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dqan's review
4.0
Poor Richie. He doesn't seem like such a bad guy. He's a schlub, to be sure, a self-described wage slave looking to make ends meet, sometimes in ways that are more than a little unethical. But he isn't a murderer. Not by a long shot. So he's more than a little surprised to find himself holding a bloody knife, looking down on the body of his ... who is she? A girlfriend? A co-worker with benefits? No sense quibbling over details. Richie has a body to dispose of and a mystery to solve.
Poor Richie. He really isn't cut out for this sort of thing. In
a story about organized crime a guy named Guido might walk in at this point and say, "Don't worry, Richie, I'll make this go away." But Richie doesn't know anyone named Guido, nor does does he seem to know much about crime, either the organized kind or the haphazard kind. He's just a Quality Assurance Specialist for Global Co. And his life is about to get really complicated. And really messy.
That's the set-up for Jeff Markowitz's latest mystery novel. At this point I should mention that I know Jeff Markowitz, at least as much as one can get to know someone by reading their blog and occasionally commenting. I also know him as the writer of the Cassie O'Malley mystery stories. I enjoyed those books and happily recommend them to mystery fans, but I like Death and White Diamonds even more.
DaWD consists of dark comedy, some police procedural elements, some really bad luck, and a dose of cosmic karma. There is some violence and gore, some swearing and sex -- often handled with a comic touch.
I started this book in the wee hours of January 1, finally forcing myself to turn the lights out around 4 am. I wasn't sure if my frequent laughter could be heard by my family, but I didn't want to take the chance. I raced through the remainder of the book later that evening. I've had trouble concentrating on books in recent years, but that wasn't the case with this book. It kept my interest from start to finish.
If you're a fan of dark comedic crime novels this is a book well worth checking out. Will it hold up to a second reading? I intend to find out. And who knows? Maybe someday I'll get to see a movie version. Even though I know how it ends I think it would be a trip worth retaking.
Poor Richie. He really isn't cut out for this sort of thing. In
a story about organized crime a guy named Guido might walk in at this point and say, "Don't worry, Richie, I'll make this go away." But Richie doesn't know anyone named Guido, nor does does he seem to know much about crime, either the organized kind or the haphazard kind. He's just a Quality Assurance Specialist for Global Co. And his life is about to get really complicated. And really messy.
That's the set-up for Jeff Markowitz's latest mystery novel. At this point I should mention that I know Jeff Markowitz, at least as much as one can get to know someone by reading their blog and occasionally commenting. I also know him as the writer of the Cassie O'Malley mystery stories. I enjoyed those books and happily recommend them to mystery fans, but I like Death and White Diamonds even more.
DaWD consists of dark comedy, some police procedural elements, some really bad luck, and a dose of cosmic karma. There is some violence and gore, some swearing and sex -- often handled with a comic touch.
I started this book in the wee hours of January 1, finally forcing myself to turn the lights out around 4 am. I wasn't sure if my frequent laughter could be heard by my family, but I didn't want to take the chance. I raced through the remainder of the book later that evening. I've had trouble concentrating on books in recent years, but that wasn't the case with this book. It kept my interest from start to finish.
If you're a fan of dark comedic crime novels this is a book well worth checking out. Will it hold up to a second reading? I intend to find out. And who knows? Maybe someday I'll get to see a movie version. Even though I know how it ends I think it would be a trip worth retaking.
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