Sometimes you just have to trust your instincts. I had checked out a copy of The Good Detective from the library on the strength of the review in the New York Times, which said this:

John McMahon is one of those rare writers who seem to have sprung out of nowhere. His first novel, The Good Detective, which is pretty much perfect, features a decent if flawed hero battling personal troubles while occupied with a murder case of great consequence to his community.

The bland title should have warned me, but the phrase “pretty much perfect” from the Times of all places sold me. It shouldn’t have. My instinct was right. I had thought the title was meant ironically; apparently it wasn’t.

In full disclosure, I have to admit that I gave up on this book at about 60% point, so this isn’t a review. I am not going to review a book that I haven’t read in its entirety. Aside from being boring and full of clichés, The Good Detective gradually morphs from the realistic to the paranormal, and that’s where I gave up. So this is a warning, not a review.

Categories: Books