus, who, unbeknownst to them, is the grandson of Inspector Sejer. Andreas and Zipp are short of cash so decide to mug someone but it has to be someone defenceless who cannot put up a fight, so they pick on a young mother who is pushing a pram along the beach. The teenagers see that the woman has a purse on the handle of the pram so Andreas steals the handbag. The mother tries to stop him but doesn't secure the brake on the pram. The baby falls out, with disastrous consequences.
Later, having drunk what they purchased with the meagre contents of the stolen bag, Andreas and Zipp decide they will mug someone. It is late at night and Irma is walking home from the theatre. They stalk her but when she seems to sense them and becomes increasingly nervous, they split up, intending to rejoin forces and tackle the woman at her home.
Andreas follows Irma inside while Zipp strives, fruitlessly, to see what is happening from outside the house. When Andreas does not reappear, Zipp decides his friend is playing a joke on him and returns disconsolately to his own home.
The following day, Andreas' mother Runi reports his disappearance to the police. Given that the boy has been missing for such a short time, the police are not terribly interested but eventually start to see that his continued absence could be worrying. Zipp would be able to tell them when he last saw Andreas but has fresh secrets to protect so lies to them.
And Irma holds the key.
As mentioned previously, this is not a happy book. None of the characters leads a particularly pleasant life and the worst of Irma's secrets is reserved until the final pages. The narrative brings to mind certain aspects of the writing of Stephen King - most especially, for the purposes of this book, King's MISERY.
There is no denying the power of this author's story-telling. It will
be interesting to see if Karin Fossum's abilities are recognised to such
an extent that she may glean some of the better known English language
awards such as the Edgar.
BLACK SECONDS
by Karin Fossum
translated by Charlotte Barslund
ISBN 9781846550188
247 pages
Harvill Secker
London
September 1 2007
$32.95
reviewed by Denise Pickles
August 14 2007
Karin Fossum is back again -- well, she was back five years ago for Norwegians, but for us non-Norwegian readers, she is only back now-- with the further adventures of Inspector Konrad Sejer.
Ida Joner is a little way short of her tenth birthday. Helga, Ida's mother, hates it when her perfect little offspring goes out so, to minimise her worry, she calculates how long it will be before her daughter returns from buying a magazine and lollies -- except she doesn't return. Helga's sister calls the police and Sejer and Skarre begin investigating.
Ida is an unusual child. She never causes her (separated) parents a minute's worry through naughtiness, in fact, her mother "had always known that this child was not hers to keep". Nonetheless, she is not about to call a halt to the investigation.
Tomme, Ida's eighteen year-old cousin, is having car trouble. He has, somehow, dented the bodywork but, perennially short of money, is unable to afford more than the free services of his friend Willy. Willy is somewhat older than Tomme and runs his own repair shop from home. He runs a more profitable business on the side and, after a suitable time, asks Tomme, as payment for the repairs, to accompany him to Copenhagen on the ferry. Tomme is reluctant, but Willy is insistent and the insistence leads to an unfortunate drama.
Another family is Emil Johannes and his mother Elsa Mork. Emil is large and is also psychologically slow. Nonetheless, he lives by himself bur his mother comes to clean his house for him.
Ida's body is found and clues come to light.
The mystery itself isn't terribly difficult for the reader to solve but Fossum has created a very interesting character in Emil Johannes. The reader's sympathies are totally engaged by Emil, despite the net of suspicion that seems to enclose him.
To my mind, Emil, the sufferer, apparently, of Asperger's or autism, is the most believable person in the book. Perfect little Ida comes nowhere near him when it comes to credibility (to the extent that I often wondered, as the tale ground on, if Fossum had children.) Ida's mother, to my mind, did not display what I would consider completely appropriate reactions on her daughter's disappearance.
I trust that in future Fossum oeuvres, the mystery becomes more the
thing. Fossum writes beautifully, so far as stylistically goes, but it
would be nice to have a mystery over which one needs to cudgel one's brains.
BROKEN
by Karin Fossum
translated from the Norwegian by Charlotte Barslund
ISBN 9781846550614
Harvill Secker
LONDON
August 1 2008
$34.95
reviewed by Denise Pickles
July 21 2008
This novel bears a passing resemblance to, I think, an American fantasy novel I read many years ago, but Iím bothered if I can remember the title. It was a story of an author whose characters came to life and invaded the authorís comfort zone, making it distinctly uncomfortable.
Fossumís unnamed author surveys the long queue outside her house. They are waiting for the author to relate their stories to the world-- perhaps they are awaiting any old author to select them and bring the individual stories to life.
The author has gone to bed and is about to go to sleep when she hears footsteps ascending her staircase and a mild mannered, unassuming, apologetic fellow enters her room. The author is thoroughly unsettled when he requests--or though the request is made politely, it is more of a demand than a simple request-- that his story be the next she tells.The author protests that there is a woman with a baby in the queue ahead of him but the man remains obdurate, so the first thing the author does is to bestow a name upon him-- Alvar Eide. But Alvar, for all he seems to think he is not bossy, keep pushing the author to write his story. He says he is afraid that if she doesnít write him before the other characters in the queue, the author will die and he, Alvar, will never live.
The story is told alternately in the first person, from the point of view of the author, and in the third person, from the characterís point of view.
Alvar works in an art gallery, although not an artist. His boss, Ole Krantz, on the other hand, does indulge himself in painting and does quite well from his uninspiring work. Alvar, though, becomes enamoured of a painting of a broken bridge and dithers about buying it-- but it is very expensive (although he does have enough money for the purchase) so canít screw up his courage to endanger his hoard of emergency money in order to fund a luxury.
One day, a girl who is a drug addict takes shelter in the art gallery and although Alvar knows he should throw the teenager out of the gallery, he gives her coffee and starts a slide into misery for himself.
I am afraid I tend to find Scandinavian authors pessimistic beyond belief and I canít say that Fossumís book breaks that (possibly fallacious) impression for me. Alvar is incredibly bossy behind his unassuming, apparently unassertive front and does manage to push the author around, to an extent.
The character of the girl is well drawn and I see in her the life I imagine the homeless, drug addicted young people that, unfortunately, abound in Adelaide suffer during this cold winter.
The author does a good job of establishing her characters as well as the inhospitable winter in Norway-- so very much colder than our far milder winters in Adelaide. Somehow, for all the credit that must be given to her writing, I do so wish she could occasionally write a happy book.
MALICIOUS INTENT
by Kathryn Fox
ISBN 0330421638
445 pages
Pan
May 3 2005
$19.95
reviewed by Denise Pickles
April 14 2005
No prizes for guessing the day job of newcomer to crime fiction writing, Kathryn Fox. A Sydney general practitioner and medical journalist who is interested in forensic pathology, she has created a sympathetic protagonist in forensic pathologist Anya Crichton. An author is only as good as her research but even months of researching could not give a writer the depth of detail and ease with the knowledge possessed by Dr. Fox.
The prologue to the tale is terrifying: Clare is running late for dinner and rain sodden. She is harried by a group of hoons on an otherwise deserted suburban railway station so needs not much inducement to take a well dressed, well spoken man into her vandalised but driveable car when his car has been rendered undriveable by vandals.
Chapter One introduces the reader to Anya. Her credentials, qualifications and character are established in a courtroom setting. In the same chapter, her friendships and family are likewise established. Anya is the non-custodial parent of a three year-old son. She has set up in private practice in order to attempt to win custody of her child, Ben, from her feckless, unemployed husband. Anya's family background is unhappy - when she was a child, her toddler sister was abducted, never to be found, when Anya was supposed to be holding her hand. She has always felt somehow responsible for the kidnap and her parents' subsequent breakup.
Now the pathologist is being intimidated by various private clients, one a Pakistani youth who is determined she remove the perceived dishonour to his family when his young sister was found, an apparent suicide victim, after being absent from home for a time. Then the bodies of other women are found with several things in common: they have been missing for some time before being discovered, their bodies have had the pubic area shaved and all are infected with a virulent, drug resistant form of genital herpes. Anya perceives a link which she and her friend, Detective Sergeant Kate Farrer attempt to follow.
Like Don Marquis' archy the cockroach, medicos tend to see life from the underside. Anya is plunged into horrors resulting from the psychological and religious manias of all walks of life. She must attempt to preserve her ethics while at the same time doing her best for patients and clients yet respect their rights and wishes, no matter how seemingly irrational.
The characterisation of this likable protagonist is well done. The plotting of the novel is excellent. The medical background is impeccable and the story believable. My one criticism is the detail. It is certainly necessary to provide a degree of fact but not to the extent provided here. I have a background in the medical/health area but sometimes found my eyes glazing. I would imagine lay readers might at times be lost - a great pity. Succinct summaries could replace a lot of the particulars without an iota of excitement or action suffering.
This small paperback release presages the publication of Fox's second
novel featuring Anya Crichton, which will no doubt provide as big a treat
for readers as this debut has provided.
WITHOUT CONSENT
by Kathryn Fox
ISBN 9780330422963
382 pages
PAN
April 3 2007
$19.95
reviewed by Denise Pickles
March 19 2007
Medico Kathryn Fox demonstrated a wonderful ability to tell a story with her first novel, MALICIOUS INTENT. She made the most of her forensic knowledge in writing that opus and now, in WITHOUT CONSENT, she proves her storytelling ability is consistent as she produces yet another enthralling read.
Geoffrey Willard is being released from prison, where he has spent twenty years for the ghastly rape and murder of a fifteen year-old girl. The reception he is likely to receive from the public is demonstrated by the people who watch his release, having been alerted to it by the press, as well as from one of the detectives given the task of delivering him to a safe house. Willard is struck by one of the onlookers and abused by the detective.
On arrival at the safe house, Geoff is presented with a pup by his cousin Nick, but someone obviously sees the pup as an extension of Geoff himself and does unto it what they would like to do to Willard.
Forensic pathologist Anya Crichton, protagonist of Fox's previous book, suffered after her earlier adventure since people who might put work in the way of her private practice, feared that the publicity she received from the press might have an adverse effect. Fortunately, her practice still has work so that she is able to continue paying alimony to her feckless ex-husband, as well as keep up payments on her mortgage, if only barely so. She remains the non-custodial parent of her young son, Ben.
Anya is exceedingly taken aback when coroner Morgan Tully requests her help in assessing a fellow forensic pathologist whose work, it seems, cannot stand up to close scrutiny.
It appears that there is a serial rapist operating in the area. Anya examines a victim, noting that the criminal used a knife to threaten the woman, a knife which left an obvious impression on the woman's skin. The rapist, too, has a catch-phrase which he repeats to all his victims.
Meanwhile, Geoffrey is not making a good impression on his mother. She obviously fears he might repeat the behaviour that got him gaoled. It is apparent to the reader that Geoffrey has psychological problems but is his profile truly consistent with that of a sadistic murderer?
Anya has restrictions imposed on her that she finds repugnant and counter-productive. The authorities have decided that all rape victims must have their injuries photographed. Anya feels that will make the women reluctant to proceed.
As the case proceeds, Geoffrey becomes the suspect in the succession of rape/murders. Anya, initially suspicious of the convicted killer, soon begins to doubt his guilt.
Fox has, in this work, overcome her earlier tendency to wax didactic concerning her specialty. The tale proceeds at pace, not slowing down by being bogged in forensic detail. The characerisation is, as before, well done and the plotting excellent.
Readers can hope that it won't be too long before Dr. Fox produces yet
another gripping tale.
SKIN AND BONE
by Kathryn Fox
ISBN 9781405038225
273 pages
Macmillan
November 2007
$32.95
reviewed by Denise Pickles
November 7 2007
What a great pleasure it is to read another offering from that multitalented medico, Kathryn Fox. Her two previous novels, MALICIOUS INTENT and WITHOUT CONSENT set a very high standard and it is pleasing indeed to see Fox has been able to maintain the standard in this, her third outing.
Detective Kate Farrar has, with some trepidation, returned to work after the traumas she suffered when she was abducted and held prisoner. Now she is back at work she is confronted by arson and a charred body. The body is that of a teenager, one who has recently given birth. There is no sign of a baby at the site of the conflagration. There is, however, a baby bag with milk staining one of the nappies it contains.
Kate is now partnered with Detective Oliver Parke. He tells Kate that he is the father of four children with another on the way. Because Oliver is so knowledgeable about babies, he is able to give insights into the case that might otherwise have taken longer at which to arrive -- if they became obvious at all.
There is another thread to the tale -- that of police corruption. Kate and her colleagues find themselves distrusting each other, wondering who is on the take. Who, too, will be investigating their case?
Meanwhile, a girl is missing and her sister flies home from London. Then there is another case of arson, in which a potential witness is incinerated.
As is customary with this author, the tale is extremely well plotted. All the threads are followed through to logical -- if, at times surprising --conclusions.
The characters are as carefully constructed as the plot, from the traumatised Kate through to the loathsome boyfriend of one of the victims, Mark Dobbie. The bodybuilder would seem to be more in love with himself than he is with his purported girlfriend.
Although the reader only really gets an external view of Oliver Parke, he comes across as an attractive person. I wonder if he will feature in future mysteries or simply vanish, leaving not a ripple in his wake.
Kate herself (interesting to note her initials and compare them with the author's -- and, for that matter, to remember that "Kate" is often a contraction for "Kathryn") is beautifully drawn. Her suffering and the effect it has had on her life and her job is certainly credible. One assumes Dr. Fox has read a bit about psychology, as well as her interest in forensics.
The author is a practising doctor. Given how doctors in this country
are credited with being overworked, one can only wonder at her managing
to produce such well written novels. I, for one, hope her professional
life doesn't become so crowded she is unable to produce more fiction.
BLOOD BORN
by Kathryn Fox
ISBN 9781405039314
327 pages
MACMILLAN
August 28 2009
$29.99
reviewed by Denise Pickles
August 31 2009
After a brief excursion behind the eyes of Detective Kate Farrar, Dr. Fox returns to the point of view of Anya Crichton in BLOOD BORN.
Anya is not well. She has had to rush home from a holiday overseas, with her young son and ex-husband. Unfortunately, she has managed to pick up an infection and is suffering from fever and associated symptoms as she prepares to face the Harbourn brothers in court. They had raped and degraded a teenager and Anya is determined they should face justice. Unfortunately, the teenager who was about to face the quartet is discovered, dead. Previously, a trial had begun but, because of an indiscreet remark from a juror,a mistrial had been declared. Giverny, the teenaged victim, had to be prepared to face the court yet again but instead, she had died, and her death appeared to be a suicide.
Contrary to the expectations of the Defence, the trial is to go ahead. Giverny had already given evidence and her testimony is on video. Her father, whose marriage has already broken up following the violence done to his daughter, is determined that the culprits will be punished for what was done to his daughter.
Anya is called out to a case, despite being off duty. Two sisters have been attacked. One has been killed and the other barely survives. The father is in shock. Someone gives a medallion of St Jude, the patron saint of hopeless cases, for her to place on Sophie, the surviving sister.
Anyaís life becomes even more complicated when the corpse of a baby, obviously dead for a considerable time, is discovered. Anya feels it is her responsibility to learn about the child.
This is a difficult book to cope with, emotionally. Rape and murder, especially of young girls, is never easy to contemplate, but Kathryn Fox turns the events into a gripping narrative.
The characterisation in the book is well done. The agony of the victims is portrayed all too well. I defy any reader to remain unmoved when contemplating the suffering of such victims. The main characters, Anya and Kate, are already well known to readers and it is good to renew our acquaintance with them, even though the crimes are so horrible.
Even though this book is fiction, there is enough similarity between its crimes and those with which we are faced in everyday newspapers to give readers much to consider.
Well done, Dr. Fox, for bringing this to the attention of the reader.
STRAY DOG WINTER
by David Francis
ISBN 9781741755404
299 pages
ALLEN&UNWIN
September 5 2008
$32.95
reviewed by
Denise Pickles
September 2 2008
This work had me shivering a lot of the time, on more than one level. The protagonist of the tale, Darcy Bright, is brought up in an unhappy home during the era of the Cold War. His cousin/half sister Fin is dumped on his (usually) drunken, American mother unexpectedly and the kids left, more or less, to bring themselves up. Fin is far more sophisticated than Darcy. While Fin aspires to be an artist, Darcy is the one with talent-- but she also has the knack of manipulating her brother to do her will.
The narrative tends to hop around wildly from time frame to time frame and situation to situation. Darcy is brought to the firm realisation that he is gay when he is seduced by a Mormon missionary. Mind, I wondered about the authenticity of the blokeís claim to the profession since I thought they always hunted in pairs, while this fellow was decidedly solitary.
Darcy, having been set on a certain road (although it seems an inevitable one) and not being terribly happy in Australia, when Fin sends him a ticket to Russia, is pleased to travel through the Iron Curtain to find his sister and adventure--- although perhaps not quite such harrowing adventure as is awaiting him.
When Fin and Darcy are growing up in Australia, they meet Jobik, or Jostler, as he is then known. When they are in Russia, Jobik plays a large part in both their lives but seems to be manipulating both Fin and Darcy--- although Darcy then meets and falls in love with Aurelio, a part Cuban dancer who is the son of an important general.
Darcyís life becomes very complicated and dangerous. Not only does his lifestyle promote the love that, quite literally, ìdares not speak its nameî but his love is well and truly bestowed on Aurelio, son of the man who is determ ined to exterminate such love in Russia.
This is a tragic history of a life born in the wrong time, were it not fictional. Itís a portrait of a time that was bad for many people and tragic for some. Darcy encounters about every kind of betrayal that can be imagined, from that from his sister to that from his lover.
The characters are not always believable, that of Fin especially. The mothers, unfortunately, are all too credible, as is their slimy father.
As to the outrages committed on the part of the Russian government, they are all too well documented or implied, to be disbelieved.
If readers have an interest in learning about the doings during the
Cold War, this book could prove very enlightening. It also provides an
insight into what gays had to suffer before any rights were given them.
KINGDOM OF SHADOWS
by Alan Furst
Orion
ISBN 0-575-40316-0
$17.95
276 pages
March 8 2002
reviewed by Denise Wels
Journalist Alan Furst has not yet achieved the dubious state of bliss of becoming a full time author. He has used his profession to deliver him to various locations in which he has set his novels. This American writer delights in his impeccable research and impeccable indeed it is. His knowledge of 'his' period, that between 1933 and 1944, is impressive. Admittedly, there are still people living on whom he can call for information. There are also archives of newspapers and film to which he can gain access. Nonetheless, his feel for the period is such that he can generate in his readers the sense of just how the pre-war period felt, just what the people who lived then experienced and believed.
Furst's output so far has not been great. Before embarking on his historical so-called 'spy' novels, he dabbled in the mystery genre but dropped that form in favour of the one he now practises. The more recent, and acclaimed, books include The Polish Officer, Night Soldiers, Dark Star, The World At Night , Red Gold and now issued in paperback, Kingdom of Shadows.
Kingdom of Shadows is set in the Paris of 1938. The whole world feels that war is inevitable but British PM, Chamberlain, toadies to Hitler and seeks his inglorious Peace With Honour. Hungarian nobleman, Nicholas Morath has been given an advertising agency by his uncle, Count Janos Polanyi. Such an agency provides a good cover for the activities of Morath as he sets about obeying the orders of his uncle, who is striving to aid those who wish to keep Hungary out of an alliance with Hitler and subsequent warfare. Polanyi is a ruthless, dark and machiavellian figure who uses Morath as a puppet. The hapless Nicholas is sent to different countries on errands which he cannot understand and often of which he strongly disapproves. He is a reluctant accessory to murder yet must unquestioningly obey his uncle.
Furst has been compared, favourably, to the great espionage writers such as Graham Greene and Eric Ambler. His writing is spare - no words are wasted, yet his prose is deeply evocative of the mood of the time and the settings of the action. The atmosphere of uncertainty is maintained to the end of the book since a great many threads are left unresolved. While his readers are as baffled as Morath as to Polanyi's ultimate goals they do know, in the light of history, how fruitless are Morath's attempts to plug the barrier between peace and battle with his actions and prevent the flood of warfare.
One could by no means describe this book as character driven. I felt that Morath would, in the hands of other authors, have been developed to a greater extent, yet doubt other authors could have produced such an elegant novel. Furst's female characters barely leave an impression on the narrative save as a backdrop to the main protagonists. This having been said, Furst's novel is an impressive read albeit one not to be undertaken lightly.