Review: Another well-crafted De Maria tale, with the usual suprise ending
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 08 18, 2013
I guess De Maria has me hooked. Each one of his mysteries snags me early and keeps me interested throughout. The characters, both those who recur and those De Maria kills off, add substance and realism to the sensational-yet-plausible story lines. In Sister, he's gifted readers with a story that links something everyone has experienced - lost young love - with seemingly senseless brutality. The protagonist, private detective Alton Rhode, is driven to wage an unpaid vendetta against a faceless killer, someone who made the mistake of dispatching the woman Rhode once believed would share his life. Tricky twists in the plot lead the reader through clues and red herrings without telegraphing anything, all the way to the aha! ending. Fast moving, unexpected touches of pathos, and a satisfying wrap up. An all-around fine effort.