Collision
of Evil
Non-series
John
J. Le Beau
Oceanview
Publishing (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 1-933515-54-6 (1933515546)
ISBN-13: 978-1-933515-54-0 (9781933515540)
Publication Date: September 2009
List Price: $25.95
Synopsis (from
the publisher): As evening falls against the majestic backdrop of the
Bavarian Alps, Charles Hirter, an American tourist, is savagely
murdered. In the peace, quiet and pastoral splendor of this magnificent
setting, Charles Hirter draws his last breath. Was Charles simply in
the wrong place at the wrong time?
Kommissar Franz Waldbaer, the
German
detective in charge of the case, faces an investigation that yields
neither clues nor suspects nor motives. A
gruff, go-it alone detective, Waldbaer is dismayed by the arrival of
Robert Hirter, the victim's brother, who insists on joining the
investigation. But there is more to Robert than meets the eye.
As Robert and the Kommissar uncover a nefarious nexus of evil past and
evil present, they find themselves probing dark, long-forgotten
episodes from the Third Reich in order to identify the present threat.
Thrust into a violent world of fanatic passions, malevolent intentions
and excruciating urgency, Robert Hirter and Kommissar Waldbaer must
race against the clock to stop a sophisticated, covert, and deadly plot.
Review:
John J.
Le Beau's debut novel, Collision of
Evil, is a multi-national,
multi-generational thriller that
blends historical fact with present day reality.
CIA operative Robert Hirter travels to Germany following the murder of
his brother Charles, found dead after a hike through the Bavarian
mountains. What troubles the local police is how inconceivable the
crime is. "There are no witnesses, none," Kommissar Franz Waldbaer
tells Robert. "The place where the murder took place is entirely
unpopulated. No weapon has been recovered. We have no motive." Piece by
piece, however, the two men begin to construct the puzzle surrounding
Charles Hirter's murder, and in the process uncover a plot to inflict
widespread carnage during the soon to be held Oktoberfest in Munich.
Collision
of Evil is
written in third person omniscient, which can be tricky for a suspense
novel. After all, the "dunits" -- who, how, and why -- are known to the
reader, leaving little to the imagination. Yet the author handles the
narrative exceptionally well, unfolding key plot points in a measured,
controlled manner while maintaining a brisk pace (helped, in part, by
rather short chapters that frequently alternate points of view).
Political thrillers often have a complex matrix of interpersonal
relationships, but the improbable connection between the men of Nazi
Germany in the 1940s and Islamic fundamentalists of today, a central
plot point, is handled in a deceptively simple, clever manner here. The
number of principal characters is also kept to a minimum, a welcome
development. Not only do these factors make reading the book more
engaging and enjoyable, it opens it up to potential readers who may shy
away from the genre. Finally, the crisply written conclusion is quite
suspenseful, a thrilling, as it were, way to end a most satisfying
novel.
Special thanks to Oceanview Publishing for providing a copy of Collision of Evil for this review.
Review Copyright © 2009 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved
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Novels by this author …
Collision of Evil
Oceanview Publishing (Hardcover), September 2009
ISBN-10: 1-933515-54-6 (1933515546)
ISBN-13: 978-1-933515-54-0 (9781933515540)
Omnimystery
keywords for Collision of Evil
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Location(s) referenced: Munich, Bavaria, Germany.
