Most private detectives would panic if they were kidnapped at gunpoint in the middle of the night.
Most private detectives would accept ten thousand dollars not to take on new clients for a week—especially if the alternative was death.
Most private detectives would break off their investigations if a trail of bodies revealed a collision course with a psychotic professional killer.
Most private detectives are not like Michael Talent.
Instead, these events compel the San Francisco detective to find the connection between a century old sect of bizarre theater enactments and the disappearance of a celebrity San Francisco private eye. Pursued by a powerful network of shadowy producers and at odds with the police and vicious gang members, Talent must follow a tangle of seemingly random leads to find answers as time runs out and the odds of survival grow slim.
Assessment:
Plot: The plot behind Dead Theater is entertaining, if at times predictable. Despite somewhat sluggish pacing, an eventful second half, a high body count, and the bizarre and gory climax in an underground San Francisco museum, ultimately enrich the story.
Prose: The prose is clear and structured thoughtfully. While not overly memorable, intriguing metaphors and apt descriptions serve the plotline well. The numerous characters converse through quick-paced, witty banter that keeps the case progressing nicely and the readers guessing at the mystery's many twists.
Originality: The idea of incorporating a theater into this mystery is fresh and exciting, and lends an aura of suspense and eeriness to the setting. Additionally, the inclusion of a Black private investigator protagonist is an appreciated and intentional move toward diversifying this often-homogenous genre.
Character Development: Michael Talent, a Black private detective also known as "a corpse magnet", is quite well drawn, and readers will find him likable as the main character and narrator. He is often funny and sarcastic, even in the face of great danger. Beyond Talent, the many characters can be difficult to track and differentiate, and do not experience significant growth within their individual story arcs.
Date Submitted: May 06, 2020
