2005-05-28 Great Mystery

This is another in a series of fine mysteries by Keith McCarthy. What is present in this and other of the author's novels is supreme intelligence, wry humor and snappy dialogue. You are always in the hands of a master who knows human nature and pathology in equal measure. The plot lines are fairly convincing and interesting but what sets his mysteries apart is the sharp, witty and inspiring external and internal dialogues. Also, the characters all ring true from stuffy academics to disillusioned police. The only possible improvements, to the extent thay are needed, are in the exposition of motives for the crime, i.e, how do nebbishes tranform themeselves into superhuman killers. What is the triggering mechanism, and also the love interests could be explained in greater depth. All the women that attract our hero are really keen, fit and A-line to the point of being mannequins of perfection. What about a pudgy, nice lady who is appealing for something other than her sexual gifts. But these are really only minor quibbles in what is a real tour de force for a mystery novel of real grace and intellectual power.