Close to the Bone

Brady Coyne Mystery: 14

ISBN: 0792722124 Order from: Amazon.com

Solid, craftsmanlike style of this mystery makes it readable, but the lukewarm protagonist and an ultimately disappointing plot leave little enjoyment at the book's conclusion.

Reviewed by David on February 14, 2004

Genre: Mystery (Amateur Sleuth)

Synopsis: This is an unabridged recording of Close to the Bone. Brady Coyne is a comfortable and well-respected attorney for the wealthy and influential in Boston. When one of his more autocratic clients demands help in defending his son from a drunk driving charge, Brady recommends a brillian criminal defense attorney and friend, Paul Cizek.

Paul's defense of the young man is spectacular, but leads to a depression in Paul Cizek. Paul has grown to despise the criminals he defends, and his depression wars with his professionalism. Brady, Paul's friend, is faced with his own choices as he questions his own job as a lawyer. The moral dilemmas of the two attorneys result in difficult choices, choices that may mean life and death, as Brady finds out when Paul Cizek disappears.

Full Review: Brady is a likable and upstanding attorney, obviously successful in his career and happy in his evolving relationship with Alexandra, a gifted reporter. He reacts strongly to the distress of his friends, and has a dedication to finding out what happens to them. His own life demands some difficult choices in the book, and this presents the counterpoint to the more criminal investigations that he undertakes.

Unfortunately, Brady's laid-back personality results in little reader sympathy, and his personal dilemmas make him look more vacillating than torn. At the end, the clever although not entirely unexpected twist ends on a bleak note, and this, combined with the lack of fascination with the first-person protagonist leaves the reader only mildly entertained.

Overall: 5; Plot: 6; Characters: 5; Style: 5.5; World-building: 5; Originality: 5.5;

ISBN: 0792722124 Order from: Amazon.com