A Mac Fontana Mystery
Written: Nov 09 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Unique perspective and locale
Cons: A bit slow; he gets dumped by his girlfriend
The Bottom Line: Several suspects help make this an interesting mystery
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| Rocketgirl's Full Review: The Dead Horse Paint Company |
Generally, I enjoy Earl Emerson's mystery series. Both series are set in Washington State, where I live, so I am familiar with many of the landmarks and cities. I am able to get absorbed in the story as I picture myself traveling over the same roads the hero is traveling. In this story, however, there was just something missing.
This series features Mac Fontana, fire chief of the small town of Staircase, Washington (a fictional town). The town is located in the forest, a half hour east of Seattle. He is called out to check out a fire burning off a highway exit just east of town. When he gets there, he finds a burning car, with a body locked in the truck. Investigation discovers that the man is Ed Callahan, once Mac's boss in another city.
Callahan was not well liked in his old district. He was a ladder climber, since he had little natural fire-fighting ability. Many people resented him because they felt it was his fault when several fire-fighters were killed in a fire that broke out at the Dead Horse Paint Company. One of them is Mac. Another is Lou Strange, Mac's former partner. Drummey and Knutson also resented Callahan. Grace Teller, Lou's lunatic daughter may also have had a part. Mac knows it wasn't him, but he must find out who did it. Things are complicated when another burning car is found with another dead body.
Probably what I liked least about this book is that it is one of those that the hero knows all the suspects, it is just a matter of asking the right questions. I think this aspect deadens the suspense quite a bit. I prefer it when the suspects are not known or are only scarcely mentioned so that it is more of a surprise when the culprit is revealed. Here, it isn't much of a surprise when you know all the suspects.
On the other hand, with the exception of Mac, all the suspects acted irrational and angry. It was easy to believe that any one of them could have done it. The author does a good job helping you say to yourself, "he did it," then a few minutes later, say, "no, he did it."
There are a couple of sub-plots, one of interest, and one not. One features what Mac thought was a deepening relationship with his girlfriend Sally. His wife had died three years before and he hadn't thought he could find someone else. It is somewhat of a disappointment when she breaks it off. But then she seemed pretty shallow anyway, he can do better than that! The other story involves some erotic pictures that were taken of one of his volunteer fire-fighters. They circulate around the fire station until Mac confiscates them. He later has to confront her about her unbecoming behavior. Though somewhat amusing, this subplot didn't do much for the book other than to take up space.
The pacing of the book was a bit slow, partly as a result of the subplots. There were also some scenes that didn't advance either the main plot or the subplot. They were still interesting to me as a resident, but those unfamiliar with Washington will probably be bored. It could also have used more dialogue to help pick up the pace, though the chapters were pretty short, which partially made up for the lack of dialogue.
This book is what I call a "light" mystery, in that the hero is not law enforcement or private eye (though close, in this case). There is very little violence. Even though two people were killed, there is very little description of the bodies and how they were killed and no autopsy scenes. There is no swearing and virtually no sex. Though this book wasn't my favorite of the series, I will keep it, since I happened to stumble across an autographed copy!!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Rocketgirl
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 in Books |
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Member: Beth
Location: Tri-Cities, WA
Reviews written: 398
Trusted by: 225 members
About Me:
So many books, so little time.
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