Last night, I finised reading *True Confessions* by Domenic
Stansberry. It's one of the November releases from Hardcase
Crime. (Only 6.99 in paperback.)
This is my forth Dominic Salisberry I have read, and it won't
be my last.
I think Stansberry has created his own sub-genre with this
"middle class noir" novel about a forensic psychologist who
is accused of murder. Calling it noir belies my own
definition to a point, but ultimately, I think, the main
character is screwed. The book is also dark and sinister, so
hats off to Jim Doherty's definiation as well.
The first half of the book reads like a mainstream novel with
references to the various criminal cases that Jake Danser has
studied and on which he has testified.
So as not to give too much of the story away, I will just say
that Danser and his wife are having marital problems and they
separate. Danser is accused of murder and hires a smart
criminal attorney to defend him.
Told in the abstract, that does not sound like much, but
Stansberry gives layers of meaning and almost subliminal
information and questions that complicate the situation for
Danser and the reader.
This is a damn good book told in the first person in a style
that is totally individual. It is some of the best writing I
have seen in recent years, and I can think of no current
author who writes better than Stansberry.
Stansberry has been twice nominated for an Edgar, snf I have
a sense that hr is an author whose time has come. My
compliments to Charles Ardai for making this book and other
hardboiled an noril novels available in a low-cost
format.
The book comes with a cover painting in the style of the old
Gold Medal Books and a cover quote which asks the important
question of the novel:
"Was he an innocent man . . . or a depraved killer."
It's a question no reader will fail to ask after the murder.
Jack Bludis
=====
"Shadow of the Dahlia" Now on sale. Shamus and Anthony
nominee http://www.jackbludis.com
------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
--------------------~--> Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads.
Yahoo! Companion Toolbar. Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for
free!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/kqIolB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~->
RARA-AVIS home page: http://www.miskatonic.org/rara-avis/
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rara-avis-l/
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email
to:
rara-avis-l-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : 17 Oct 2004 EDT