Review of Harry James Krebs’ Vengeance Is Mine…
(Harry James Krebs, Vengeance Is Mine, Peak City Publishing, 2014, ASIN B00IH8H0KA)
Not really a who-did-it but who-IS-it, this exciting mystery is suspenseful and entertaining fun, its protagonist a bit of Spenser, Lincoln Rhyme, and Alex Cross all rolled into one. You shouldn’t miss reading this one, although it’s not for the squeamish.
I suppose that more than who-IS-it, the ubiquitous why is also part of the discovery in this mystery. The author spins both of these questions out in classic mystery-thriller-suspense fashion. Readers will love this; writers should take note. You would never find Agatha Christie doing it this way, but this is how modern books in this genre should be written. We have a case study about the violent depravity existing in some individuals and how much damage they can do to innocent people. Fortunately, these cases are exceptional, but the exceptions, even in fiction, provide a warning: watch your back—there are evil people out there.
I’m also impressed that the author resists the temptation to make his protagonist a two-dimensional bastion of virtue. He’s complex, conflicted, and at times comically confused. He has mental hang-ups about his past, has gone through a bad divorce, and is a bit of a Don Juan, although his philandering causes more self-doubt than pleasure in the long-run. In many ways, he’s just your average Joe muddling through life, taking what it gives him the best he can. And, in the few weeks the novel covers, life throws a lot at him.
We never learn what prompts the serial killer beyond his rage at his lot in life, as opposed to the protagonist’s luck in finding true love with a wealthy woman after both are divorced. The protagonist, the author of a successful true crime book, is called in as consultant to help nab the killer, but a TV interview leads to a more personal involvement because the killer is watching.
While there are many weighty scenes and serious threads winding through this story that will make you check that your doors are locked at night and maybe install an alarm system, there’s also comedy, most of it associated with the main character, a man of modest means before his successful book and now forced to adapt to the life of a one-percenter. There’s a scene with a fancy briefcase that still has me chuckling—look for it. (That’s a mini-spoiler, I suppose—I hope the author forgives me).
This author is new to me. He has a knack for clever plots and well-drawn characters. Dog lovers won’t be disappointed either. I will look for new books from him in the future.
[Most of this review appeared on Amazon in an abbreviated form. The reviewer received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.]
In libris libertas….
