Review: Master of nuanced description
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 15, 2012
Timothy Hallinan's novels are always a pleasure and Bone Crusher is no exception.  Our man, Private Detective Simeon Grist, is beginning to experience second thoughts on his mortality as wisps of fear surface following some of his encounters.  Further, making it worse, he no longer recovers rapidly from taking physical punishment.  Simeon has to face the consequences of aging, and he finds it unsettling.This time Simeon is tracking a killer who viciously slaughtered an ex movie idol, Max Grover.  Max had devoted his life to selflessly assisting gays who had little else to turn to.  The killing took place immediately after Simeon had met Max.  It then turns out that the killer is a serial killer, otherwise very likable, who later comes very close to taking the life of Simeon.We're pleased to see that Simeon's relationship with his previous girl friend, Eleanor, is improving, despite her finding a nude young lady sun bathing on his deck and walking around his house nude.  That was a bump along the path of reconciliation.Halllinan is a master of nuanced descriptions, e.g., "... the cave dwelling stare..."  There are also some meaningful conversational quotes, e.g., "After 77 years on earth I'm not going to worry about a couple of minutes."Timothy Hallinan is an excellent author, not only for the action and mystery, but for many insights and excellent dialogues.