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Here is a witty mystery replete with insider comments, informed humor and serio-cynical comments all combining for a rollicking good time with an intellectual property lawyer at a Civil War Reenactment in Kansas City. The tone of this novel, the author's attitude toward murder and mystery fiction, is immediately encapsulated in the prologue. "First degree murder is punishable by death in Missouri, even if the victim is an editor of romance novels." Reppert G Penneworth, top copyright lawyer and his wife, Melissa, one of the smartest amateur detectives to grace the pages of mystery fiction in a long time, journey to Kansas City to see old friends and to examine what might be an opportunity for Rep to make his mark in fashioning landmark intellectual property law. Now that may sound a bit dull, but be assured, it isn't, not in the deft hands of this author. The book starts out with a swipe at television and romps from there to a clever, grisly, murder that ultimately requires a wide range of clever research, astute lawyering, chicanery, double-dealing and several unusual and fascinating characters to solve. It's a complicated plot with unusual twists but Bowen, with great care, insures logical realistic solutions for everything that happens. Along the way he's able to comment on several modern social phenomena in ways that will both delight and possibly raise the hackles of some readers. The dialogue is crisp and sparkling so that the relationships are clearly delineated and we become an instant cheering section for Rep and his wife as they sort out the good guys from the bad. This is a detecting couple readers will be delighted to accompany on a number of adventures. I found the violence, although logical for the resolution, to be not quite in keeping with the tone of the rest of this excellent novel. Nevertheless, UNFORCED ERROR is a fine effort and the blending of history, publishing peccadilloes and some very modern nastiness makes for a delightful entertainment with excellent characters.
Reviewed by Carl Brookins, May 2004
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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