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HUSH MONEY
by Chuck Greaves
Thomas Dunn Books, May 2012
326 pages
$24.95
ISBN: 125000523X


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

HUSH MONEY has the bones of a good mystery. It's a first book, and alas, it has what I see in a lot of first novels. All first mysteries do not share the same problems, the same rough spots, but this one fell into the pond too many times. At the same time, I think that the author has a lot of talent and could end up writing a much better second book.

As always, I wonder if my impatience with certain aspects of a book comes simply from being tired and needing a break. That can happen and when I recognize it, I stop. My impatience is not the author's problem. However, knowing that while reading HUSH MONEY I read several other crime novels means that simply isn't it.

It feels like you can tell which authors Chuck Greaves ahs admired over the years (and believe me, there's a reason I recognize them). However, he's got to get beyond that. The story involves former trial lawyer Jack MacTaggart handling an insurance claim for a dead horse. That sounds very bare bones and it's really not a useful summary. The story is in the people who own the horses, the wealthy and those who are just managing to look wealthy. It's rich with possibilities, with personalities and all sorts of, well, intrigue.

But the stereotyped angry cop whose dialogue consists mostly of "let's lock him up!" is really unfortunate. That sort of tired character has got to go. It felt like watching some mediocre cop show from the 70s where one cop is always the bad cop.

The dialogue otherwise is crisp, although the character Jack MacTaggart wisecracks too much. It is mostly really funny, but it gets annoying when he's trying, I guess, to make a point. MacTaggart is not comfortable with the wealth and privilege of the folks who own and show horses. And he seems intent on showing that. The instant romance is also a bit of a problem. It is just too easy.

Okay, okay, so I've just whined to you and you're wondering "did she really say she liked the book?" I did like it. And I am very much looking forward to Greaves's next book, with the hope that these first book short-cuts are gone. The guy can write. If I dislike a book, I do not feel compelled to finish it. I finished HUSH MONEY because I wanted to know what happened, pure and simple. MacTaggart is worthy of attention. Those wisecracks are good, really they are, they just are not appropriate in many circumstances. I wanted to yell "Wait! Not yet!" so he wouldn't waste good material when it wasn't necessary. Play to your strengths, your solid abilities to create characters and try not to copy your favorites so much. If you don't have these writers as favorites, I apologize. I just felt like I recognized some authors in there. The author is a good story-teller. The author clearly intends to ring some changes on the character who, at the end of the book has quit the big law firm, so cool, let's see what happens to MacTaggart next.

§ Andi Shechter, who has twice has chaired mystery conventions, has an ancient MA in Criminal Justice and is proud to have appeared in a mystery as a New York runway model.

Reviewed by Andi Shechter, June 2012

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


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