ISBN: 0-7887-0155-X Order from: Recorded Books Barnes & Noble.com
A literate, stylish investigation of a murder, with an entertaining but overly verbose new-age style, and a fairly predictable plot.
Reviewed by David on August 09, 2003
Genre: Mystery (Private Investigator, Art)
Synopsis: This is an unabridged recording of The Game of Thirty. Jimmy McShane is a private investigator. When the daughter of a recently murdered antiquities dealer hires him to find the culprit, Jimmy starts on a tangled path to find out the truth behind the crime. The other relatives and colleagues of the deceased seem to complicate the investigation rather than help it, and the mysterious Egyptian artifacts drag in mystical overtones.
Full Review: The style is a bit unusual, combining whimsy and earnestness. For the most part, the whimsy is witty and entertaining, but occasionally it overwhelms the story, as new-age commentary and the need to color every encounter slows down the pace. The mystery becomes apparent about halfway through the book, but the otherwise intelligent protagonist seems slow to arrive at the conclusion. The end result is pleasant, and the characters are interesting, but the predictability and deliberately over-the-top narration detract from the suspense.
Overall: 5.5; Plot: 5.5; Characters: 5.5; Style: 5; World-building: 6; Originality: 6;
Copyright date 1994, Recorded Books, 1994, Audio cassette, 6 cassettes
ISBN: 0-7887-0155-X Order from: Recorded Books Barnes & Noble.com