Review: Dead Aim

In Thomas Perry’s newest book DEAD AIM he takes a look at the wealthy. The book opens with an execution in L.A. In chapter one we’re taken to Santa Barbara and meet the tale’s protagonist Robert Mallon as he’s walking along the beach getting his exercise for the day. He sees a young woman trying to kill herself and rescues her. After a brief interlude she kills herself anyway and Mallon decides to find out why. How to write the rest of this review without giving away story?

Mallon is a middle aged man who has become one of the idle rich by “accident”. In his brief time with the young lady mentioned above he saves her from death, offers to take to a doctor(the right thing) and when she declines sleeps with her (the wrong thing). When she turns up dead he throws money at the problem and hires a P.I. to find out who she was and why she killed herself.

Here enters the story I’m trying not to give away. As EWWW as Mallon is we’re soon exposed to a cast of characters in which our “hero’s” moral fiber seems to be five hundred count sheets compared to everyone else’s one washing only makeup.

We have South African Mercenaries who’ve come to the States to grab their version of the American Dream. This translates to running a school for the rich in which self defense classes translate to THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME ten-fold.

We have the school’s employees, a group of lost lower class women who have looked in the wrong direction for a life and found they prefer seeing others dead.

We have the school’s clientele who are a bunch of fools money has made corrupt with a lack of ideology. This lack makes them think it’s a good idea to kill people one on one with the help of the school’s staff.

Where are we when we finish the book? Personally I had a bad taste in my mouth. Thomas Perry is a very good writer who managed to suck me into his story before I realized how uncomfortable it was making me. I think that he had problems with the characters himself and as a result none are as fully flushed out as in some of his earlier books. The story itself is rather base on more than one level and the ending is disappointing. Still, it’s a book you can read, pass around and talk about. Something the man does very well. It’s just he’s done it better.

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Ruth Jordan - RAM

Book Review: Dead Aim