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A review by jdcorley
The Con Man by Ed McBain
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
If you want to see the world change, a little bit, find your way to this book. A black detective faces bigotry, and somewhere inside it he identifies the condescension that helps him crack a case. A disabled woman and a Chinese guy who lives inside a white man's stereotype find connection and bravery. The usual coincidental cast of characters and crossed wires leads to a thrilling, half comic conclusion. The prejudices of the past loom large over this, and perhaps the novel does not fully emerge from it, but here the aficionado of pulp can see the sunlight breaking through. Marvelous and fun.