132,957
edits
Changes
no edit summary
The reader is shown flashbacks into the case that drove Chandler and Mitch apart all those years ago. It is clear that it has some importance to the larger picture of the plot as a whole but it is teased so slowly and carefully that the reader only finds out enough to support the continuing plot of the novel. ''55'' is a beautifully written book. Mitch is a truly awful human being, his motivation is so corrupted and he is so petty, and as a reader you can’t help but root for Chandler. The story becomes less and less about the specifics of the case itself but more about Chandler and Mitch and their power dynamics as characters as they try to solve who did it, Chandler with his pure intentions, Mitch out for glory and determined to embarrass Chandler.
As a murder mystery and thriller there is not a lot I can say about the conclusion of the book without spoiling it utterly. Some clues are enough to let the reader guess what is happening, I certainly did, but other twists shocked me and the ending left me amazed; I never saw the ending coming! So I would say absolutely read this book. It is character driven, and believable, and hard to put down. This is a dark and intriguing portrayal of humanity from a great writer. Alternatively you could also try [[Into The the River by Mark Brandi]].
{{amazontext|amazon=1471177521}}