Review of The Frank Gould Mystery Series : Introductory Quad Complete
Posted: 09 Dec 2022, 02:06
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Frank Gould Mystery Series : Introductory Quad Complete" by Alan Asnen.]
The Frank Gould Mystery Series: Introductory Quad Complete by Alan Asnen consisted of four parts with the titles: "But Tell It Slant," "We Must An Anguish Pay," "Then The List Is Done," and "A Riddle At Last." The central character in the series was Frank Gould. Frank grew up with a strict father that took any opportunity to use his fist. As an older man in his sixties, Frank, a former academic, became a private investigator, mainly locating missing cats and dogs. One day, a woman named Astraea Donaldson 'Tre' walked into his office and wanted him to investigate a superfluous claim. Personally intrigued by the circumstances of the case, especially since Tre was referred to him by a friend of his called Vera Martens, he decided to investigate. Frank didn't know at the time that his investigations would uncover conspiracies that would affect him personally and likely endanger the whole country.
The writer's storytelling was quite interesting. He seemed to oscillate between different memory lanes. The story alternated between two timelines in Frank Gould's life. This style of writing managed to build intrigue as readers would eagerly attempt to reconcile the character's life as a teenage boy and as an older man. The tone of the writing came through as almost hilarious in certain places and philosophical in others. The storytelling was quite intense, and lots of profane words were used. There was an aura of classic exoticness that pointed out that the writer was well-educated and pondered on life's deep dynamics. This class of storytelling might appeal to only some.
Frank's character had a weird sense of humor. However, he was often on the receiving end of biting remarks by friends and acquaintances, which he took in stride. His bluntness was surprisingly endearing. For some reason, he reminded me of Agatha Christie's famous character, Hercule Poirot. However, underneath all his crankiness, readers would get the sense that he was a kind and sensitive man when he needed to be.
I felt like all the characters in this book stood for something — some idea or a societal shortcoming being overlooked. Taylor, the ex-marine, seemed to symbolize the struggles that military veterans go through privately and socially in trying to reintegrate into society. Terry represented the easily misunderstood, Frank Terpil represented the ruthless manipulators, and Paula highlighted the struggles of the LGTBQ+ communities.
A rude, old, cranky detective with clinical depression, a transsexual ex-military intelligence agent, an ex-marine suffering from PTSD, and Melissa, a middle-aged, cranky writer, made up an odd character set. But despite their differences, I fell in love with these characters. Each part was a long read; the best way to read this book would be one part at a time. To find the main story plots across the parts, readers might have to sift through the various reflections of the writer on diverse ideas like morality, religion, decency, politics, intelligence, and people's dispositions towards the use of masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.
I found The Frank Gould Mystery Series: Introductory Quad Complete to be an exciting read. The author's tone made the storytelling unique, and the mystery that trailed the story plot was intriguing. The book was well-edited, and I found nothing to dislike. Therefore, I'd rate it five out of five stars. I'd recommend it to readers enthralled by thrillers and mystery.
******
The Frank Gould Mystery Series : Introductory Quad Complete
View: on Bookshelves
The Frank Gould Mystery Series: Introductory Quad Complete by Alan Asnen consisted of four parts with the titles: "But Tell It Slant," "We Must An Anguish Pay," "Then The List Is Done," and "A Riddle At Last." The central character in the series was Frank Gould. Frank grew up with a strict father that took any opportunity to use his fist. As an older man in his sixties, Frank, a former academic, became a private investigator, mainly locating missing cats and dogs. One day, a woman named Astraea Donaldson 'Tre' walked into his office and wanted him to investigate a superfluous claim. Personally intrigued by the circumstances of the case, especially since Tre was referred to him by a friend of his called Vera Martens, he decided to investigate. Frank didn't know at the time that his investigations would uncover conspiracies that would affect him personally and likely endanger the whole country.
The writer's storytelling was quite interesting. He seemed to oscillate between different memory lanes. The story alternated between two timelines in Frank Gould's life. This style of writing managed to build intrigue as readers would eagerly attempt to reconcile the character's life as a teenage boy and as an older man. The tone of the writing came through as almost hilarious in certain places and philosophical in others. The storytelling was quite intense, and lots of profane words were used. There was an aura of classic exoticness that pointed out that the writer was well-educated and pondered on life's deep dynamics. This class of storytelling might appeal to only some.
Frank's character had a weird sense of humor. However, he was often on the receiving end of biting remarks by friends and acquaintances, which he took in stride. His bluntness was surprisingly endearing. For some reason, he reminded me of Agatha Christie's famous character, Hercule Poirot. However, underneath all his crankiness, readers would get the sense that he was a kind and sensitive man when he needed to be.
I felt like all the characters in this book stood for something — some idea or a societal shortcoming being overlooked. Taylor, the ex-marine, seemed to symbolize the struggles that military veterans go through privately and socially in trying to reintegrate into society. Terry represented the easily misunderstood, Frank Terpil represented the ruthless manipulators, and Paula highlighted the struggles of the LGTBQ+ communities.
A rude, old, cranky detective with clinical depression, a transsexual ex-military intelligence agent, an ex-marine suffering from PTSD, and Melissa, a middle-aged, cranky writer, made up an odd character set. But despite their differences, I fell in love with these characters. Each part was a long read; the best way to read this book would be one part at a time. To find the main story plots across the parts, readers might have to sift through the various reflections of the writer on diverse ideas like morality, religion, decency, politics, intelligence, and people's dispositions towards the use of masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.
I found The Frank Gould Mystery Series: Introductory Quad Complete to be an exciting read. The author's tone made the storytelling unique, and the mystery that trailed the story plot was intriguing. The book was well-edited, and I found nothing to dislike. Therefore, I'd rate it five out of five stars. I'd recommend it to readers enthralled by thrillers and mystery.
******
The Frank Gould Mystery Series : Introductory Quad Complete
View: on Bookshelves