All in all an enjoyable read. With pretty good characters, a nice
element of intrigue and a carefully wound double plot that links the
primary action story arc with the secondary emotional one very closely.
It would have got a higher score, had it not been for a handful of
points:
1. I don't like the name of the protagonist. She is a
woman called Michael because her dad wanted a boy or something. This
might not bother some people and there may be women out there called
Michael, but for me it is an unnecessary distraction and the fact that
her husband shared the name just seems pointlessly difficult.
2.
Some of the plot twists. I won't go into detail, to avoid spoilers, but
generally I was disappointed. A clever twist is surprising but
explainable to allow the more alert readers to get there first. Some of
the twists in this seemed to come out of nowhere and have no justifiable
explanation. For example, at one point to parties meet to discuss the
cases and one is shot by a third party to reveal what he knows, just
before revealing it. There was no discernible reason why the "silencing
party" had to wait for this most dramatic of moments and could have done
it on any occasion previous. It left me feeling a little cheated.
3.
It never felt like it was a female protagonist. When I read books were
the protagonist is a woman I can empathize and go along with the ride
quite nicely. With this story I had to, on a couple of occasions,
actively remind myself that Michael was indeed female. This stilted the
momentum on occasion, breaking the illusion of the story for my need to
re-affirm the mechanics/details of it.
I think I will read other Max Allan Collins, but not anything where he handles the delectable Ms. Tree.
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