CIRCLING THE RUNWAY
A Jake Diamond Mystery
By J.L. Abramo
Down & Books
242 pgs
We generally do not enjoy books
wherein the writer moves back and forth between first and third person
narratives. Most of the time these
shifts are jarring in that the reader,
safely ensconced in the hero’s personality finds themselves tossed out of that
mindset into a detached world vision…and then back again. But as all things, there are exception to the
rules and writer J.L. Abramo proves to be such; at least to this reviewer.
“Circling The Runway,” is a
convoluted mystery that has more twist and turns in it then a box full of
intertwined old shoelaces. Within the
first few pages we are introduced to at least a half dozen different characters
all running to and fro; some with serious criminality on their minds while the
others are the unsuspecting victims. In
this dense population of characters we meet Lt. Laura Lopez and Sgt. Roxton
Johnson of the SFPD who find themselves investigating the murder of a well
loved young Assistant District Attorney. Then there’s private investigator Jake
Diamond and his gal-Friday, Darlene Roman who have their own hands full helping
a known San Francisco
mob figure clear one of his nephews of a murder charge.
That both cases will ultimately collide
is a the result of some amazing plotting that has more twist and turns than a mountain
back road. And yet through it all,
Abramo shows a flair for characterization that is not only flawless but crucial
to making a tale like this work. There are so many moving parts all going off
in different directions; you have to wonder if he isn’t a mechanic as well as a
mystery writer. No matter, in the end he
has this plot engine purring like a well oiled machine with a truly remarkable
finale that was more than satisfying.
All in all a terrific book we
recommend happily. J.L. Abramo is a
writer to keep an eye on. He’s having way too much fun here and it’s
contagious.
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