|
[ Home ]
[ About | Reviews | Search | Submit ]
ONE ARMED BANDIT is Dennis N. Griffin's first novel. A man walks into a convenience store and without a word, kills four people in an apparent robbery. Unfortunately, all he receives is the $100 in the register. Once the police begin to investigate, they realize that the bodies were not robbed even though the register was emptied. This circumstance, as well as other minor elements, causes the police to realize that the murderer was more likely a hit man after one of the four dead. The most inconsistent of the victims is Candy Kauffman, a seemingly vibrant person without a love life. Steve Garneau and Terry Bolton, both Las Vegas police, attempt to investigate Candy's past in hopes of finding a solution to these deaths. At the same time, Ron Cole hires John Grant to investigate Candy to see if she was the intended victim. Both the police and Grant are hindered by conspiracies, but they resolve to find the killer of a seemingly innocent woman. Overall the book was satisfactory; however, there were a couple of small things that slowed the book down. Griffin is attempting to try a lot of different story lines within a single text. Rather than this overabundance making the book more appealing, it distracts from the main story. An example of this are the chapters devoted to the alert the Las Vegas police go on, when they receive a terrorist threat. Although this type of alert is a part of police life, it has absolutely nothing to do with the main mystery. Griffin still could have included this information to provide a general understanding of the atmosphere surrounding this investigation; yet, he needed to have included it differently. He could have simply mentioned this alert without providing details or he could have used these chapters to present a clearer picture of his characters. The way these chapters are currently presented, it seems more as a method of filling space than as a plot device. Griffin has potential as a writer. The plot is by no means original, but he does throw in a twist at the end that was unexpected. In order to be successful, he simply needs to decide what type of book he is interested in writing and focus on appealing to that specific audience than the general public. By maintaining a single focus, Griffin's work will improve twofold.
Reviewed by Sarah Dudley, March 2003
[ Top ]
QUICK SEARCH:
Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
[ About | Reviews | Search | Submit ]
[ Home ]
|
