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Synopsis/blurb……
It’s the mid-1980s.
Crime in Los Angeles is running rampant. When the law can’t help you, there is
one man who can: Alexander L’Hiboux, whose ability to sleep was destroyed in
the ghastly tragedy that cost him his family. Now he’s justice-for-hire, prowling
the streets and solving crimes with deadly finality. A desperate,
grief-stricken shipping magnate hires The Owl to find the scum who brutalized
his daughter…a quest that uncovers a shocking conspiracy that will rock the
city.
New author – tick,
Brash Books offering – tick,
Los Angeles setting – tick,
80’s – time frame - tick
Action, gun-play, a kidnapping and vigilante pay-back in the
form of the insomnolence-suffering, enigmatic Owl – 4 ticks.
Plot and main character were a wee bit OTT, but after
chucking my plausibility-radar in the corner after a chapter or two, I kicked
back and enjoyed the ride. Did I totally buy into The Owl as the equally feared
and revered harbinger of doom to the lawless? Not totally, but I was convinced enough
to finish this one in fairly short order. I used to love watching Arnie and Bruce
busting a few heads on screen. I loved reading about The Owl busting a few
heads here.
Credit to Bob Forward for introducing a unique protagonist
with a condition that stops him sleeping…..ever. His back-story and the minimal
amount of personal relationships or contact he allows himself, firmly cements
him as one of society’s outsiders. Definitely a guy you wouldn't want to get on
the wrong side of. I was reminded me a little bit of Andrew Vachss’ Burke
character, although Burke has a larger network of helpers.
Great little diversionary scenes from the author which
underline the lack of normality that The Owl enjoys in his everyday life. For
example - the lengths he has to go to in order to get a shower in a motel had
me chuckling.
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Best book ever? No but more than enough to like and have me looking
forward to Forward’s second Owl book – Scarlet Serenade.
Bob Forward’s website is here.
4 from 5
Accessed through Net Galley, courtesy of Brash Books
I'm glad you enjoyed this one, Col. Must admit I'd prefer to have my disbelief right there with me when I read. Still, the time and context are really interesting, and it sounds as though Forward nailed those.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean, Margot. Sometimes though it's nice just to kick-back and go with the flow - this was one of those occasions!
DeleteThe title sounds like a parody - I'm not sure The Owl has the right superhero ring to it, I keep thinking of Wol in Winnie the Pooh.
ReplyDeleteI never read Winnie the Pooh, not too familiar with anything other than the main cast.
DeleteIt does have a kind of tongue in cheek feel to it, but no underpants over the top of the trousers, or leaping tall building in a single bound, but hey...maybe that was the author's intention. Once I kind of accepted how it was, I went with the flow and enjoyed it,
This sounds similar to Cookie's Case that I reviewed recently. Over the top, straining my bounds of suspension of disbelief, but still enjoyable. This one may be grittier... although Cookie's Case was not cozy at all.
ReplyDeleteYes, I think on occasions I can accept OTT but still enjoy the book, without being overly analytical.
DeleteCol, I agree with Moira. I was thinking of superhero too, but vigilante is more like it considering there is street justice.
ReplyDeleteYes I think vigilante rather than superhero!
DeleteSounds right up my street. I'm always fascinated by the thought of not having to sleep. It's a main reason why Michael Gilbert's Smallbone Deceased, whose protagonist needs just one or two hours' sleep a night, is such a perennial favourite of mine. I'll have to track down Forward's books.
ReplyDeleteI've seen a bit on the net this week regarding Michael Gilbert. I'll look up Smallbone Deceased (sighs heavily and shakes fist at screen)
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