Review: Bad Things Happen

Who is David Loogan? The reader knows that David lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan and rents a furnished house. His time is spent reading newspapers in cafes, seeing movies and people watching. Then one day David picks up a copy of Grey Streets, a short-story magazine about crime.

Something about the story captures David’s interest and he begins writing a story of his own. The story involves a woman, a killer and a parking lot. David writes and delivers his manuscript to the office of Grey Streets. Then David rewrites and delivers the manuscript again. Eventually his after-hours trips to the office of Grey Streets results in a meeting with Tom Kristoll who owns the magazine. Tom offers David a job as an editor. David is invited to parties at Tom’s home and a friendship develops.

Although Tom and David are friends, David still does not reveal his background or any of his former life to Tom. David liked to tell people he was a juggler with the circus a story hard to swallow when there was no circus around.

David gets a call one night from Tom and agrees to help Tom bury a body. The story Tom gives David has a small ring of truth and David buys into it. Soon the mystery deepens and David comes to realize what Tom told him the night they buried the body may have been anything but the truth.

Not only has David been foolish enough to help Tom but he also has started an affair with Tom’s wife. Another murder happens and David finds himself a suspect. Although Detective Elizabeth Waishkey feels that there is something honest about David, she cannot overlook him as a suspect. David decides that to save himself he must find out who he really helped bury and the identity of the murderer.

Harry Dolan has written a marvelous debut novel with characters that are unforgettable. I hope to see some of these same characters in future books.

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Pat Reid - RAM

Please Note: Books reviewed are usually provided by the publisher, author, or an agent. Reviewers usually get to keep the book.

Book Review: Bad Things Happen

Please Note: Books reviewed are usually provided by the publisher, author, or an agent. Reviewers usually get to keep the book.