Dead I Well May Be, By Adrian McKinty.

Yes, you are reading it correctly, and yes, I wrote it properly. The book is called “Dead I Well May Be,” and it’s brilliant. McKinty imbues his protagonist, Michael Forsythe, with a dark sense of humour that follows him like a loyal dog; a savage mongrel that defends him from the misery with which his companions seem infected. This Irishman is poor, violent, and cursed, but he’s also quite funny, and that makes this book more entertaining than the vast majority of other 1990’s New York City gangster novels.



Another lovely point of interest in this story is the travelling. The gangsters of “Dead I Well May Be” move from the darkest crack-dens of Harlem to the most beautiful beaches of the tropics and (unfortunately for Michael) a few places in between. This broadens the fictional world and we, as readers, journey beside our favourite characters.



One final point that must be mentioned is the narrative voice. It’s just so cheeky. As you read this story, you’ll feel as though a clever and amusing thug has just poured you a jar of something strong and he’s about to confess his most recent murder. I’ll definitely be studying McKinty’s back catalogue after this classic.



“Dead I Well May Be” By Adrian McKinty

Setting: 8/10

Characters: 7/10

Plot: 7/10

Style: 8/10

Balance: 3/5

Pace: 3/5

Total: 36/50

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Guest post by Peter Mulraney, author of the Stella Bruno Investigates crime series.

Image
Guest post by Peter Mulraney , author of the Stella Bruno Investigates crime series. Stella Bruno Investigates is a series of quick reads - books designed to be read in one sitting. Each book in the series only takes around an hour and a half to two hours to read. So, there’s no waiting for days to find out who did it. The series is set in and around Adelaide, South Australia, and centres on criminal investigations led by Detective Sergeant Stella Bruno. I have the inside information on Adelaide - it’s my home town. Stella is assisted by Detective Constable Brian Rhodes, who’s approaching retirement, harassed by Detective Inspector Frank Williams, and distracted by Shaun Porter from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. In addition to all the crime, the stories also follow Stella’s developing relationship with Shaun and provide insights into her life as a single mother with a fourteen-year old son. You’ll also discover some of the benefits she enjoys
Read more
Image
Mark Edwards Imports Evil With Follow You Home. Daniel and Laura are the quintessential upper-middle class tourists searching for a tiny taste of adventure until they’re served a whole smorgasbord of terror. The genius of this novel is that you’re led on a journey of fear and wild curiosity as Mark Edwards refuses to reveal the final details of the mystery. SOMETHING has already happened, and the characters in the book allude to its savagery without announcing the truth. You’re forced to stalk though dark forests and decipher cryptic foreign languages to uncover the overarching horror while side plots entangling lust and fame contribute to the ride. The way the darkness of the story is gradually revealed to the reader is a little like a monster-movie; you can’t wait to stare into the eyes of the foul beast even though you know it’s going to give you nightmares. Such lovely and heart stopping suspense. “Follow You Home,” is a perfectly crafted thri
Read more
Image
Will Kidnapping Overcome Serial Murder? It’s a well-known fact that serial killer novels murder the other sub-genres of crime fiction in popularity, but is there a different deviance abducting the minds of avid readers? Theft can be exciting, and smuggling is certainly a highly profitable and potentially glamorous crime. What else? Money laundering and white-collar offences lack the high levels of action, but what about kidnapping? A swathe of mammoth, recent titles have embraced this criminal endeavour, and there are a few clear reasons why. ONE- DISAPPEARANCE. Think of, “Gone Girl,” by Gillian Flynn. The peculiar notion that a person can disappear from our society is baffling, and when a writer manages to trap the reader into thinking, “WHERE THE HELL DID THAT CHARACTER GO?” while acknowledging that they’re still alive, we can be certain we’re in for a few exquisite surprises. TWO- MOVEMENT. It’s sick, but we’re crime fiction fans, so I’m just going to say it:
Read more