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THE DRAGON'S SKIN
by Ross Gray
Lacuna Publishing, May 2016
316 pages
$25.00
ISBN: 1922198226


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

THE DRAGON'S SKIN by Australian Ross Gray is the first of a new series featuring mysterious David Edge, called a Chinese Whisper by many who have dealt with him. That's Broken Telephone for North Americans, if you were wondering.

Edge is an ex-cop who runs crime lord Jack Barker's enterprises, of note two houses of ill repute. He is a man who seeks justice far outside the laws of the land. A gentleman and a martial artist, Edge seems to have no interest in sex, but loves and cares for the ladies.

David Edge gained fame for solving some intriguing cases while he was a cop, but he was drummed out of the corps for his suspect methods. When his friend petty criminal Ben Bovell walks into his daughter's day-care wearing a bomb, Ben refuses to negotiate with anyone but Edge and the powers that be have to work with Edge again.

As things go wrong, the plot thickens, the characters multiply and, to be honest, this reviewer begins to lose control of the thread. Certainly the Australian street language requires frequent trips to the internet. But the plethora of characters, never very clearly identified, caused several re-readings, annotating and other activities that interrupt what seems like both an interesting character and an engrossing plot.

I think things become less unclear as the novel ends, and we know Edge will survive into the next book, but if you are looking for a fast-paced, seat-of-the-pants read, THE DRAGON'S SKIN is not for you. This book was hard work to follow and not very enjoyable to read.

Can anyone explain why Gray's book is called THE DRAGON'S SKIN? Maybe it is an Australian reference, but I am left wondering who edited this book.

§ Susan Hoover is a playwright, independent producer and retired college English teacher. She lives in Nova Scotia.

Reviewed by Susan Hoover, August 2016

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


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