A review by connorjdaley
Dancing in the Trap by James Whelpley

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The author very graciously sent me a copy for my reading enjoyment, and enjoy I did. He posed it as a crime noir novel, and I wasn’t really sure if I had read anything even in the same league, but I was willing to give it a try. 

The story is first person and follows a merchant marine turned reluctant investigator (he’s really not, but he hasn’t figured that out yet). He is characterized in the general noir style—witty, dark, perhaps morally questionable, pessimistic as ever—but done in such a way that it reads as true and is refreshing along the way. The secondary characters are all done exceptionally well as well, all of their traits and choices lined up perfectly for me. 

As it is a crime novel, and the first person perspective is not a detective, or one that follows around the detective, I did have some trouble drawing the lines between some conclusions. But hey, I am very used to reading Agatha Christie at this point. That is not this. Nor is it trying to be. There are certainly still twists and turns as you’d wait for in any kind of novel of its kind, and they worked for me. 

The author really does a great job with personality. The story here really reads as Mickey Fairfax. In many ways, I assume the author’s voice has simply come out as Mickey’s, and I love when that reads as genuine. 

Absolutely worth your time, effort, and money to read this book. 
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