Customer Reviews

The Dark City (Coronet Books)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"Deadlock" offers an intriguing premise but fails because of Mapherson's weak storywriting and ignorant and offensive social assumptions about the Chinese community, both of which become irritating to a decent plot. A jury member is suspected to be the real killer. This is an engaging idea, but unfortunately Macpherson twists it between incredulous character relationships. San Francisco's Cardinal happens to be childhood friends with the richest and most famous senator and a supreme court judge -- all of whom are involved in unraveling the murder case. This would not be so annoying to read except for Macpherson's style of writing. To say the least, I expected some of the sentences and dialogues to have been penned by high school mystery writer, incorporating boyhood perceptions and fantasies about what the elite lifestyle might be like. Women are depicted in secondary roles throughout. By far, the most offensive trademark of "Deadlock" is Macpherson's grossly ignorant vision of the Chinese community in San Francisco. I have not read anything more offensive to the heart of anyone human -- something Macpherson seems to fear the Chinese actually are. His writing carries a fixation on the Chinese in the worst stereotypes. Macpherson denies the existence of any socially acceptable Chinese American in San Francisco. All Chinese characters are either hideously dissimilar, impossibly evil, purely corrupted, or demeaning to American society. I cannot fathom that anyone as ignorant about a segment of the population would dare to write about them, because to do so would be an incomplete and generally bad venture. But Macpherson achieves a most offensive piece of writing by doing this. Even in this story's most plot-intriguing moment, Macpherson writes in a staunch ignorance obvious to any reader aware of the Chinese as human as anyone else.

The synopsis sounded exciting enough but I was disappointed when I started reading it.Characters did not have much depth.The plot was fairly predictable after a while and all I wanted to do was to skim through the book to confirm my conclusion.I was also disappointed with the portrayal of the Chinese community in the book as its perception is that they are made up of gangs and thugs and Chinatown is a dangerous place to be in especially for a white person.As a Chinese,I was certainly unhappy with the unflattering image given to the Chinese characters in the book.

Being a native born San Franciscan, this was an added treat....(it's Grant AVENUE not street)...only fault I could find with this page-turner!!!! I LOVED IT!!!!! Couldn't put it down....characters are marvelous...fully fleshed out, plot was quite different than the run of the mill legal thrillers....suspense was good....wish there were about 150 more pages....keep on writing, Malcolm....but FASTER!!!!!! I loved reading the background on this book....fascinating....thanx for such a wonderful read....all of you readers out there....get this book fast....you'll find yourself and total treat and a new author to follow!!!!

In San Francisco, Chinese immigrant Feng Shao-Li, who virtually does not speak any English is accused of murdering Holly Hawkes, the granddaughter of Senator Stanton Hawkes. The presiding judge, Daniel Barr, figures that the indicted woman has little chance of an acquittal, especially since the deceased's family has been pushing for an immediate conviction.

However, the trial takes a bizarre twist when Judge Barr receives an anonymous note that claims the real killer sits in the jury box. The police, interested in a fast conviction, think the note is a fake. Barr is not so quick to write off the note. He obtains the help of an old friend and begins to personally investigate the murder of Holly even though there are powerful elements who will commit murder to keep the truth from ever coming out.

DEADLOCK will please fans who like the emphasis on LEGAL in their legal thrillers. Judge Barr is an interesting individual, but this reviewer cannot see him do what he did (unless he is related to Commissioner Macmillan) without calling for a mistrial. Despite the demonstration of some incredible writing talent on the part of Malcolm C. MacPherson, the book expects the audience to make quantum leaps of faith that will instead turn off most readers that are not rabid fans of the legal procedural.

Harriet Klausner

A literary rollercoaster ride!!!!! Anyone who is smart enough to grab this book is in for a realllly good read....great characters....very unusual plot and set in my hometown, San Francisco...what more could you ask for....i'd like to have this book about 150 pages longer.....this new author is definitely a keeper.....loved the author's background on this story....and hope he quits his day job and starts churning 'em out FAST!!!!