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HEAD GAMES
by Thomas B. Cavanagh
Thomas Dunne Books, January 2007
304 pages
$24.95
ISBN: 0312361327


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

I almost didn't read HEAD GAMES. It started out too cute. When Mike Garrity begins his story with: "I have a tumor in my head. I call it Bob." I almost quit. Hah hah. But the character quickly made himself into an interesting guy, and I began to understand his deprecating humor and his frustrations.

He's left the police force, and is reconciled, sort of, to living out the rest of his life. He gets a phone call from a guy he used to know in the force. George is now in 'talent management' and his hottest clients right now are Boyz Klub, a boy band. A big deal boy band. One of the band members, TJ, is missing. Mike doesn't want to work, but here's a chance to make a lot of money that his daughter Jennifer can inherit, maybe even a chance to reconcile with Jennifer. Heck, things are so bad that Jennifer even likes Mike's girlfriend better than she likes him.

Mike's not well, he gets massive headaches and it's only going to get worse. He's also not talking with doctors or other professionals about his options – he doesn't want any of that. And things are getting to the point where he can't pretend and he can't ignore his illness.

After I got over my initial reaction, I realized that he seemed pretty realistic. After all, cops don't complain, they're tough. The culture he's used to determines that he be cool and casual about this life-threatening situation. I came to care about him, and to find sympathy for him. He might do some questionable to downright dumb things, but he's human and there's intelligence there and a good man. And he's dealing with "Bob" the only way he can.

TJ also is a very interesting character and Cavanagh does a good job of presenting him, since he's absent for most of the book. The story is, however in large part about him, so we see what Garrity sees as he interviews TJ's mother, and bandmates, and others who profit from his talent.

Mike Garrity is a smart detective dealing with a situation that few of us can comprehend. Finding TJ Sommerset starts out as a way to earn some money to leave behind for his daughter, and it turns into something more. I'm hoping there's more to come from Thomas B Cavanagh because it's hard enough to find talented new writers lately, and this one has lots more to tell us.

Reviewed by Andi Shechter, September 2007

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


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