|
[ Home ]
[ About | Reviews | Search | Submit ]
Elizabeth Taylor Hewitt is a special agent of the Illinois state police and is called to investigate a strange scene. In a nearby park, a human skull has been nailed to a tree and a homemade gold scarab attached to a string hanging through its eye socket. Having had taken a course on Edgar Allen Poe, Hewitt recognizes the similarities to his work, The Gold Bug. Following the story Hewitt directs the police to dig and they find the body of a woman. When there's another murder with a direct link to a different tale of Poe's, Hewitt knows that they have a unique serial killer on their hands. Years ago while in college, Hewitt had taken a course on Poe taught by a Poe expert, Scott Gregory, a professor with whom she had a long love affair. Because of a few reasons, their relationship ended, but Hewitt always thought of him as the love of her life. Even though it would be emotionally rough, she decides that, for the sake of saving future victims, she will call on Gregory for his expertise in his knowledge of Poe's works. She hopes that he can give her some insight into the workings of a mind obsessed with that writer. Before long the press has named the killer The Raven and Hewitt finds herself always one step too late in saving the next victim. Hewitt's anger at the killer becomes personal and she publicly puts herself on the line by making certain the press presents her as the person who will capture The Raven. When a break in the identity of the killer comes from a completely unexpected source, Hewitt doubles her efforts to catch the madman, but again and again she's lagging behind as he kills following the ideas found in Poe stories. Sheldon Rusch, author of FOR EDGAR, has the ability to write scenes that move swiftly and can chill the readers to the bone. For those chapters alone I'd recommend this book. I do have a few reservations about the story though. The character of special agent Hewitt is an interesting take on a female detective, but she's lacking in most female inner thoughts and as a result, she comes off as a little too masculine. Sometimes the prose of the work struck me as a bit too old fashioned and florid, but in that he's trying to emulate Poe's style of writing, it's only a small problem. Also, the Poe expert didn't contribute much to the story. I thought that the readers would get an in-depth study of Poe's works and some biographical tidbits or rumors about that specific writer's life. But very little of Poe's actual ideas are used, other than the usual famous references. The Poe expert also fills Hewitt in on information about criminals that, as an experienced cop, she should have already known. And unfortunately the ending was a disappointment. A final twist was supposed to surprise the readers, but it felt more like the writer was forcing an ill-fitting ending onto the story. Overall, FOR EDGAR was intriguing book that reminded me to read Poe again, while introducing me to a fascinating new detective. I have high hopes that, if it happens, this can be the first of a fine new series.
Reviewed by Sharon Katz, September 2005
[ Top ]
QUICK SEARCH:
Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
[ About | Reviews | Search | Submit ]
[ Home ]
| 
