Monkeewrench

What a difference a decade or more makes? The story was solid, the characters pretty likable, but fat joke upon fat joke, a sassy black women who barely refrains at one point from saying “You go, girl,” a black man named Freedman who sounds like James Earl Jones? A strong, competent female officer who wanted her love interest to protect her, because that was the natural order?

I am at an age where 2004 was pretty much yesterday, but in this case the book shows its years.

The mystery itself was pretty good except the premise was shuffled aside, which I suppose could be seen as a twist, but felt a little like a cheat since it was time for the book to resolve. The result is all the police characters, contrary to how they were intended to be portrayed, seemed less than stellar at their jobs.

Also, small spoiler, there is a dog in the book that actually lives. I hate that the dog almost always dies if there's danger.