Review by Shruti27sharma -- Pancake Money by Finn Bell

[Shruti27sharma]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Pancake Money" by Finn Bell.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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If crime fiction as a genre was ever having a good day, it was with the completion of the novel Pancake Money by Finn Bell. Set in a small city of Dunedin of New Zealand, the plot revolves around a young detective Bobby Ress. The novel deals with the element of crime fiction through gangs in New Zealand, coupled with criminal psychology, personal relationships, mystery and gore. It involves the ruthless murders of catholic priests in the city and goes on to explore how this mysterious case affects the protagonist’s relationship with his wife, children and his partner, Pollo.

The novel keeps you hooked from the very first page. It goes back and forth in time and has a dramatic flair to it. The earliest instances of dramatic flair can be seen with the class on Criminal Psychology where the discussion is about how pain can go on to be a great tool for getting the job done. The introduction of a premise is followed up well with the plot of the novel. It doesn’t matter if you are a bookworm or a casual reader; this book is well within its rights to keep the reader engaged.

While I call it an excellent read to browse through, I am wary of recommending it strongly because of the use of gore, violence and strong language. Suffice it to say that this novel is not everyone’s cup of tea. But, once you go past all that, Pancake Money actually delves quite deep into the socio-political thread of New Zealand and how it gets tied with the narrative at hand. With the emergence of Catholic priests, it also brings faith and religion into the subliminal understanding of the text. The author even attempts to examine the eternal question of what constitutes as right and wrong.

In a way, Pancake Money is not afraid to break the boundaries of literature. It tries to bring to fore how your work can take a toll on your relationship with the world and everyone in it. The novel takes some unthinkable twists and turns, which I have no intention of disclosing. All in all, I would say that the text and the author do justice to the genre.

I rate this novel 4 out of 4 stars for the wonderfully un-put-down-able quality of work and for keeping the reader on their toes. It can be a wonderful casual read and even amazing for someone who likes to fly through the book.

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Pancake Money
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