Djuan Burden, recently released from a prison term for
murder, is in the wrong place at the wrong time. He finds himself arrested and
again charged with murder. Sid Chance agrees to assist his friend Jaz LeMieux
in proving Burden's innocence, although at the outset he believes him guilty.
Within the first few chapters, we are sure that good will prevail. And, it
does. But, how many will die first? As the two friends delve into the
investigation and get close to finding out the truth, others fall victim to the
killer.
This novel deals with the serious issue of one cop on the
take. Yet, it manages to honor, acknowledge and respect the majority of the
force -- the ethical, good cops. What makes this novel especially appealing is
that it addresses a flawed character and allows good to triumph over evil --
without the pitfall into which many authors fall -- it does not preach.
What the novel does, and does well, is to engage the reader
on a variety of levels. The character development is superb. Hard decisions are
made by realistic characters. Are these really just characters in a book? They
seemed so real to me. In my mind's eye, each character has a face, a body, a
voice.
The plot development is equally well done. The plot moves
along and keeps one engaged. Finally, an author whose plot and characters are
strong. They do not require the addition of contrived boiler plate romances or
terrifying scenes. Nor will you find any boiler plate scenes in the book.
Like a fine wine, a very satisfying read. Sid Chance is
definitely worth investigating, be prepared to fall in love with the
characters. I did. And, now, I am reading the first Sid Chance novel and
awaiting the next.
No comments:
Post a Comment