Think Of A Numb3r By John Verdon
By Mel Fabrikant Saturday, August 14, 2010, 06:40 PM EDT
Think of a number is John Verdon’s first entry into the field of writing novels. Hopefully he will continue to write.
Set in a rural area of upstate New York in the Catskills, it reflects the author’s move from the hubbub of New York City and the retirement of his protagonist, a retired New York City hero homicide detective. Like most novels, it takes a little bit of reading, but as the plot develops, the reader will find that it is difficult to put the book down. The author manages to carry the interest of the reader without resorting to tawdry methods. One wants to go on and to try to fathom the plot. Although it took this reader to the middle of the book to recognize the perp, Verdon does all he can to shake that conclusion. He also has an excellent command of vocabulary!
Dave Gurney is enjoying the rural life along with Madeleine, his wife, when he receives a call from a college associate whom he hasn’t seen since they graduated. The visit piques Gurney’s interest enough to return the visit to his friend’s area. It seems that this friend has received a letter that is threatening and eerie. The writer knows exactly what number Mark Mellery has thought of and demands cash or check in an odd amount to be sent to a post office box in Connecticut. Mellery is upset, sends the check only to learn later that it had been returned uncashed.
Mark Mellery is murdered in a weird way with clues all over the place. Gurney gets back into action jeopardizing his marriage and also jeopardizing the life of his wife as well as his own. It seems that there are other murders, both previous and later that seem to follow the same pattern. In a hair-raising way, Gurney does solve the murder mystery leaving the reader anxious almost to the end.
Think of a Number by John Verdon is published by Crown Publishers www.crownpublishing.com
Set in a rural area of upstate New York in the Catskills, it reflects the author’s move from the hubbub of New York City and the retirement of his protagonist, a retired New York City hero homicide detective. Like most novels, it takes a little bit of reading, but as the plot develops, the reader will find that it is difficult to put the book down. The author manages to carry the interest of the reader without resorting to tawdry methods. One wants to go on and to try to fathom the plot. Although it took this reader to the middle of the book to recognize the perp, Verdon does all he can to shake that conclusion. He also has an excellent command of vocabulary!
Dave Gurney is enjoying the rural life along with Madeleine, his wife, when he receives a call from a college associate whom he hasn’t seen since they graduated. The visit piques Gurney’s interest enough to return the visit to his friend’s area. It seems that this friend has received a letter that is threatening and eerie. The writer knows exactly what number Mark Mellery has thought of and demands cash or check in an odd amount to be sent to a post office box in Connecticut. Mellery is upset, sends the check only to learn later that it had been returned uncashed.
Mark Mellery is murdered in a weird way with clues all over the place. Gurney gets back into action jeopardizing his marriage and also jeopardizing the life of his wife as well as his own. It seems that there are other murders, both previous and later that seem to follow the same pattern. In a hair-raising way, Gurney does solve the murder mystery leaving the reader anxious almost to the end.
Think of a Number by John Verdon is published by Crown Publishers www.crownpublishing.com
