Review: By Leselyst
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 08 29, 2013
Watch Me Die is the longer novella and well worth reading. Harvey Mapes, security guard turned detective, has a tongue in cheek, devil-may-care attitude but below that faade man's humanity is fully evident. Detective books and shows may have impressed him while he tried to pass the time of day as a security guard but they are found to be a poor interpretation of reality when he takes on the job of detective. This was an easy read, almost a literary romp, but the conclusion was totally unexpected yet very fitting. I was surprised yet satisfied.McGrave was quite brief yet totally 'American' in attitude. No demolition was too grande, no outcome too unreal, no challenge too overwhelming and no coincidence too bizarre.  This was the everyday hero on loan to the German PD, the detective who relied totally on instinct and his own innate ability to survive any outcome. His language was at times crude but always self-serving, and those who had the chance to know him developed a grudging respect for his actions. This man lived his own dream -- and who can fault him for that?This was my introduction to Lee Goldberg and a very entertaining one. I look forward to reading his other works.