Review by mecor90 -- Pancake Money by Finn Bell

[mecor90]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Pancake Money" by Finn Bell.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Pancake Money follows the main character and narrator, Bobby Ress, and his partner Pollo as they try and solve a series of murders. Bobby and Pollo are somewhat of an odd couple, but the characters work well together; Bobby is the young, optimistic cop who made detective at a young age, and Pollo is the gruff old-timer. Set in New Zealand, the book explores the effects of colonization, Maori culture, the Catholic Church and how pain changes a person.

I enjoyed many aspects of the book including the writing style, characters, and clever use of a glossary. The book grabs the reader's attention from the beginning, opening with a stream of consciousness from the mind of the killer as he commits his first crime. The choppy thoughts leave the picture incomplete, and leave the reader wondering exactly what just happened. It is only when the narration switches over to Bobby, who narrates the remainder of the book, that we see the full picture. The author writes in a descriptive manner that makes it easy to paint a picture in your mind and connects you to the characters. When Bobby is giving chase to a suspect the reader feels the adrenaline he is feeling. I liked the depth given to the characters, they all had families and back stories that make them interesting to read about. At the end of the book the author includes a glossary for some of the places, concepts and characters included in the book. I liked that this section gives a factual context to the setting, as well as reveals the inspiration behind some of the characters.

Personally, I did not dislike anything, however the descriptions of the murders were quite graphic which may bother some readers.

I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. I gave this rating because the author has created compelling characters and writes in a style that immerses the reader in the story. I would not give 3 starts or any lower rating because there is nothing about the book that I would change.

Anyone that enjoys mysteries and thrillers will enjoy this book. The different threads of the investigation and Bobby's life are deftly woven together to create a gripping story. The clues are revealed at a good pace, and the reader will have realizations alongside the detectives. The forensic psychology angle was especially interesting and a unique feature adding to the standard mystery novel.

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Pancake Money
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