Another Life is the last in the series of Burke novels. And even though Vachss has long hinted (or reminded) in the previous novels of the fact that Burke must reach SOME kind of end (the attempt on his life; his try for 'one final big score'), the fact of it is still jarring. An ending to Burke's story is an answer to a question that's been hovering throughout the last several books: how does someone like Burke end up? We've seen how he lives; what is the end, for him?
I felt real dread when the book was announced many months ago. I wasn't sure I wanted the answer. Then, December 30th rolled around and I realized I couldn't NOT know.
In this installment, Burke and his Family of Choice function as a family much more so than in any of the previous books. With the Prof still fighting to recover from his gunshot wounds and Clarence nearly paralyzed with worry, Burke is made an offer by former acquaintance Pryce that will net him a life-saving hospital arrangement for the Prof and clean slates for all the others. He accepts immediately - the way a son would do - without his normal vetting process. His task is to retrieve the missing infant son of a Saudi prince - Pryce believes the child was snatched by the type of humans Burke knows only too well. But the most disturbing discoveries Burke makes are about the prince himself.
His contacts this time around have a bit more intellectual heft - be sure to brush up on your Latin. Perhaps it's a reflection of Burke's new understanding of the difference between what he knows...and what he always believed he's known.
Families of all types come under focus - even canine, as Burke finally decides on a new partner. For his own family, particularly the next generation, questions about the future are demanding to be answered once and for all. They reflect the hope of the book's bittersweet title.
Partnerships are forged, a financial future is constructed, the flames of Arab-Israeli conflict are stoked. And Burke's story reaches its end. Faster than expected, like the illusion of a train floating in the horizon.
vale.
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From #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover comes a novel that explores life after tragedy and the enduring spirit of love. | Learn more
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Kurt Kaemmerer
Andrew Vachss in Reinkultur
Reviewed in Germany on September 16, 2009