Safe House
Andrew Vachss
1998
Vintage Paperback
When I started to read this book, it seemed as if all the action was taking place in another time. The language and characters cast a spell over me which was later broken when a cell phone appeared, and some other modern items. Even so, the book maintained a sort of Chandler-esque tone.
In it, Burke is a "problem solver" who chooses to identify more with the criminal element than with the men with white hats. He finds himself sought out by a woman named Crystal Beth to help with her crusade against stalkers of women. When one of these turns out to be a particularly brutal follower of the Nazi party line with a powerful protector who would like to see Crystal Beth's operation go down the drain, Burke's challenge is to shut them down first.
I had circled around the books by this author for awhile, hesitating to buy one because I didn't know anything about them. The book lists 15 by him, including this one, and now I'm looking forward to reading more. If you like "hard boiled fiction," this book is for you. Reviewed 12-13-99.
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Van Dine, S.S.
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Van Meter, David A.
- Necessary Evil.
This strange tale is told by its villain, a serial killer who explains how he came to be so starting with a description of his life as a boy.
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This book is a fascinating story of the greed and legal maneuvering involved in cases where damages are sought based on alleged health hazards of silicone breast implants. A prominent plastic surgeon who claims to have information which could change the course of this implant litigation is found dead under suspicious circumstances. Tampa Judge Willa Carson does some private investigation when her sister is suspected of the murder. She discovers numerous suspects whose lives are connected with this field of litigation by either the sizes of their busts or depth of their pockets. All in all, a horrifying look at profiteering perpetrated on the playing field of our judicial system written by an expert in the field! Reviewed 12-13-99.
