Review: May adds warmth to typically cold-blooded spy genre
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 15, 2011
When deciding whether or not to give this novel a try, keep the old saying in mind: "Never judge a book by its cover." The dainty-looking lass gracing "The May Carousel's" cover is Kay McCann--a promising California artist and teacher whose personality and life are anything but picture-perfect. Brandishing only a blue streak, she rescues her seemingly soft-spoken English art model, Jason Allen, from a carjacking.  Jason, like Kay, is also not what he seems because once he accepts Kay's offer to mend his wounds, his secret plan for her is hatched.  And once Kay lets Jason through her apartment door, the plan is well on its way; and soon, so are they--from L.A. to London in a tantilizing search for the man who painted Kay's portrait, Peter Lawson: an internationally-renown "artist" thought to be dead...until now."The May Carousel" adds warmth, maturity, and a degree of realism to the spy genre. It's largely British in tone but more reminiscent of a John Buchan or Alfred Hitchcock romantic mystery than an Ian Fleming or John le Carre Cold War saga. Much like the artwork that populates the novel, author Leslie Wooddavis's characters are well-drawn. Some gravitate more toward the greater good that espionage purports to protect. But for the most part, their lives are more colorful than those living in  le Carre's gray surroundings; and their personalities, deeper than the martini-sipping swagger of the typical 007 stick figure.Kay McCann is a refreshingly humorous and self-reliant woman who is slowly drawn into suave art dealer Jason Allen's snare. But if you think Jason is the villain, again, "Never judge a book..." It's another high mark for Wooddavis's style: It's clever in how well it constructs its characters. Genuine love, trust, and friendship begin to sway Jason's thoughts. And Kay recovers the love, trust, and friendship that she thought was lost--felt only in fleeting flashbacks. It all makes for a potent story that builds to a truly stunning--though regrettably sensible--conclusion that will catch most readers by surprise.If the story itself is compelling, the pace lags in places--particularly in the middle. The beginning has a strong hook, with the introduction of Jake Thorton (Jason's smarmy American associate who is as adept at the art of deception as he is art dealing). Jason's wooing of Kay is a bit too involved at the start, but does the trick. But once the proceedings reach London, the novel spends too much time sorting through a love triangle. Though a few car chases and Kay's melees with would-be kidnappers help put things back in perspective, the excessive emphasis placed on romantic complexities almost undermines the greater idea: That art and romance are tactics in a bigger game being played.Still, Leslie Wooddavis triumphs in delivering a first-rate read--effective storytelling highlighted by a memorable cast of characters brought to life by a plot and dialog that  switch from sentimental to self-controlled on a dime. But best of all, "The May Carousel" is unique in its ability to add human warmth to the spy story scene--a genre that is typically a cold-blooded battle royal of barbs, bullets, and bombs.