Official Review: Presumed Dead

Abacus · Post by **Abacus** » 19 May 2020, 10:29

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Presumed Dead" by Martin Knox (Australian Author).]

4 out of 4 stars

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Phillip Keane meets Jane Kenwood; they are both city councilors. She is politically independent, and Dr. Keane has an alliance with the Liberal Party. He admires Jane as a woman; he is in awe of her as a feisty politician and is sympathetic to her politics. Will these two independent people find harmony with each other?

Jane requires all her courage, logic, and political acumen to fight the two main parties: the Southland Labor Party (SLP) and the National Liberation Party (NLP). The members of these parties take bribes and get rich at the expense of the people they represent. They govern for self-interest, and worse than that, the two parties collude to keep themselves in power.

The presenting problem is whether the city of Alexandra's Immigration Building should be used as a casino or as a multicultural center. Jane is fighting more than political greed, and she fights for her constituents to have their say in government. They want a multicultural center. Can Jane outwit her opponents and change the political environment in Southland, Australia?

Very early in the story, we know the crime: the kidnapping of Jane Kenwood. We know her abductors left her without food for five weeks, then dumped her in some concrete footings, and workers pouring concrete sludge rescued her from the wet concrete. The whole book is devoted to investigating the crime using a novel forensic process. I'm not going to spoil this surprise, but I am sure you will find it as exciting as I did.

The numerous supporting characters in the book provide a rich tapestry of personalities. They include the councilors, the police investigation team, the inevitable anonymous voice issuing orders behind the scenes, Jane's support group, the Lord Mayor (LM), the paid thugs, and the marvelously quick-witted concrete pourers. All these characters are believable, sometimes a little stereotyped, but we have all met people like them. Each group has a distinctive way of talking and thinking, so each cameo is different and exciting. Presumed Dead gives credence to the saying, "it's not the crime – it's the cover-up."

The pace of the book is sedate, allowing for time to experience all the investigative techniques and the political power plays – so like politics today. Another intriguing aspect was Phillip's ability to understand Jane's mind by the movement and appearance of her left or right eye. The author was able to describe for us the conflicting emotions experienced by someone who suffers from post-traumatic distress syndrome (PTSD). The love story between Phillip and Jane also progresses during the chaos of fighting the council. We need a Jane and a Phillip now to solve the partisan American swamp politics.

I rate Presumed Dead 4 out of 4 stars, for creativity, its focus on science, and the investigative techniques. I do not rate it 3 out of 4 stars because It was innovative. I found no errors. (Note: Some spellings are Australian English.) There was nothing I disliked about the book. It was a joy to read – educational and humorous. There are some detailed descriptions of an autopsy which may be too much for some readers.

I recommend this book to lovers of science, politics, crime investigation, love stories, authentic characters, and people who love a unique approach to a crime thriller.

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Presumed Dead
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Leen282 · Post by **Leen282** » 21 May 2020, 12:49

Very nice review, it's a book I will like as well I think.

Post by **Ngozi Onyibor** » 21 May 2020, 15:20

I am not one to reach for books with political intrigues as a core theme, it's good to know the book has other things going on amidst the politically charged atmosphere. I like novels with women that get things done and Jane is the embodiment of a fighter. Great review.

Careen0808 · Post by **Careen0808** » 21 May 2020, 16:32

Very much interesting reading a book that talks about law and crimes.

NetMassimo · Post by **NetMassimo** » 22 May 2020, 05:04

An intriguing crime fiction story that mixes political elements with the development of an intellectual search for the truth through forensic tools. Its characters make the novel even richer. Thank you for your terrific review!