Review: Punchy detective noir with humor
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 18, 2013
Immaterial Evidence is the first of Fowler's work that I've read, and I enjoyed it a lot. I appreciated the edgy setting, a future megalopolis in the United World government, the fresh plot and the hardboiled banter of the private investigator, Charlie Madison.Charlie's been in protective exile in Little Tokyo ever since a disgruntled Russian crime boss started to stalk him. He's understandably worried about coming out of hiding. But this new case--hunting down the thieves of a hundred silver bars--has him hooked. The catch? The treasure vanished literally into air. How does one track down invisible stolen goods and an apparently invisible criminal? Will the Russian crime boss smoke Charlie before he can solve the case? And why are the officials of the city disappearing too?With the help of his wits and some very unique droids, Charlie slowly puts the pieces together. I got a kick out of the snappy dialog, and the action, especially toward the end was a good payoff. Recommended for those who like future noirs, clever detective stories and sci-fi suspense. Another plus was that the novella form is a quick read, and unlike those weighty tomes that take months to finish, Immaterial Evidence will leave you wanting more.