There's nothing like a good crime fiction to keep me engrossed for days on end! I have been a fan of the works of Arthur Conan Doyle, Dashiell Hammett and the likes since tenth grade. It truly comes as no surprise then, that this book figured on my reading list. To be frank, I hadn't read any of the other books in the series and was apprehensive about taking this up. But I came out pleasantly surprised.
The Maltese Murders is the third book from the David Brooks series of detective/crime fiction written by author Jerry Labriola M.D. The premise of the book is the presentation of a nasal inhaler at a bio-terrorism summit in Malta, due to which a series of murders take place in the quaint little town of Howerton in Connecticut. Dr.David Brooks who previously had investigated the Molina murder, alongwith his fiancee Kathy, sets to see the spate of crimes at Brent University to an end for once and for all. Does he succeed? Well, for that question to be answered, you HAVE TO pick up the book.
First off, it is brilliant because of the interspersing of various elements - bio-terrorism, mafia, mobs, politics, genetic engineering and plain human emotions like greed and revenge. Dr.David Brooks and his Musco are the new-age Sherlock Holmes and Watson. A riveting plot, well-developed characters and an absolutely mystifying set of murders are the elements of this book that worked for me. The meeting with Saltanban was an absolute piece of brilliance. The book is aptly summarized by the last conversation between Musco and Dr.Brooks. What didn't work for me is just one thing : the ending. Maybe it's because I haven't read the other books or maybe because of the gruesome murderous trail I expected it to be a bit more violent. But the ending to me was a dampener through and through.
That said, I'd recommend this book who wants a good taste of modern contemporary fiction or even is a fan of the Dashiell Hammett style of writing(I, personally, found them very similar). Also since my risk has borne sweet fruit, I am definitely going to read its predecessors(and successors). My rating for this book would be a 4.5 on 5.
-Divya
The Maltese Murders is the third book from the David Brooks series of detective/crime fiction written by author Jerry Labriola M.D. The premise of the book is the presentation of a nasal inhaler at a bio-terrorism summit in Malta, due to which a series of murders take place in the quaint little town of Howerton in Connecticut. Dr.David Brooks who previously had investigated the Molina murder, alongwith his fiancee Kathy, sets to see the spate of crimes at Brent University to an end for once and for all. Does he succeed? Well, for that question to be answered, you HAVE TO pick up the book.
First off, it is brilliant because of the interspersing of various elements - bio-terrorism, mafia, mobs, politics, genetic engineering and plain human emotions like greed and revenge. Dr.David Brooks and his Musco are the new-age Sherlock Holmes and Watson. A riveting plot, well-developed characters and an absolutely mystifying set of murders are the elements of this book that worked for me. The meeting with Saltanban was an absolute piece of brilliance. The book is aptly summarized by the last conversation between Musco and Dr.Brooks. What didn't work for me is just one thing : the ending. Maybe it's because I haven't read the other books or maybe because of the gruesome murderous trail I expected it to be a bit more violent. But the ending to me was a dampener through and through.
That said, I'd recommend this book who wants a good taste of modern contemporary fiction or even is a fan of the Dashiell Hammett style of writing(I, personally, found them very similar). Also since my risk has borne sweet fruit, I am definitely going to read its predecessors(and successors). My rating for this book would be a 4.5 on 5.
-Divya
No comments:
Post a Comment