Review by samanthajodi -- Pancake Money by Finn Bell
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samanthajodi
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Review by samanthajodi -- Pancake Money by Finn Bell
[Following is a volunteer review of "Pancake Money" by Finn Bell.]
4 out of 4 stars
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Bobby Ress is a police officer who seems to have it all figured out. With a wife and daughter that he adores and a mentor determined to help him become the best cop possible, it looks as if life can't get any better. But, when priests start dying in rapid succession, the simplicity of the life he leads is flipped on its head. With one priest dying each day, each in a horrifically gruesome way, and no clues to go on, Bobby and his partner Pollo must race against the clock to track down the killer before someone else is murdered. Caught in a web of suspected gang activity, secrets of the Catholic Church, and a killer who is always one step ahead, will they be able to do it in time?
Simply put, Pancake Money packs a punch. With his unique style of storytelling, Bell takes readers on a day by day journey through the investigation process, complete with time stamps dispersed throughout each chapter. In doing so, this novel contains the best elements of slow-burning police procedurals without losing the sense of urgency that comes with twist-filled suspense novels. For me, this style really elevated the read as I found myself drawn to the intricacies and seemingly mundane details of the investigation and wishing I could finish pages faster during the action scenes. It's a tough balance to strike, but Bell achieves it effortlessly in this novel.
If the combination mentioned above isn't enough, this novel also tackles the psychological aspects of murder in a fresh, innovative way. On top of his family and work life, Bobby Ress is also a student in a forensic psychology course. Through the brief scenes focusing on his time in class, readers are given a quick summary of what it is that really drives people: pain. This theme is shown consistently throughout the novel and adds an extra layer to an already heavily stacked plot. Again, the author manages to include this element seamlessly in a way that adds to the story, rather than weighing it down or making readers feel as if it were crammed into the story with no real purpose.
Writing style aside, the characters are what really bring Pancake Money home. In a world where writing unlikable characters is the current crime fiction trend, reading a novel filled with nothing but likable characters was truly refreshing. Each character that we are introduced to throughout the story has a complexity to them that serves to highlight the notion that there is more to people than what initially meets the eye. Through the characters, Bell does an impeccable job at reminding readers of the fact that, to a degree, everyone exists in shades of grey rather than being solely good or bad.
If I was only allowed to choose one adjective to sum up my thoughts on Pancake Money, it would be layered. From beginning to end, the novel builds upon itself to a degree that only a truly skilled writer can achieve. I never saw the ending coming, but when it was revealed, everything made sense in a way that made me question how I hadn't seen it from the beginning. The writing style, the characters, and the overall plot make this read one that should soar to the top of your TBR. For these reasons, I give Pancake Money 4 out of 4 stars.
******
Pancake Money
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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4 out of 4 stars
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Bobby Ress is a police officer who seems to have it all figured out. With a wife and daughter that he adores and a mentor determined to help him become the best cop possible, it looks as if life can't get any better. But, when priests start dying in rapid succession, the simplicity of the life he leads is flipped on its head. With one priest dying each day, each in a horrifically gruesome way, and no clues to go on, Bobby and his partner Pollo must race against the clock to track down the killer before someone else is murdered. Caught in a web of suspected gang activity, secrets of the Catholic Church, and a killer who is always one step ahead, will they be able to do it in time?
Simply put, Pancake Money packs a punch. With his unique style of storytelling, Bell takes readers on a day by day journey through the investigation process, complete with time stamps dispersed throughout each chapter. In doing so, this novel contains the best elements of slow-burning police procedurals without losing the sense of urgency that comes with twist-filled suspense novels. For me, this style really elevated the read as I found myself drawn to the intricacies and seemingly mundane details of the investigation and wishing I could finish pages faster during the action scenes. It's a tough balance to strike, but Bell achieves it effortlessly in this novel.
If the combination mentioned above isn't enough, this novel also tackles the psychological aspects of murder in a fresh, innovative way. On top of his family and work life, Bobby Ress is also a student in a forensic psychology course. Through the brief scenes focusing on his time in class, readers are given a quick summary of what it is that really drives people: pain. This theme is shown consistently throughout the novel and adds an extra layer to an already heavily stacked plot. Again, the author manages to include this element seamlessly in a way that adds to the story, rather than weighing it down or making readers feel as if it were crammed into the story with no real purpose.
Writing style aside, the characters are what really bring Pancake Money home. In a world where writing unlikable characters is the current crime fiction trend, reading a novel filled with nothing but likable characters was truly refreshing. Each character that we are introduced to throughout the story has a complexity to them that serves to highlight the notion that there is more to people than what initially meets the eye. Through the characters, Bell does an impeccable job at reminding readers of the fact that, to a degree, everyone exists in shades of grey rather than being solely good or bad.
If I was only allowed to choose one adjective to sum up my thoughts on Pancake Money, it would be layered. From beginning to end, the novel builds upon itself to a degree that only a truly skilled writer can achieve. I never saw the ending coming, but when it was revealed, everything made sense in a way that made me question how I hadn't seen it from the beginning. The writing style, the characters, and the overall plot make this read one that should soar to the top of your TBR. For these reasons, I give Pancake Money 4 out of 4 stars.
******
Pancake Money
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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Latest Review: Pancake Money by Finn Bell
