MOST EVIL: An Exclusive Early Review

 

 

“MAKES THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES LOOK LIKE PUPPY’S PLAY”

                                                                            Rosco the Boxer

EXCLUSIVE– An Early Review   

I just finished reading MOST EVIL and I’d bet my pedigree that Steve Hodel is barking up the right tree. I am somewhat of an expert on Mr. Hodel’s investigations, having read Book I, Black Dahlia Avenger: A Genius for Murder in all of its foreign language translations. (French, Greek, Japanese, and Romanian)

 

Full disclosure.  Since, I am a family member, many will consider my opinion biased, therefore, I took the liberty of asking several close friends of mine to also take an objective look.

 

 First, I loaned my copy to, Miss Marple, a well-groomed and exceptionally bright little Basset Hound who lives in the green-and-white townhouse at the end of our cul-de-sac. (The one with the red fire hydrant in front.) After her weekend read, I waited on the front porch, knowing her master would be taking her for their regular afternoon walk. Right on time, Monday at 3:05 ” Missy” tail wagging in the warm sun, looked over, winked and blinked those sad brown eyes at me and barked out her critique, “Tell Mr. Hodel I am convinced his dad did all of them. But, I’d like to see a little more done on the overseas investigation.”

 

 Wanting to be sure I wasn’t just chasing my tail, I then gave the book to Toby, a rather eccentric old Sod who constantly reminds me he was almost accepted into the Baker Street Irregulars. “Just missed it by a whisker- one vote short!”) Toby, a thespian, is half Spaniel-half Lurcher, and is now long retired from the Broadway Stage. He finished MOST EVIL in four-hours, and just this morning, crawled through the hole in the backyard fence, sat in the shade of our flowering Kumquat tree and without even so as a, “May I?” chewed up the last three of my biscuit treats. Then, after a dramatic pause, he took three long licks of cool water. (A real tease.  He knew full well that I was dying to hear his verdict.) Finally, sitting up high on his haunches with both forelegs extended and pretending to be a two-legged human, he gave me his best oriental squint and in perfect imitation of the film screen legend and Master Detective Charlie Chan, said:

 

                                     “I’d say yes, but facts say maybe.”

 

For the next several hours, Toby detailed, point-by-point all the compelling evidence and strengths of the case that in the end, convinced him of the doctor’s guilt. Or, as he put it, “He’s treed the right fox.” 

 

So there it is-   It’s a doggone good read and definitely something to bark about! FIVE PAWS way-up for the sequel!   

                                                                              

 

                                             

                                                              Rosco the Boxer

                                                        (With welcome assistance from Miss Marple and Toby)