Critical Mick

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Reviews by the Clown that All Other Critics Want to Strangle with a Black Turtleneck

The Deal Master
Gerard F. Bianco
iUniverse, 2006

Enjoy the Ride!

As promised on the rather appealing cover, Gerard F. Bianco's novel, The Deal Master, is "A Thriller." Wheeling out the ol' reliable….

Critical Mick's Patented "Thrilla" Checklist Alcoholic Ex-Cop Hero? Serial Killers? Wisecracks? Wiseguys? Dead Bodies? Interesting Locations? Redhead Love Interest? Lots!   Spooky Shit?

Potted plot: in contemporary New York, a serial killer known as "Sonny Boy" stalks and murders redheaded women in a horrifically gruesome manner, then dials 911 to leave a disturbing message while leaving the scene. Detective William Gillette- ambitious to escape the shadow of his legendary lawman father- leads a special multidisciplinary task force determined to stop the psycho. Unfortunately not even beautiful auburn-haired police psychologist Julie Neumann can help. The only lead Gillette can find comes through a mysterious stranger who volunteers at the same shelter as Gillette's wife. With his strange clothing and foreign accent, Jonathan Hamlin has more information on these killings than any innocent civilian should, and is always willing to make Gillette a seemingly harmless trade for leads.

That's one factor about The Deal Master which impressed me. Serial killer stories are bog-standard. Bianco's detectives do pursue Sonny Boy, yes, but the real mystery involves the well-connected Hamlin. How does he know so many influential people? What hold does Hamlin have even over Gillette's father's old defence attorney friend, Jim Peters? What would happen if Gillette attempted to break one of Hamlin's deals? The action is reminiscent of the gruesomely fantastic film Saw, where the identity of the mysterious killer was not- not by a long, sick shot- the shocking major twist.

That action, in The Deal Master, progresses from skid row to the Waldorf Astoria, from the present deep into Gillette's troubled past. Legendary detective Philip Gillette was not the hero many believe. Amusing secondary characters include bumbling Italian burglar Vinnie Bats and his hairy-chested stud muffin of a nephew. The deepening difficulties with wife Nancy and growing attraction between Gillette and slender, five-eight Julie Newmann also maintain the interest. The plot kept moving along in short, cinematic chapters, racing me through the novel in one weekend.

A good read. There are of course some elements which require the brain to be left on the nightstand when picking up The Deal Master. Gerard F. Bianco states in an email interview, "I didn't want to get bogged down with the technical side of police procedure or forensics and so the research that went into The Deal Master was minimal. More than anything else, I focused on writing a good story." An entertaining story was indeed the result, but there's no denying that the real NYPD wouldn't allow a specialist unit like this one's forensic and profiling resources to pass a year without a single result. Real detectives would have hauled Hamlin's creepy old ass in and jacked up a spotlight into his eyes. Engage the dude in unorthodox bargains? You kidding me? No, Mr. Toilet Plunger Handle here gets answers quicker.

True, I'm just after reading Michael Connelly's example of how convincing procedure can be combined with character, tension, plot and pathos. I'm complaining that apples don't make good orange juice. Bianco pursues a completely non-Connelly vibe in The Deal Master. Even if portions of the novel confound police procedure, other sections are downright slick and stylish. It veers into unexpected directions- even across genre boundaries. (Ther's a major element I'm leaving out so that readers may enjoy the surprise.) Yes it's telegraphed from afar that Sonny Boy will target Gillette's dear, bangable, redheaded Julie. There's still effective prose and unexpected turns when (and after) he catches up to her.

One reassuring notable: some POD novels have been produced with questionable quality. Not so with The Deal Master. Covers, print, text, title pages- all are on par with what readers can expect from a mainstream house. Bianco's novel holds its own on any bookcase.

Critical Mick says: though I a sucker for any book full of redheads, The Deal Master is a thriller that will shock and entertain even mystery fans without such good Nicole Kidman-esque taste.

For another good pied piper story- ths one an audio short- visit http://www.escapepod.org/2005/08/30/ep-flash-pennywhiste/

Read Critical Mick's interview with Gerard F. Bianco!

Yo! This review and all content on the DFA Guide site are copyright 2006 Mick Halpin. All links to other sites and documents are copyright to whatever source wrote something cool enough for Mick to give it a referral. Try to claim them as your own work and bad karma will catch up with you, baby. Believe it.

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This Page Was Last Updated On 16 July, 2006.