(Subdue) The Barkeep by William Lashner - 4 1/2 stars

[Ellen]

For six long years Justin Chase has tried to bury the vision of finding his mother's body in the foyer of their home. He has succeeded for the most part after a stint in a mental hospital and a life trying to achieve serenity. The fact that his own father had been accused of the murder and is even now serving a life sentence does not bother Justin. He knew his father had been having a torrid affair but Justin kept that secret to himself and he believes his father is exactly where he deserves to be.

Justin is a popular bartender in the city. He has few friends, no significant other and very little attachments to things. His apartment is spare with no tv and a room filled with tatami mats for his meditations. The day Birdie Grackle enters Justin's bar will change his life completely. Birdie claims he is the person who killed Justin's mother and that he was hired to do so but not by Justin's father. He insists Justin's father is innocent and will give Justin the information for some monetary compensation. Suddenly things look very different to Justin. Could his father really not be guilty? Was his mother involved in something he is not aware of? And why is someone, a huge menacing someone, seemingly out to kill Justin himself?

This was a thrill ride from start to finish. I really enjoyed Justin's character and his interaction with other people. Sometimes their banter was quite funny. The whole story is tied up neatly by the end and it is quite surprising.