Very Bad Men is the second in Harry Dolan's Ann Arbor series featuring crime magazine editor, David Loogan. For Loogan, finding a mystery story left at his office door is nothing unusual. But when the anonymous manuscript starts with the confession of a recent murder and identifies the next victim, Loogan and his police detective girlfriend vault into action.
The story never stops from there. A 17-year-old bank robbery is the link between the murder victims, a retiring U.S. Senator, the bright young woman running for his seat, an ambitious tabloid reporter, and a dozen or so other suspects, suckers, and side-shows.
Dolan's first Loogan novel, Bad Things Happen (reviewed here), was another rip-roarer that had more of a literary theme, with authors and editors murdering each other. It was great, but this one is even better. Bad Things got a little ramshackle and some of the plot threads frayed. Bad Men is more polished and hangs together right to the end.
Dolan is an exceptional storyteller whose writing is so good it is invisible. Reading the book feels like living the story along with the characters. Hopefully this is the second of what will be a very long series.
OTHER REVIEWS
If you would like your review of this book listed here, please leave a comment with a link and I will add it.
I borrowed the first book in this series from the library but had to return it unread. I want to read both books!
ReplyDeleteWhat a compliment to this author - his writing is so good, it's invisible. Must read him.
ReplyDeleteI was quite smitten with him first book so cannot wait for this one, everyone so far is saying it is even better.
ReplyDeleteGlad the second book is more polished. Sounds like a standard thriller, but well written.
ReplyDeleteBook Dilettante
I can't wait to read this book! It sounds wonderful!
ReplyDelete