September 3, 2009

The Hidden Man by David Ellis Review


This book is billed as “Another exhilarating thriller from Edgar Award winner David Ellis, introducing the new series protagonist Jason Kolarich.” After reading it, I concluded: One, this book is a textbook definitive exhilarating thriller. Two, if this is just another of such that Ellis’ has written, it absolutely raises my interest in getting my hands on more of Ellis’ work starting with whatever won him the Edgar Award. And finally, that Jason Kolarich is the perfect character to anchor a series.

This thriller begins with a creep eyeing a little girl in a park. The little girl then goes missing, and the police settle on a pedophile that has an obsessive collage of babies including the victim in his home. The little girl is never found. About twenty five years later, Jason Kolarich is representing the brother of the missing girl who is accused of murdering the pedophile. Suffice to say Jason must solve one case to solve the other and without a moment to spare. Any mistake could cost Jason more than his life.

The book hops around in time upping the emotional and then the physical stakes. The reader is almost as in the dark as Jason, and it isn’t until the last possible moments that Ellis finally gives it up in the masterfully climatic final pages. I am not sure that I’ve ever read a book faster. Ellis also takes the time to thoroughly set a compelling back story for Jason and the other characters. Jason for example is embroiled in both mysteries, and is recovering from the devastating loss of his wife and young daughter. He’s barely making it through the day, not only broken but bleeding heartache all over his life. A former athlete he is a force to be reckoned with and the reckless decisions stemming from his tangible pain are a stunning success of characterization. Adding to the complexity, Jason is a lawyer, so we not only get the cop and detective drama, but Jason’s thought processes add another layer of legal suspense--a winning combination reminiscent of everything that is great about Law and Order or classic John Grisham. Jason has been so marvelous crafted that I desperately want to read more about him. THE HIDDEN MAN has the potential to launch a block buster series.

2 comments:

  1. I am very flattered to read this review! I loved writing THE HIDDEN MAN and my new protagonist, Jason. Reading things like this makes all the hard work worthwhile.

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  2. Thanks for the comment David. You definitely have a new fan in me. There is nothing like a great book, so please keep it up.

    ReplyDelete

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