Death in Printers Alley - Book Review

 

Book Review:                                 Death in Printers Alley

Author:                                            Ken Brigham

Personal Quality Rating:                5            

Reviewer:                                        Yvette van Niekerk (South Africa)

Summary:

This Science Fiction Novel revolves around a murder taking place in ‘Printers Alley’ – which is associated with musicians and nightclubs.  Bonz Bagley the owner of a club in the street is murder in the early hours of Sunday morning.  A former detective, Shane Hadley hears the shots fired and wheels his wheelchair into the direction of the fired shots.  On reaching the porch overlooking ‘Printers Alley’ he see’s someone running away from the crime scene, with a slight hitch in their gait.

The police arrive within minutes and detective Hardy Seltzer interviews detective Shane Hadley.  A connection is made and Hardy and Shane start with their detective work.  Hardy goes with his gut and arrests Jody and Shane still keep the investigation going on his end.  Not believing that the criminal will hand over the gun.

KiKi (Katya Karpov) is Shanes wife and she is suspicious about data she thought did not make sense.  Cy Bartalak and his wife Beth work alongside KiKi and she has her doubts about the results of the tests.  She looks access Beth’s computer and finds information that is damming to the project.

Social / Historical Context:

This dynamic story tells about the drive for success in the business world, the craziness of the academic world – the quest to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.  The morals and standards of people involved.  

The policing and the politics that is ongoing throughout the story and the way Hardy and Shane work together.  How they reach their different goals. 

Writing Style:

The writing style to my mind is evocation and common place.  It narrates the experimental drugs that are used on people and the outcome of the tests.  The story is really about finding a cure for Alzheimer’s and the people involved in the studies.  The focus is on the studies and detective work around finding the murder.  The characters are exciting and interesting.

The writer knows the academic world and is able to describe environment, his investigative skills are really good.  I think the writer has the ability to draw you into the story and you keep wondering what’s going to happen next.

I enjoyed the read and to be honest I just could not put the book down, it was thrilling and interesting and I like the angle the writer took.

My Thoughts:

I liked the story; I like Katya Karpov – the neurologist, her retired detective husband Shane Hadley and the people she was associated with.  Beth and Cy Bartalak at the university.  Bartalak’s business dealing and the cunning way he draws people into his business venture.  The murder of one of the club owners in Printer’s Alley, Bonz Bagley.  Not forgetting the detective doing all the hard work Hardy Seltzer, not your normal run of the mill kind of guy.  Excellent story!  Must read!