|
[ Home ]
[ About | Reviews | Search | Submit ]
We first meet PI August Riordan as he waits for a crime to occur: the theft of an ATM machine. There is a considerable reward out for his capture. Riordan does not get that reward; it doesn’t help to bring no weapons at all when the criminal is using a very large John Deere tractor. His next job looks like it will be much more profitable. Chinatown’s notorious Dragon Lady wants Riordan to investigate the possibility of election fraud in a recent mayoral election. Her candidate of choice didn’t even carry the precincts in Chinatown, which seems unlikely at best. New touch-screen machines were used for the first time in this election, and the chances for fraud are rife. The job is made easier by the presence of Lisa Lee, daughter of the Dragon Lady. She likes jazz; Riordan plays bass in a jazz quartet in his free time. Sometimes things just look like they might work out. The same job is made much more difficult as Riordan investigates; everywhere he turns there are more nasty people, several of whom want to inflict major bodily harm on him or those near him. Riordan can handle himself in a fight, and he has lots of chances to do so in RUNOFF. Riordan’s personal life tends to mingle with his professional life. He used to be engaged to his secretary; she’s now going to marry an urologist, who doesn’t want her working for Riordan. The singer for the jazz quartet is a good friend and a transvestite with a talent for computers. Riordan also has that handy supply of friends with jobs that come in useful when he needs information. RUNOFF is a mystery with an agenda: voting fraud is a very real possibility when touch-screen technology is used. Of course, voter fraud is possible using almost any system. The options with computer technology are just that much more complicated, harder to track, and available to another whole sector of society. Considering the recent election hassles, he has some valid points to make. Coggins makes these points subtly, without browbeating the reader to death. The mystery is quite good, the characters believable. Riordan’s sense of humor had me laughing out loud more than once, which is always a plus in my estimation. I’d be happy to read more about the life and times of August Riordan.
Reviewed by P. J. Coldren, October 2007
[ Top ]
QUICK SEARCH:
Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
[ About | Reviews | Search | Submit ]
[ Home ]
| 
