Review by them1n1ch1ef15 -- Pancake Money by Finn Bell

[them1n1ch1ef15]

[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 by Finn Bell is a crime fiction novel which packs a punch right from the very start. Set in Dunedin, New Zealand, it follows police detective Bobby Ress and his partner (Pollo) as they attempt to solve a series of, particularly grisly murders. The story takes place over one action-packed week during which Bobby and Pollo have to investigate the local Catholic church as well as local Maori groups. I don't want to say too much about the plot for fear of spoilers but I can say that it's a very exciting story that kept me guessing until the end.

A very large part of the book is dialogue between the main characters as well as Bobby’s internal monologue. If not done correctly this approach can make for a very difficult read, however, Finn Bell gets this spot on and it never gets tiresome. The dialogue between Bobby and Pollo is particularly good with excellent wisecracking which helps to deflect from the gruesome storyline and adds some much-needed light relief.

I found myself really caring about the characters in the book despite this being the first time I had ever come across them. I was very interested to find out how their stories were going to develop, had an emotional attachment to them and was moved by the events that unfolded.

It was also very interesting to read a crime novel set in New Zealand as it is not something I have come across before. The author clearly cares a lot about the country and the different cultures and this was evident in the writing. I definitely learnt things about Maori culture from reading this book.

I only have two minor criticisms. The first is that I would have liked a bit more description of Dunedin as it is not a place that I had ever heard of and I think that a little more description would have gone a long way. My second criticism is simply that there are a lot of books in this genre that use the Catholic church as a backdrop and when I first began to read this book I was worried that it was going to be yet another story about dodgy priests. Thankfully this book did something a little different with the theme which was a great relief and meant that my enjoyment of the story wasn't affected.

I think this book would appeal to anyone that likes crime fiction as it is easily one of the best in the genre. It's not for the faint-hearted though as it pulls no punches in terms of the descriptions of the crime scenes and is very violent in places. If you don't like dark, violent stories then this is not the book for you.

I really loved this book and am more than happy to score it 4 out of 4 stars. I will certainly be seeking out Finn Bell’s other books and am really pleased to have been introduced to his work.

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Pancake Money
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Like them1n1ch1ef15's review? Post a comment saying so!

[Noeld150]

Think this was great review. Different points of view made it peak my interest. Thanks.

[larchieorna]

I think this is a great review. I like your progression on how you have given your reason for it being a 4 star rate.