Review by HR Stanley -- An Imperfect Crime by Fred G. Baker
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HR Stanley
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Review by HR Stanley -- An Imperfect Crime by Fred G. Baker
[Following is a volunteer review of "An Imperfect Crime" by Fred G. Baker.]
4 out of 4 stars
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An Imperfect Crime by Fred G Baker is about a frustrated unpublished author, who has a great novel no one is interested in and a murder. Peter Simpson and Alistair Brown come up with a madcap idea of how to get the novel published and it becoming a best seller. Their plan however backfires and Peter is found guilty of murdering his best friend and is executed. During his incarceration Peter was visited by Father Guillermo Montero, the prisons priest. He believes Peter protestations of innocence and teems up with Detective Lori Sanchez of the Phoenix Police Department. They begin searching for two missing witnesses who could have proved Peter innocence but chose not to show themselves at the trail. They discover skeletons in the past of Peter and Alistair. Alongside the search Detective Sanchez is investigating a gang, and the two cases collide.
The essence of the plot is what happens when jealously becomes out of control. Add in a touch of betrayal and a pinch of rivalry and you have an explosive mixture which ripples through the lives of many.
The plot is fast paced and a compelling read, which as it progresses, I feel improves in style and substance. We see the interaction of Father Montero and Detective Sanchez to begin with as a stilted ‘work’ collaboration, and watch it grow into a solid and confident friendship which is truly cemented by the end of the book. The main and supporting characters are warm bloodied and well rounded. Father Montero is a priest with a past, a small amount of which we are included in, this makes him a more relatable character and injects some spice into what could have been a staid role. He is a man of action and not just of prayer, he will be liked by some readers, but others maybe upset of how a priest is portrayed. Detective Sanchez is sassy with a pinch of kindness, who will do what she needs to do to get the job done. She has an undercurrent of violence which I found off putting.
The vivid descriptions provide the plot settings with an atmosphere the imagination can grab onto. Some of the beautiful scenes that are described are then corrupted by the jealously of the plot, which for me adds a real-life quality to the writing. The ending for me is satisfactory, but for others it may be less so.
There is profound language throughout but nothing which goes outside the plot or the roles of the characters. There are scenes of sexual violence, rape and in some places of graphically laid out violence. I would not recommend this book to those with sensitive natures. This book would be good for those who like thrillers, crime and mysteries. I rate this book 4/4 the plot is ingenious and the writing flows and hooks onto the readers imagination with force.
******
An Imperfect Crime
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4 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
An Imperfect Crime by Fred G Baker is about a frustrated unpublished author, who has a great novel no one is interested in and a murder. Peter Simpson and Alistair Brown come up with a madcap idea of how to get the novel published and it becoming a best seller. Their plan however backfires and Peter is found guilty of murdering his best friend and is executed. During his incarceration Peter was visited by Father Guillermo Montero, the prisons priest. He believes Peter protestations of innocence and teems up with Detective Lori Sanchez of the Phoenix Police Department. They begin searching for two missing witnesses who could have proved Peter innocence but chose not to show themselves at the trail. They discover skeletons in the past of Peter and Alistair. Alongside the search Detective Sanchez is investigating a gang, and the two cases collide.
The essence of the plot is what happens when jealously becomes out of control. Add in a touch of betrayal and a pinch of rivalry and you have an explosive mixture which ripples through the lives of many.
The plot is fast paced and a compelling read, which as it progresses, I feel improves in style and substance. We see the interaction of Father Montero and Detective Sanchez to begin with as a stilted ‘work’ collaboration, and watch it grow into a solid and confident friendship which is truly cemented by the end of the book. The main and supporting characters are warm bloodied and well rounded. Father Montero is a priest with a past, a small amount of which we are included in, this makes him a more relatable character and injects some spice into what could have been a staid role. He is a man of action and not just of prayer, he will be liked by some readers, but others maybe upset of how a priest is portrayed. Detective Sanchez is sassy with a pinch of kindness, who will do what she needs to do to get the job done. She has an undercurrent of violence which I found off putting.
The vivid descriptions provide the plot settings with an atmosphere the imagination can grab onto. Some of the beautiful scenes that are described are then corrupted by the jealously of the plot, which for me adds a real-life quality to the writing. The ending for me is satisfactory, but for others it may be less so.
There is profound language throughout but nothing which goes outside the plot or the roles of the characters. There are scenes of sexual violence, rape and in some places of graphically laid out violence. I would not recommend this book to those with sensitive natures. This book would be good for those who like thrillers, crime and mysteries. I rate this book 4/4 the plot is ingenious and the writing flows and hooks onto the readers imagination with force.
******
An Imperfect Crime
View: on Bookshelves
Latest Review: Like My Mother Before Me by Naley Gonzalez
