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2013 Book review #101: A Dangerous Fiction
Title: A Dangerous Fiction
Author: Barbara Rogan
Genre: Thriller/mystery
Thingummies: 4
Synopsis: A widowed literary agent acquires a stalker who may stop at nothing to get his manuscript read.
Thoughts: Written by an agent, this is only a little Mary Sue-ish, and quite a lot of fun. Rogan has a great voice. While her protagonist does have some things go a little too much her own way, she has enough flaws not to be too irritating.
Meanwhile, there's an excellent mystery with plenty of red herrings. Good pacing, with consistent and creative ramping up of stakes. Touching and engaging characters who are often very well rounded. I appreciated the inclusion of LGBT and people of color, and particularly liked that the protagonist doesn't suddenly morph into a gumshoe. She gets the appropriate authorities involved, figures out some things on her own but not others, and basically behaves like a reasonably intelligent person who's not actually a detective would.
I also enjoyed the details of working in a literary agency (which unsurprisingly rings true from what I know from friends in publishing) and of living in New York. There's a lot of small touches that will feel familiar to any New Yorker.
Overall, a highly enjoyable read.
Disclosure: the author is a good friend of my mother-in-law's, although I think I've met her maybe once and wouldn't recognize her without prompting.
Author: Barbara Rogan
Genre: Thriller/mystery
Thingummies: 4
Synopsis: A widowed literary agent acquires a stalker who may stop at nothing to get his manuscript read.
Thoughts: Written by an agent, this is only a little Mary Sue-ish, and quite a lot of fun. Rogan has a great voice. While her protagonist does have some things go a little too much her own way, she has enough flaws not to be too irritating.
Meanwhile, there's an excellent mystery with plenty of red herrings. Good pacing, with consistent and creative ramping up of stakes. Touching and engaging characters who are often very well rounded. I appreciated the inclusion of LGBT and people of color, and particularly liked that the protagonist doesn't suddenly morph into a gumshoe. She gets the appropriate authorities involved, figures out some things on her own but not others, and basically behaves like a reasonably intelligent person who's not actually a detective would.
I also enjoyed the details of working in a literary agency (which unsurprisingly rings true from what I know from friends in publishing) and of living in New York. There's a lot of small touches that will feel familiar to any New Yorker.
Overall, a highly enjoyable read.
Disclosure: the author is a good friend of my mother-in-law's, although I think I've met her maybe once and wouldn't recognize her without prompting.