Review: As wholesome as its female protagonist
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 27, 2011
Part sex fuelled academic drama, part murder mystery, part humour - all good. Make no mistake; Choke on Your Lies is an excellent novel.Poetry professor Mick Thooft is being taken for a ride by his adulterous wife Frances, in order to salvage what little manhood remains; Mick enlists the services of long time friend Octavia, a heavily overweight beauty with a personality as big as her body, to exact an unconventional form of revenge. `Choke on Your Lies' is delivered in what seems like two lightning quick and deadly sharp novellas with each providing a distinct purpose and insight before converging as one entertaining and tightly plotted bundle.The two character leads in Mick and Octavia are a perfect combination of chalk and cheese, one strong willed and confident, the other lacking a spine and somewhat whiney - I thought they complemented each other well by feeding off each others strengths and weaknesses to promote a great sense of chemistry and companionship. The plot, while seedy and over dramatised (it worked though) was easy to follow - the bit players were well written and each added a little perspective and context to the broader picture.Hard to fault anything in this novel - A great read through and through. Fans of Nero Wolfe rejoice! 5 Stars.Side note: Best read with Victor Gischler's `Pistol Poets' for those looking for the seedier and criminal side of academia.