Customer Reviews

Mortal Remains: An Adam McCleet Mystery

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

 

 

Rick Hanson did a good job with this one although it lacks the suspense of his other ones. Mortal Remains is a unoriginal plot, but theres a couple twists in the story. For fans of murder mystery's this is a fun book, but for anyone else I don't recommend it.

I had never heard of Rich Hanson before I "Mortal Remains." I was looking for a fairly quick read that was sure to entertain. Can't go wrong with a cover like this one, right?

It was definitely fun for the first 200 pages. I laughed out loud which rarely happens when I read. I would compare the characters to those you might find in Gregory MacDonald's "Fletch" mysteries. I was also drawn into the plot. Characters I would not have expected find themselves six feet under by the end of this book.

However, I cannot believe the author planned out an ending for this book. It was like hanging up the phone without saying "goodbye." Did the publisher say, "OK, you've had enough time. Wrap it up?" A real letdown.

In addition, the author has a sex scene that seems totally out of place right smack in the middle of the book. Something dirty had to be going through his mind at the time.

All in all, I would read another book by Hanson. He definitely shows promise.

Any judgment of a book based solely on the cover may be inherently problematic, but in this case, the judgment probably works well. The cover features a smiling face with a bullet hole through the forehead. In other words, there's violence, but it's hard to take it all too seriously. "Mortal Remains" does have a body count (more than one and less than that of Friday the 13th IV), but it is the humor and the bizarre characters that really carry the book. And therein lies the book's main flaw. "Mortal Remains" is part of the mystery genre and somewhat in the style of Crais and Hiaasen. But the mystery does not work as well as it might. There are, unfortunately, too many loose ends to the mystery.

Hanson is a very funny writer, though, and some of the humor is so funny that I was laughing aloud--something I seldom do at only the written word. The cast of characters, most of whom are connected to a psychiatric institute, are indeed colorful, and they make the read an easy one. The "death squad," a triumvirate of patients, is particularly amusing, though they may not be entirely P.C. Also along for the ride are a man who carves pneumatic statues of his grandmother out of trees and a high-school baton twirler.

The plot and the mystery involve the death of a doctor at a psychiatric hospital. Former Marine and former cop Adam McCleet seeks to solve the mystery because of his ties to the dead doctor. There's no doubt who killed the doctor, but there is a question about who caused the death. When other crimes, including arson and murder, follow, McCleet finds his life and those of people close to him in danger. Throughout the investigation, McCleet must deal with his possible fear of commitment, his post-traumatic stress disorder, one angry pickup driver, and his own possible artwork for the town.

I don't often read a book in one day, but this one I did, it kept me guessing the whole time and I never once just started drifting off and thinking about something else. At times I even laughed out loud, even the down times were entertaining. I certianly reccomend this book & I'm going to read the rest of the seires

Mr. Hanson's off-beat sense of humor continues to exibit itself in this second "Adam McCleet" mystery. There is a definite sense of fun in his books which makes murder merry. I especially enjoyed the "death squad"

i just thought it was odd that i was telling my boss about the book mortal remains and how it happend in my back yard on 187 narrow ave witch was the road in westport that the lane whent down to the murder site and wanted her to read it and it came out that her husbands nameis rick hanson id like to get a copy but i dont have a credit card could you send me more information on getting a copy thankyou sheila thstin eard