Not quite as good as the previous two volumes in the series, but still better than many police procedurals, and MacBride, even when slightly not in top form, could still serve any writer, in any genre, as a masterclass in narrative, pacing, characterisation and sense of place.
At almost 500 pages, MacBride may be over-stretching his detective Logan McRae's investigation into three seemingly unconnected violent crimes, two of which have clear sadistic sexual motivations. In order to keep the mystery going, it seems to me, McRae misses connections and solutions that I spotted whole chapters earlier; which, sadly, just makes the detective seem a little dumb.
But all redeemed by MacBride's signature flashes of dark humour. There's a scene in which McRae's boss, the cranky candy-addict DSI Insch, who is directing a local rep company production of "The Mikado," commiserates with a porn movie director about the talentless amateurs they are forced to work with. And I am delighted to say that MacBride seems to have surrendered to the rich comic potential of chain-smoker and everyone's favorite slob, DSI Steele (Her motto: "We are not at home to Mr. F**k Up!")
And MacBride does have a wonderful way with words: describing air quotes as "quote bunnies" is my new favorite thing, and worth the cost of the book.
At almost 500 pages, MacBride may be over-stretching his detective Logan McRae's investigation into three seemingly unconnected violent crimes, two of which have clear sadistic sexual motivations. In order to keep the mystery going, it seems to me, McRae misses connections and solutions that I spotted whole chapters earlier; which, sadly, just makes the detective seem a little dumb.
But all redeemed by MacBride's signature flashes of dark humour. There's a scene in which McRae's boss, the cranky candy-addict DSI Insch, who is directing a local rep company production of "The Mikado," commiserates with a porn movie director about the talentless amateurs they are forced to work with. And I am delighted to say that MacBride seems to have surrendered to the rich comic potential of chain-smoker and everyone's favorite slob, DSI Steele (Her motto: "We are not at home to Mr. F**k Up!")
And MacBride does have a wonderful way with words: describing air quotes as "quote bunnies" is my new favorite thing, and worth the cost of the book.
