Book Review: The Con Man's Daughter

Reviewed By: Luke Croll - RAM

The Con Man's Daughter     Amazon US HC Amazon UK HC Amazon Canada HC
Edward Dee
Class/Genre:   Mystery
2003, Time Warner, 288 pages

Eddie Dunne is an ex-cop who has also worked for the Russian Mafia. One day, his daughter is kidnapped and Eddie knows that it can only be a revenge attack for something he did years before. He also knows that it is no good turning to the cops or the FBI. He has to go up against the Mafia himself if he wants to get his daughter back alive.

‘The Con Man’s Daughter’ is an exciting tale. Dee does not flinch from moments of brutality, from a bare-knuckle brawl to a full-scale grenade and gun battle. None of scenes are described in enormous detail, yet this style of writing gets the action and the information across to the reader in a vivid way. Dee’s particular triumph in this novel is his characters, Eddie Dunne in particular. He feels human and real, and the reader will be understand him as he attempts to face his problems head-on ­ and not in the most pacifistic of ways.

At times, the novel seems slightly confusing. There are numerous characters and places mentioned and it can be difficult to keep a clear picture of who is who. The denouement of the novel, whilst suspenseful and with a couple of shocks, ties so much of the plot up, you may get slightly lost. Any novel that involves the Russian Mafia seems to run this risk.

Mixing violence with humour, and action with surprises, ‘The Con Man’s Daughter’ is a reasonable read. Its characters are strong and the plot is original enough to keep even a season reader guessing. Nevertheless, there is nothing here to set the genre on fire. An adequate, interesting read but not a book that will leave a blazing trail behind it.

Luke Croll - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Luke Croll - RAM

Luke Croll - Conference interpreter and translator
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