Book Reviews



This site contains links to book review sites on the web, plus reviews of books that I have recently read. These reviews are written mostly for my entertainment, but they will also help me to keep track of titles that I've read. These reviews contain mini-summaries and are more in the line of "fanzine reviews". They are not intended as literary criticism. I hope to review a book a fortnight (time permitting), and all previous reviews will be archived alphabetically by author. If you would like to comment on or discuss any of these reviews, please contact me at jo9ty@geocities.com.



BOOK REVIEW SITES



LATEST BOOK REVIEW

CRUEL APRIL
by Neil Albert
Signet, 1996, US$5.50, pbk.
ISBN 0451178610
Genre: Mystery
Sub-Genre: Private Eye

Disbarred lawyer turned PI, Dave Garrett awaits the arrival of his girlfriend, red-haired Kate MaMahan, at the Philadelphia airport. Kate has finally decided to leave her husband Frank, but she does not arrive as scheduled on the flight from Miami. Kate's bags turn up at Philadelphia and are eventually claimed by someone else. Sensing trouble, Dave tries to enlist the help of the local police, who inform him that Kate probably got cold feet and has returned to her husband. Dave contacts Frank McMahan and despite the fact that Frank is not at all pleased to hear from Dave, he agrees to help Dave search for the missing Kate.

Dave uncovers a trail that leads him to Harrisburg and then on to the economically depressed towns of Chester and Selinsgrove. Thinking that if he falls asleep Kate will die, Dave keeps popping Fastin diet pills and drinking endless cups of coffee in an effort to stay awake. Combined with determination and fear, he manages to stay awake for three more days.

With the help of his ex-girlfriend Lisa, Dave follows the trail through a seedy underworld of drugs and prostitution. He is convinced Kate has been kidnapped and has somehow managed to get caught up in the middle of a drug ring. And when people he interviews along the way end up dead, Dave must do all he can to find and save his beloved Kate.

The fourth installment in the Dave Garrett mystery series contains fast paced action all the way. Neil Albert has made his character Dave Garrett go without sleep for four days - this tact enhances the effect of the non-stop action.

Although the story was well plotted with a tidy completion, some of the events that took place seemed a little implausable. In particular, the fact that Garrett manages to survive numerous attempts on his life and still go on. But the setting of the near empty streets of Chester and the desolate countryside of central Pennsylvania are amply described. I enjoyed this story, mostly for it's rollercoaster ride, but also for it's likeable protagonist, it's interesting twist, and satisfying conclusion. Well recommended.

Reviewed by Jo Orange 13 November 1997

More information about this author is available on the Authors page.


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