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REVIEWS |
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The New York Times Book Review, Marilyn Stasio
The mob boss is some piece of work--one of those ... master criminals who keep edging this
series onto bolder levels of ironic wit.
From Booklist
Jackson's Fang Mulheisen series remains a favorite among hard-boiled devotees. This latest
installment continues the saga of Helen Sedlacek and Joe Service, who were on the run from
the
Detroit Mob in Deadman (1994) and Dead Folks (1996), but who have now made peace with the
don, Humphrey DiEbola, who seems to be turning more and more of his power over to Helen
(La
Donna). Detroit cop Mulheisen, ever the bulldog, remains on DiEbola's trail, and when it
appears
that the don has been killed in a poker game turned violent, the skeptical detective looks
to Helen
for answers. Mulheisen plays a relatively minor role in this story, which focuses on the
human sides
of Mob life (a cross between Prizzi's Honor and The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight).
Humor and humanity have always been key to the appeal of the Mulheisen novels, but this
time the
context is less dark than usual. That may disappoint some fans, but it provides a showcase
for
Jackson's wide-ranging talent. A slight change of pace, then, but not an unwelcome one.
Bill Ott Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
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