Book Review: Majic Man

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Majic Man     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Max Allan Collins
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Historical   Private Investigator
Series: Nathan Heller # 11
Dutton, Sep 1999, $23.95, 293 pp.

In 1949, a weary Secretary of Defense James Forrestal knows he must resign, but before he does, he hires his long term friend, private investigator Nathan Heller. Forrestal wants Nathan to determine if communist elements of the federal government have targeted him for special surveillance and perhaps intend to murder him.

Nathan begins his inquiries that lead him to the Majestic Twelve, a strange but deadly militia with a conspiratorial plan. Other radical groups with specific agendas also surface. However, the investigation takes a wild twist as the alleged UFO incident at Roswell, New Mexico keeps surfacing. As Nathan tries to figure out what the threats to Forrestal have to do with an alien spacecraft, he runs into silence and roadblocks. It is obvious that someone want him to drop the case.

MAJIC MAN is a superb entry in the wonderful Heller historical mystery series. The intermingling of real persona and events within a fast-paced story line brings home the paranoia that shaped the toddler years of the baby boomers. The Roswell theory developed by Max Allan Collins is plausible and should interest individuals who devour any reference to 1947 New Mexico. Mr. Collins will probably attain best seller status as well as critical acclaim and awards for his tenth Heller tale.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner

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