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The Kind One
by Tom Epperson
by Tom Epperson
** spoiler alert **
"The Kind One" is an Edgar Nominee for the best 1st mystery novel.
Fans of Raymond Chandler will enjoy this period novel, set in the 1930's in Los Angeles. It isn't so much a mystery as a novel of mobsters with Philip Marlowe type of dialogue.
Danny Landon is working for a cold blooded mobster named Bud Seitz. Danny, aka, Two Gun Danny has amnesia from being hit on the head with a lead pipe.
Bud asks Danny to act as bodyguard for his mistress, Darla.
As the novel begins there is an uncomfortable scene where Bud's pet chimp bites Darla and Danny has to put the animal down. This is too reminiscent of the recent attack by a chimpanzee on the woman from Stamford,CT.
This descriptive novel is plot driven with intense dialogue and little character development.
After a slow start, we see considerable bi play between Danny and Darla. The reader is made to wonder if they will become romantically involved and if so, will they meet the same fate as Bud's last girlfriend and the employee who made a poor choice and inappropriately touched her and paid the ultimate price.
As the action unfolds, Danny is attempting to help his 11 year old neighbor, Sophie, who is in an abusive home.
Life is cheam for those who associate with Bud and he doesn't hesitate to kill anyone to displeases him, weather it is a stranger or one of his employees.
As Darla becomes more rebellious with Bud's autocratic attitude towards her, Danny's feelings for her grow. She seems to care for Danny in return, but the reader can feel some uncertainty.
With more of the story unfloding, we find that there is a relationship between Danny and Bud that is more than employer, employee and this adds another complication.
Finally, Sophie is about to be sent to a boarding school by her alcoholic mother and Darla becomes desperate to escape from Bud and Danny must help each person.
This is a well told story and not only has it been nominated for an Edgar but it has been in production for a movie with Casey Afflec and is due to be released in 2010.
Congradulations Mr. Epperson, on a job well done.
Fans of Raymond Chandler will enjoy this period novel, set in the 1930's in Los Angeles. It isn't so much a mystery as a novel of mobsters with Philip Marlowe type of dialogue.
Danny Landon is working for a cold blooded mobster named Bud Seitz. Danny, aka, Two Gun Danny has amnesia from being hit on the head with a lead pipe.
Bud asks Danny to act as bodyguard for his mistress, Darla.
As the novel begins there is an uncomfortable scene where Bud's pet chimp bites Darla and Danny has to put the animal down. This is too reminiscent of the recent attack by a chimpanzee on the woman from Stamford,CT.
This descriptive novel is plot driven with intense dialogue and little character development.
After a slow start, we see considerable bi play between Danny and Darla. The reader is made to wonder if they will become romantically involved and if so, will they meet the same fate as Bud's last girlfriend and the employee who made a poor choice and inappropriately touched her and paid the ultimate price.
As the action unfolds, Danny is attempting to help his 11 year old neighbor, Sophie, who is in an abusive home.
Life is cheam for those who associate with Bud and he doesn't hesitate to kill anyone to displeases him, weather it is a stranger or one of his employees.
As Darla becomes more rebellious with Bud's autocratic attitude towards her, Danny's feelings for her grow. She seems to care for Danny in return, but the reader can feel some uncertainty.
With more of the story unfloding, we find that there is a relationship between Danny and Bud that is more than employer, employee and this adds another complication.
Finally, Sophie is about to be sent to a boarding school by her alcoholic mother and Darla becomes desperate to escape from Bud and Danny must help each person.
This is a well told story and not only has it been nominated for an Edgar but it has been in production for a movie with Casey Afflec and is due to be released in 2010.
Congradulations Mr. Epperson, on a job well done.
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