4 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
Not always do you find a third book in a series that stands on its own merit. Students of Pain by Peter Goldman with Nicola Malatesta, PI, is such a book. Although some of the characters clearly have a history of interacting with other characters, I was never left with that lost feeling of not knowing what was happening or why.
Max Christian is former police turned private investigator. He has recently become separated from his very wealthy wife, Meridew. Although they are not living together, it is obvious throughout that they still share a common bond and friendship. They have one college-age son, Jay. Because of his job in law enforcement and private investigating, Max has made enemies. One such enemy is an unbelievably wealthy crime lord, Carlo Paolucci, a.k.a., Charlie Beak. While all the mob families are one by one declining, Beak has managed to stay ahead of the law and continue a thriving business in crime.
The action starts off hot and heavy when Max receives a phone call from Charlie Beak with the information that Max's son, Jay, has been kidnapped and is being held for ransom. A $25 million dollar ransom. Having a background on the police force, Max knows that the odds of getting his son back alive are low. The more probable outcome, regardless of whether the ransom is paid, is death. In fact, with Charlie Beak at the helm, the most likely outcome is death for Jay, Max, Meridew, and anyone else Beak may suspect has any knowledge of the kidnapping.
Max and Meridew agree on the ransom, and the countdown begins. Max begins calling in favors, and coordinating the largest secret manhunt possible. His goal is to retrieve his son before anyone is murdered. On the other hand, Charlie Beak is confident in his plan and his ability to succeed. In addition to his own prowess, he relies on his henchmen for protection and his son's business acumen to keep them above the law.
As I indicated, the action moves quickly just like a crime thriller should. The characters are well-rounded and behave according to his or her own inclination. Never are the decisions or plot turns forced. Instead, Students of Pain seems to give you a peek into the dark underbelly of a large metropolis. With danger lurking around every corner, there is an edginess to this novel that pulls you in. I was particularly fond of the way the authors ended the story. Instead of ending with a predictable hurrah and defeated "bad guys," the authors include somewhat of a debriefing. I enjoyed this section as much as the action-filled thrill ride from the rest of the book.
This is not a "whodonit" mystery; rather it is a crime thriller with high stakes and a race to the finish. I was happy that the author did not include steamy sex scenes, as that tends to slow down a plot like this. Also, the editing is quite clean. There are unwholesome four letter type words sprinkled liberally, particularly with certain characters. I understand this is likely how these people talk, so that is understandable. However, if this is a deal breaker for you, you will want to pass on this book. Additionally, the nature of the story demands that violence be included. I felt that the authors handled this well without overemphasis or including unnecessary gory details. However, it is something I would want to know before I handed it off to a middle grade student. Overall, with a thrilling plot, good editing, masterful characters, and realistic ending, I am glad to give this book a 4 out of 4 stars rating!
******
Students of Pain
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like greenstripedgiraffe's review? Post a comment saying so!
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
