Book Review: Raw Deal

Reviewed By: Carl Brookins - RAM

Raw Deal     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Les Standiford
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Thriller
Series: John Deal # 2
1995, Harpers, 375 pages

Author Standiford has created an interesting and somewhat unusual protagonist in John Deal, an independent contractor who's struggling to make a go of it in south Florida. He's married to Janice, a terrific, sensual woman. The sex is good, business is good, life is good. Unfortunately, dangerous murderous forces are at work, forces that soon draw Deal inexorably into a situation not of his making. It is a situation from which he is unable to extricate himself without serious damage, except by solving a tangled series of dreams, corruption's, and making his careful way through greed-spawned violence.

Standiford has dealt us a rich novel, laying on the broad canvas of this book many layers of color and of texture. Weather, people, events, politics, all mesh to drive this violent, explicit, action-filled thriller to a most satisfying conclusion.

Carl Brookins - RAM

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