Book Review: The Commission

Reviewed By: Carl Brookins - RAM

The Commission     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Michael Norman
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Police Procedural
Poisoned Pen Press, 2007, 246 pages, $24.95

The novel opens with a horrific event. The Chair of the Utah Board of Pardons is shotgunned to death in the driveway of his upscale home. Enter Sam Kincaid, head of the Special Investigations unit of the Pardons Board. Enter also a slick accomplished homicide detective named Kate McConnell.

The novel is a well-put together police procedural with the usual in-fighting and tensions between cops, different agencies, and the politicians who run them. In a lot of these agencies, readers can assume that the leaders will interfere with the investigation in attempts to avoid scandal, dump malfeasance on others, and gain points for themselves. That happens in this novel which is not in the least out of the ordinary.

It does turn out that the roots of the plot turn on some sexual kinkiness, a number of bad guys in unusual places, and behind the scenes machinations by wealthy members of the local society. The story is told by an author who clearly read a book on how not to write a police procedural, how to be careful about changes in point of view, and certain techniques to keep the plot moving. It's all carefully and a little too obviously handled, and occasionally the author lapses into professorial pedantism.

Having said all that, the principal characters, Kincaid and McConnell are interesting enough to entice a reader to follow them into harms way. The story has a strong ring of plausibility and the author's knowledge of police agencies and parole boards comes through. The novel is a solid, capable, first effort.

Carl Brookins - RAM

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