Book Review: Untimely Death

Reviewed By: Luke Croll - RAM

Untimely Death     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Fred Yager , Jan Yager
Class/Genre:   Mystery
1998, Hannacroix Creek Books, 308 pages

Professor Kimberly Stone's best friend's body is found, brutally murdered. Within a week, two other women are killed, and Stone is the only link. She joins forces with a Manhattan detective to track down the killer.

The blurb for this novel describes it as a book that 'probes the darkest depths of the human psyche to show how a nightmarish world of twisted sexuality and abuse evolves into a murderous rage'. If ever there were a good example of publisher's hyperbole, this is it. Very little time is actually spent studying the killer and we only see a few italicised comments that allow us to see into his or her mind. The book is also described as being in the tradition of 'The Silence Of The Lambs', but with Hannibal Lecter, we had a serial killer who was intelligent, and indeed became the character the reader supported. No-one wanted to see him get recaptured or killed in 'Hannibal'. Here, we have a very one-dimensional character who is not allowed to develop.

Jan Yager's Masters in Criminal Justice is clearly employed here, as she makes the few university scenes feel authentic. However, after one of the professors is killed, the Dean insists on the classes carrying on as normal. This seemed completely insensitive and unbelievable. In addition, almost every character has various secrets or two or more secret lives. They may be living in the Village in New York City, a setting that feels real, but I find it hard to give credence to a cast of characters with that many secrets.

'Untimely Death' is a swift read. It has authentic moments and the writing talents of the Yagers can be seen, but it is another book where I feel that better editing and sharper focus on the killer would have done wonders for the pace and the strength of the novel overall.

Luke Croll - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Luke Croll - RAM

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