Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner
Gumbo Limbo
Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Tom Corcoran
Class/Genre: Mystery Amateur Sleuth
Series: Alex Rutledge # 2
St. Martin's, Sep 1999, $23.95, 293 pp.
Early in the morning in Key West, Chicago financial whiz Zack Cahill calls his old navy crony Alex Rutledge and orders him to meet him for breakfast at Sloppy Joe's. When Alex reaches the bar in less than eight minutes, Zack has already left. Eerily, Zack failed to pay his bar tab and did not take his gold watch with him. Not yet too concerned about his friend's sudden disappearance, Alex still begins to search for Zack to find out what he wanted, why he is on the island, and why didn't he wait.
However, the crime scene photographer quickly revises his original opinion of unconcern as a murder occurs that seems linked to Zack. Alex is also surprised to run into Zack's former girl friend Abby Womack. Before he knows it, Alex's simple inquiries turn into something much more dangerous with perhaps mob or at least drug overtones. In too deep, Alex may solve the mystery at the cost of his newly growing interest in the police public affairs specialist, his friendship with Zack, and even his life.
If GUMBO LIMBO seems to have a weird, meandering plot it does. However, the talented Tom Corcoran manages to take the reader all over the place in a non linear manner yet keep his audience fully absorbed in the interesting story line. The investigation begins even before any hint of a crime exists, in a sort of quantum physics way. The eccentric characters add a feel that leaves readers imagining they are visiting Key West. As with the first Alex novel (MANGO OPERA), GUMBO LIMBO is pure entertainment.
Harriet Klausner
Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner
If you enjoy this website, a link would be appreciated. |