Review by Ksharmilla -- Pancake Money by Finn Bell

[Ksharmilla]

[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 is a crime thriller novel by Finn Bell. The story revolves around a young cop Bobby Ress and his former mentor, now partner Pollo. We are immediately thrown into the story when an old priest is murdered. Bobby and Pollo must get to the bottom of the killing, but before they can get a handle on it, another priest is killed. Things are moving too fast too soon. They have no leads and no suspects. At first, the story seems like the normal crime novel. Someone is killed, and the cops must solve the murder before anyone else is hurt or the media blows it out of proportion. This novel is a little different. First of all, it is set in New Zealand. Secondly, the murders happen too quickly in succession. Usually, they are spaced out which draws the cops into a false sense of security. Thirdly, the cops face some challenges in their investigations with navigating the world of tribes, gangs and their politics. Cops are not welcome on tribe lands which make finding the perpetrator difficult. Finally, the killings seem to be the result of religious hate and persecution. Is this a great crime novel or what?

I was quickly drawn into the story. Mr. Bell has a way with weaving history, facts and psychology into fiction that leaves you wanting more. I liked that the story was set outside of the USA. I loved reading about some of New Zealand’s myths and tribes and their associated customs and culture. They have a strong bond of family. To them, it is everything. My only complaint was that it got a little predictable. I have read so many crime thriller novels that sometimes it is easy to predict the outcome. Mr. Bell also made it obvious when he killed a supporting character. Be that as it may, I rate this book at 4 out of 4 stars. There were no errors to be found within the book. The author specifically notes that the book was professionally edited and conforms to guidelines including the Chicago Manual of Style, 16th edition.

The story is told from a first-person narrative which is a refreshing change from the third-person. Sometimes, the third-person narration can be tedious to read. The author does not bore us with long explanations about the culture of the country; instead, he skilfully makes the facts part of his story. It gives a distinctiveness to the plot. I have read novels where the authors give long-winded historical information which makes you forget what you were reading in the first place. This was well-written history and fiction in one unforgettable novel.

Lovers of crime novels would be thrilled at this one. If you are tired of the same plot lines all the time, then this is a refreshing change. I recommend that you read it. I do not recommend if you are squeamish because some of the murder scenes are graphic. Also, I do not think this is the book for you if you are against religious hate or persecution.

I think the author did a great job on this book. It was a great idea to have it professionally edited as it makes for smoother reading. There were no grammatical or spelling errors to distract you. The idea flowed into each other ensuring that the reader could not get lost. The book makes the reader think about good and evil, love and hate. Sometimes, everything is not as it seems, and one would do well to remember that. I look forward to reading more of Finn Bell’s novels in future.

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Pancake Money
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[topdan30]

Will love read this novel. Thanks for the review