The Silent Hour by Michael Koryta
>> Tuesday, April 24, 2012
The Silent Hour by Michael Koryta
Genre: Mystery
Series: #4 in the Lincoln Perry series
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: 2009
Pages: 311
Source: Library
The Short Version:
Lincoln Perry is hired by a convicted murder to solve the twelve-year old disappearance of a woman who ran a program for paroled criminals.
Why I Read It:
I have enjoyed all the previous books in the Lincoln Perry series and it was on my list to catch up with this year.
The Book:
Former cop and current private detective Lincoln Perry just doesn't have his heart in his job these days. He's marking time while his partner takes a break. When he's hired by a ex-con who was convicted of murder he's not really interested in the case. He just wants to get Parker Harrison off his back.
Lincoln is hired to find Alexandra Cantrell. She and her husband abandoned their fabulous home twelve years ago and haven't been seen since. Well Alexandra hasn't. Her husband's bones were found in a shallow grave. Parker Harrison knew the Cantrell's because he spent some time at their house as part of his release program. Alexandra built the house as a place to launch a program for ex-cons. Parker Harrison claims Alexandra Cantrell changed his life and he wants to find her.
Lincoln isn't convinced until he visits the abandoned house. Something there captures his attention and despite the fact that Alexandra is related to a local mafia family he ends up way more involved in this investigation than he ever intended to be.
My Thoughts:
I have always liked Lincoln Perry and his partner Joe. The previous book ended with things in a bit of an uncertain situation and Lincoln on his own. In this case Lincoln ends up with a temporary partner when another PI shows up who has been investigating this case for years and wants to work with Lincoln.
This book is partly about the mystery Lincoln is hired to investigate and partly about Lincoln’s motivation (or lack thereof) to continue in the PI business. He’s seen people he loved hurt and endangered because of his job. He’s just not sure he wants to continue that. Despite the mystery of who killed Joshua Cantrell and where Alexandra is, this is a very introspective book about Lincoln as he ponders his own future.
I liked the way that this book had elements of the standard PI story that made me like Lincoln Perry and Michael Koryta but that it also has little bits of the eerie suspense stuff that comes along in Koryta’s standalone thrillers. There’s just something about the unique home and Lincoln’s reaction to it that reminded me of moments in The Cypress House.
There was a lot more to this book than the primary mystery. Whether there will be another Lincoln Perry book, I don’t know. If there isn’t then this one is a worthy wrap up to the series. If there is I’ll be watching to be able to pre-order it.
Michael Koryta caught my attention with this series but unlike some authors he’s managed to make the transition to standalone suspense thrillers without losing me as a fan.
Rating 4/5
No stars – I couldn’t even finish it
1 star – I didn’t like it but I managed to finish it.
2 stars – It was OK. Not good, but seriously just OK.
3 stars - I liked it. I didn’t think it was great, but I thought it was good entertainment.
5 stars – It was amazing. I’d recommend this to just about anyone.
2 comments:
I couldn't agree more with you about there being so much more to this book than the mystery!
I finished it thinking "he's done writing Lincoln." But Michael has said each time he comes back to Cleveland he feels like there's another Lincoln book to be written! Let's hope so. :-)
Jen: well he certainly managed to leave this one so it would work well as the end, yet doesn't make a future Lincoln book impossible at all. I know I'd be happy to read it.
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