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ENVY THE NIGHT
by Michael Koryta
St Martin's Minotaur, August 2008
325 pages
$24.95
ISBN: 0312361580


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

Frank Temple III has spent a night in gaol, arrested for public intoxication, and as he walks free, he contemplates his father's escaping from a much longer term, a release achieved, sadly, through suicide. The drinking had been precipitated by a message from Ezra Ballard, at one time one of his father's closest friends, saying that Devin Matteson, the person Frank III blamed as the direct cause of his father's suicide, was coming back to town. Devin had, first of all, lured the US Marshall into crime, as a hitman, then turned him in. Frank had always vowed to kill Devin and now he will have the opportunity, if he drives back to his home in the North Woods, the Willow Flowage.

FBI agent Grady Morgan is keeping an eye on Frank. He knows of Frank's almost superhuman speed and fighting abilities, carefully honed by Temple II, and he is worried that Frank might allow that violence to escape his careful control.

Frank, meanwhile, is still driving and sees a Lexus with Florida plates on the road ahead. Devin drives a Lexus and lives in Florida. Frank engineers an accident, but Matteson is not behind the wheel of the Lexus. The driver implores Frank not to call the police so, instead, a repair shop is called and Nora Stafford becomes involved.

Nora is taking care of her father's auto body repair shop, having come home to step in after Stafford suffers a stroke. She knows nothing about the business but is determined to keep it going until her father is on his feet again. She keeps a resentful eye on Jerry, the worker who actually knows the trade, and is very grateful for the good fortune that brings two vehicles to her shop.

Needless to say, Frank and Nora are thrown together and a rather reluctant, non-romantic partnership is established as they join forces to deal with a group of relentless killers.

This book really is packed with action. There is one scene of a chase on water that even had my jaded heart pounding.

The characterisation is exceptionally well done. Frank and Nora are truly memorable-- and the other people will tale their time in fading, too.

As for the conclusion, that is something I never saw coming!

Reviewed by Denise Pickles, December 2008

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


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