Book Review: Dead Politician Society by Robin Spano

Released 9/1/2010

Dead Politician Society

by Robin Spano

Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: Ecw Press
ISBN-10: 1550229427
ISBN-13: 978-1550229424

 

As a young girl I cut my teeth on Nancy Drew and especially Trixie Belden mysteries before growing into the real dramas of Rosenberg, Graham, or Gerritson.  I have always been a sucker for a strong female protagonist who can wield a gun, solve a mystery and catch a criminal all in a day’s work.  Clare Vengel, undercover, is exactly the latest, exciting, thrill-seeking, smart-mouthed, fresh young cop on the scene! She’s been seeking a transfer to undercover work, and working undercover as a university student majoring in political science is her first gig.  For someone who knows absolutely nothing about politics, Clare makes a fairly good showing without making a jumbled mess of it. 

The Cast ~

Clare: rides a triumph…… fast…….. without regard for pedestrian safety; promiscuous; avoids dealing with father’s impending death 

Matthew leapt aside to avoid the tattooed adolescent riding full speed down the footpath. (p. 8)

Cloutier: Clare’s handler. Does not want to babysit her nor hand-feed the undercover cop instructions – either Clare gets it or she doesn’t. 

"This isn't a permanent transfer."  Cloutier broke a piece from his donut. "Screw this case up, and it's back to the beat for a very long time."  (p. 4)

Annabel:  Obituary writer at Toronto Star, unfortunate girlfriend of Dr. Easton. Main contact for Utopia Girl.

Hayden Pritchard: July 27, 1954-September 6, 2010

We hereby launch our campaign to create a political utopia for the real world. Hayden Pritchard made a dramatic exit from life last night, facilitated by the poison we slipped him.

Pritchard became mayor thirteen years ago, at which point he began to skillfully destroy the city's economy. He spent piles of money to cultivate all kinds of fringe votes, and when he went over budget, he simply raised taxes to compensate. Small business owners closed up shop or moved to the suburbs in response to punishing tax hikes, and Toronto was ranked the worst place in the western world to do business. We might have been fine with this if that money had been used to save some wildlife or give scholarships to inner city kids, but as far as we can tell, society's problems have remained intact. Pritchard and his staffers are okay with all this; they've received a fifty percent pay raise.

With another election three long years away, we have decided to free taxpayers from Pritchard's socialist nightmare.

You're welcome.

This has been a message from the Society for Political Utopia (p. 5)

Jonathan: transfer poli sci student from computer science department; has a crush on fellow classmate, Jessica.

Dr. Matthew Easton: political science professor with the well-known reputation for sleeping with first-year college students and then passing on to the next class; has been in a 2-year ‘relationship-of-sorts’ with Annabelle.

Laura Pritchard: Wife of Hayden Pritchard, mayor of Toronto and first victim of Utopia Girl. Hayden & Laura have been separated for 4 years. Laura is now living with her girlfriend, Susannah Steinberg.

It’s fascinating to watch the story unfold through the eyes of so many characters. What would be so easy to become confusing and messy is seamless and faultless in Spano’s hands. Clare Vengel is a heroine who is edgy, upbeat, callous at times yet incredibly sexy. Gripping noir from north of the border! I like her, a lot!

Dead Politician Society is Book Number 2 in my RIP Challenge!

 

 

It is with tremendous thanks that I received Dead Politician Society from the publisher

for my honest review. In no way did it affect my opinion or review.