Customer Reviews

Walk a black wind (A Red Badge novel of suspense)

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

 

 

I hate it when I get to an ending that I should have suspected, but didn't. You know what I mean, the kind of story where a skillful writer has subtlety slipped you clues throughout the story, but you were so caught up with the characters that you missed them. Well, that's what happened to me while reading Michael Collins's excellent mystery, WALK A BLICK WIND. Collins is certainly a pro, knows how to grab the reader by the guts and yank him along, pulling him through various twists and turns, while giving him enough information to solve the crime right along with his private eye protagonist, if only he'd read with both eyes open. "Duh," was the word that came immediately to mind when I finished the book. How come I didn't see who the bad guy killer was? The clues were right there in front of me.

They were right there in front of Dan Fortune, one-armed P.I., as well. Only he figured it out. But not before leading me on a merry chase. Right from the get go Fortune is a little suspicious when an older man wants to find out who'd murdered a younger woman he'd only been seeing for a couple weeks. However the client offers Fortune two grand and for that kind of money, he is off and running. During the chase Fortune is followed, beat up, shot, beat up, drugged, beat up and still he continues on, getting closer and closer to a killer who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. A killer who leaves bodies in Fortune's wake. A killer who Fortune has to unmask before he turns into one of the bodies himself.

I first read this book about a generation and a half ago. It fooled me then, it fooled me now. Michael Collins ranks right up there with the best in the ever growing mystery field. He was one of the first and his stories are every bit as good as any out there. Give him a try, you won't be disappointed. In fact, I'm betting that once you follow along with smart-mouthed Fortune on a case, that you'll eagerly seek out another Dan Fortune mystery. I've read them all over the years. I'm reading them again. Well, I'm reading as many as I can get my hands on. Some of them are hard to find, but it's worth the effort.

When John Andera walks into Dan Fortune's office and lays a thousand dollars on him to find the killer of a girl he'd only know a couple weeks, Fortune suspects something is amiss. But a thousand up front and another thousand when he solves the case is too much money for a one-armed, wisecracking, New York P.I. to pass up.

Fortune finds out from the newspaper that twenty-year-old murdered Fran Martin was really Francesca Crawford, the daughter of Martin Crawford, mayor of upstate Dresden. From his police pal Captain Gazzo, Fortune learns Francesca was most likely killed by a professional, one knife thrust, perfectly placed, straight to the heart. From Francesca's roommate, Celia Bazer, Fortune learns that Fran dated little, but when she did, she seemed to go out with older men.

Coming back to his office after interviewing Celia, Fortune sees he's being followed. He sets an ambush, the follower is too quick for our one-armed hero, beats up Fortune and gets away. Fortune gives chase, gets shot and wakes in the hospital. Now he knows somebody does not want him to find Francesca's killer. But who? Collins gives us a bevy of suspects and just when you're convinced you've got the case pinned down, you find you're wrong, and right away you're wheels are spinning again as you follow along with Fortune while he gamely tacks on a still a new course, chasing after still another suspect.

Dan Fortune is now and always has been a refreshing protagonist in the P.I. genre. He's bulldog determined as he acts the wisecracking clown and he solves his cases with brains, not brawn. He's not a fighter and he knows it. He's not macho, but he's charming as all get out and this book with the super twisty ending about a P.I. who always gets his man gets five stars from me.

Reviewed by Vesta Irene