Review: The Fallen

Ethics Authority investigator Garrett Asplundh has been found dead in his vehicle in the Balboa Park, apparently victim of a murder. Was it related to his ethics work? Did an old enemy when he was a cop have it in for him?

Detective Robbie Brownlaw and his partner are called in to investigate the case. Brownlaw is unique. He is dubbed the "Fallen". it seems he was thrown from a sixth-story window attemtping to make what he thought was a rescue - and lived. That's not what makes him unsual; that is he now "sees" emotions as colored shapes. Red rectangles of deceit, green trapezoids of envy, black triangles of dread. Synethesia, it is called. However the story isn't about Robbie's abilities (or disabilites). It is a rocking good murder mystery, and Robbie's shapes play not much part in it, thankfully. We meet Stella, Asplundh's ex, and many of San Diego's mover and shakers, who all seem to have something in common. Garrett had something on them - and they all seem linked by the "Squeaky Cleans" and their madame, a cop-name for her stable of girls.

Was Asplundh about to reveal their pecadillos to someone who could truly make a difference. Robbie has the evidence that Garrett had, dvd recordings, etc. If so, why had he NOT gone to the authorities yet? He had a meeting set up with the Attorney General. Was he killed for that? Or was there some other motive? Something from his acquaintences? Garrett Asplundh was strait-laced, but he DID have a great circle of friends. He knew lots of beautiful women, and he had married the woman his brother was dating.

When I started the book, it felt like Parker was attempting to emulate Hemingway, shortish sentences. A kind of staccato delivery. That opinion left me rather quickly. His prose is strong, but it is completely his own, full of easy description, fitting the story flow like a glove. His characters are believable and fully-characterized. The only character I had trouble getting my mind around (which may have been intentional on Parker's part) is Gina, Brownlaw's soon-to- be ex. There doesn't seem to be any rationale for her leaving Robbie, and she remains relatively shadowy. I would rather have had her fleshed-out more.

The ending was surprising, but entirely possible. Looking back on the read, I can see the hints that Parker plants, but it was still almost a shock. And it denouement goes down VERY quickly. In all, a well-written book, and one that was hard to put down once I had a spare moment to sit down to read it.

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Wes Struebing

Book Review: The Fallen