Book Review - Pelham Fell Here by Ed Lynskey
Category Book Review Ed Lynskey Pelham Fell Here
Pelham Fell Here by Ed Lynskey is a gritty detective novel about Frank Johnson who isn't quite yet a private investigator, yet needs to solve a crime before he's tried and convicted of the murder of his cousin. Along the way, he uncovers a nasty subculture of neo-Nazi sympathizers who have ended up in a number of positions of influence in his small town. He has a background as an MP, but there were some anger management issues along the way that led him to leave the job. He's gone through a nasty divorce and is really just trying to stay out of trouble. But the trouble finds him when his cousin is found shotgunned in the gun shop that he owns. The sheriff would like to pin Johnson with the murder, since he stands to inherit the shop. But with the help of some friends who live on the edge of life, Johnson discovers that his cousin may not have been completely on the up and up, and may well have been part of the neo-Nazi group. All the rules of law are out the window when you're a target with a "shoot to kill on sight" order out for you.
Lynskey's main character is a deeply flawed and damaged individual. Even though he's out for justice, he's also got a major revenge streak to deal with when it comes to his ex-wife. His budding relationship with the new girl in town (that happened to work for his cousin at the gun shop) is one that may or may not go anywhere, which may or may not be for the best for all involved. The action is constant with plenty of surprises along the way. I wasn't quite in a "can't put it down" mode, but it was close...
Pelham Fell Here by Ed Lynskey is a gritty detective novel about Frank Johnson who isn't quite yet a private investigator, yet needs to solve a crime before he's tried and convicted of the murder of his cousin. Along the way, he uncovers a nasty subculture of neo-Nazi sympathizers who have ended up in a number of positions of influence in his small town. He has a background as an MP, but there were some anger management issues along the way that led him to leave the job. He's gone through a nasty divorce and is really just trying to stay out of trouble. But the trouble finds him when his cousin is found shotgunned in the gun shop that he owns. The sheriff would like to pin Johnson with the murder, since he stands to inherit the shop. But with the help of some friends who live on the edge of life, Johnson discovers that his cousin may not have been completely on the up and up, and may well have been part of the neo-Nazi group. All the rules of law are out the window when you're a target with a "shoot to kill on sight" order out for you.
Lynskey's main character is a deeply flawed and damaged individual. Even though he's out for justice, he's also got a major revenge streak to deal with when it comes to his ex-wife. His budding relationship with the new girl in town (that happened to work for his cousin at the gun shop) is one that may or may not go anywhere, which may or may not be for the best for all involved. The action is constant with plenty of surprises along the way. I wasn't quite in a "can't put it down" mode, but it was close...


