Review: Very engaging
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 5, 2014
Brian White's "Nightfall" is a mystery/crime fiction novel about a PI trying to unravel of the mystery of a prostitute's death with the threat of her own death looming overhead. The main character, Ezzy Morgan, is a private investigator who quit her career as a paramedic after getting burned out. When requested to investigate a prostitute's death, she agrees apprehensively. Soon, she finds herself in over her head as a crime lord gets wind of her investigation and threatens to kill her if she doesn't meet his demands. The plot starts with a bang (actually, a gasp [the first victim is choked]) and continues gaining momentum until the end. One of my favorite things about "Nightfall" is the writing. This is the first work of White I've read, and I can't stress enough how taken aback I am by his talent as a writer. He writes with a punchy style and a very matter-of-fact tone -- perfectly suited for the genre. The characters, from the cocaine-addicted detective to the ruthless crime lord, are interesting to read about. The dialogue is well-written, each character with his or her own verbal idiosyncrasies. The icing on the cake in this book is the dark, witty humor. Overall, if you want to read a smart, no-frills mystery, this book is a must-read.