Book Review - Fair Warning by Michael Connelly
Jack McEvoy
Jack McEvoy, the reporter who was featured in previous Connelly novels ‘The poet’ and ‘The Scarecrow, is now working for Fair Warning, which is a non-profit consumer News website. But he finds himself becoming a suspect in a case after a woman called Tina, who he had a one-night stand with, is found murdered. This is also our introduction to a serial killer called ‘The shrike’, who despatches his victims in a particularly gruesome manner.
Rachel Walling
And we’re off. Also featuring in this fast-paced thriller is Rachel Walling, an ex-FBI agent that McEvoy has had an on-off relationship with. This adds an extra frisson to the proceedings and the story develops at a cracking pace.
Michael Connolly creates a cracking book out of incredibly topical subjects - the unregulated genetics analysis industry, incel groups, and misogynistic men to name a few. He’s also incredibly well versed on changes in technology and I never doubted for a second that any of this wasn’t possible. It would really me think twice about getting my DNA tested because I’d be extremely worried about whose hands it’s going to fall into.
Audiobook
As an audiobook ‘fair warning’ is a really entertaining listen. Chapters switch between McEvoy and The Shrike and it really helps to freshen up the narrative. On a couple of occasions, I was listening to this book when out for a walk on and I’d do an extra lap just to get to the end of a chapter. When it comes to crime fiction, he remains one of the best in the business.
Fair Warning Summary
‘Fair warning’ works as both a standalone and a continuation of the McEvoy series, as Micheal Connelly rewards readers with references to both ‘The poet’ and ‘The scarecrow’. This is a high-concept thriller that feels up-to-date and also incredibly well-researched about modern genetics gathering methods and issues of data protection.
From these subjects, Connelly constructs an intelligent and fast-paced thriller that engages throughout. Veteran crime beat reporter Jack McEvoy is a likeable and charismatic investigator that I found myself rooting for throughout. And of course, he has constructed a believable serial killer, with his methods that still give me a neck-tingling shiver.
I’ve enjoyed both this and the Mickey Haller series as I wait for another installment from Bosch and Ballard.
Book review - Fair warning by Michael Connelly
10 hours read by Peter Giles and Zack Villa
Published by Little, Brown and company
26 may 2020