Review: Fast, furious, fun, with great character and voice
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 24, 2014
Reminiscent of Dennis LeHane’s Kenzie and Gennaro novels, L.H. Thomson’s first Liam Quinn mystery is smoothly written, convincingly voiced, fast-paced, gritty and fun. Ex-forger, ex-boxer, Quinn has betrayed his family’s well-policed heritage, but now he’s trying to make amends with a job investigating insurance frauds.The novel’s set in Philadelphia and moves smoothly between evocatively different zones, from Irish pubs, to rich mansions and everywhere in between. Italian mobsters, scheming lawyers, cheating boyfriends and down-at-heel teens all play their part as stolen booze, a stolen painting, and a wonderful girl, who’s surely way out of his league, vie for the protagonist’s attention. Meanwhile Mom cooks the perfect Sunday dinner, Quinn really should have gone to church, and his father’s friends can’t resist teasing him for his time behind bars.It’s a fun story, well-plotted, quick-witted, good-humored, gritty, and with just the right level of humor and humanity. The dialog’s great. The action’s convincing—even when Quinn’s dodging bullets. And I can't imagine why I've not seen this series on the shelves of all the local bookstores.Disclosure: The author asked if I’d be willing to review a free ecopy. I just might have to buy a paperback now so my husband can enjoy it too.