Michael E. Rose (1)

This book is a perfect example of what happens when authors disobey the writing maxim of "Show, don't tell". It has an intriguing plot that quickly becomes bogged down by the weight of extended narrative passages.

An old Polish war veteran dies after what seems to be an all-too-common variety of household accident: he drowns in the bathtub. However, his niece, Natalia, is not so quick to accept the scene at face value. She calls upon the expertise of an investigative journalist named Francis Delaney and asks him to help her investigate. They soon discover that a friend of her uncle's has died under eerily similar circumstances, and then CSIS becomes involved...

... at which point I stopped. This is the part where I became really annoyed with the narrative passages replacing meaningful scenes. The CSIS guy is introduced suddenly as he's driving to Montreal to discuss the case with Delaney, and during the drive he's pondering how he and his superiors have been pursuing this case, but it's presented as expository narrative instead of something like:

"He thought back on how the case had begun...

***

"I want Jason Bourne on the steps in a body bag by sundown," Hinchley's superior had said, shamelessly ripping off The Bourne Identity.

"Sure thing, boss," Hinchley said. "But I'm going to need a taxi chit to get to the airport."

***

Hinchley arrived at Delaney's apartment.

See how dialogue would be more interesting to read? It would break up the pace a bit and generate some interest. But no, we're treated to pages of expository narrative interspersed with gratuitous Jungian psychology. There are also gratuitous dream interludes that may serve some higher purpose in the book, but unfortunately their presence is much too jarring for them to be of any use.

This book receives two stars because the plot was promising. With better execution, this would have been at least a three-star book.

So to sum up, don't waste your time with this book, unless you have a LOT of patience for third-person narration… (más)