About Me

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Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada
I am a lawyer in Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada who enjoys reading, especially mysteries. Since 2000 I have been writing personal book reviews. This blog includes my reviews, information on and interviews with authors and descriptions of mystery bookstores I have visited. I strive to review all Saskatchewan mysteries. Other Canadian mysteries are listed under the Rest of Canada. As a lawyer I am always interested in legal mysteries. I have a separate page for legal mysteries. Occasionally my reviews of legal mysteries comment on the legal reality of the mystery. You can follow the progression of my favourite authors with up to 15 reviews. Each year I select my favourites in "Bill's Best of ----". As well as current reviews I am posting reviews from 2000 to 2011. Below my most recent couple of posts are the posts of Saskatchewan mysteries I have reviewed alphabetically by author. If you only want a sentence or two description of the book and my recommendation when deciding whether to read the book look at the bold portion of the review. If you would like to email me the link to my email is on the profile page.

Thursday, November 7, 2013

The Business of Dying by Simon Kernick

In this post I put up a review I wrote in the fall of 2008.
****
44. - 454.) The Business of Dying by Simon Kernick – Dennis Milne, a London detective, moonlights as a hired killer of bad guys avoiding justice. His vigilante justice is turned upside down when he is set up by his employer and kills two customs officers and an accountant. As he struggles to deal with his actions he attempts to resolve the murder of an early teenage prostitute. Trying to reconcile his lawful pursuit of criminals with his own criminal actions is difficult. As he moves forward each of the plots becomes more complex. There were too many bodies for me. The book drew me swiftly forward as I wondered what the consequences would be for Milne. I concluded that anti-heroes are not my favourites. While I sometimes tire of the hero always solving the case I dislike the hero being a murderer. Should the anti-hero be rewarded for killing bad people? Many would favour such action but when did the anti-hero become God? Milne settles for justifying his actions to himself. Good. Paperback. (Oct. 21/08)
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8 comments:

  1. AnonymousNovember 7, 2013 at 10:21 PM

    Bill - There is a real balance isn't there between the hero always solving everything (not realistic) and the anti-hero (can get tiresome). I have to say I think Kernick is a talented author. I'll admit I've not read this one, but I'm glad you enjoyed it.

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  2. col2910November 8, 2013 at 5:42 AM

    I quite like an anti-hero TBH. I've read a couple of Kernick's earlier books but not this one.

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  3. Bill SelnesNovember 8, 2013 at 11:34 PM

    Margot: Thanks for the comment. Kernick does challenge a reader.

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  4. Bill SelnesNovember 8, 2013 at 11:35 PM

    col: Thanks for the comment. I hope you get a chance to read and review the book.

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  5. Prashant C. TrikannadNovember 9, 2013 at 11:56 AM

    The plot line of this novel is somewhat similar to the encounter deaths of criminals reportedly engineered by the police in Mumbai. Undertrials were often killed in "encounters" after they tried to escape custody. Public outcry has put a near end to this disguised form of vigilante justice.

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  6. TracyKNovember 9, 2013 at 3:12 PM

    Sounds interesting, Bill. I don't know much about this author. If I run into this book or one of his others at a book sale, I will give it a try.

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  7. Bill SelnesNovember 10, 2013 at 1:17 PM

    Prashant: Society loses when the police exceed their role in justice. Without the checks and balances of police, prosecutors, defence counsel and judges enforcement becomes an arbitrary personal assessment. I am glad police vigilantism has ceased.

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  8. Bill SelnesNovember 10, 2013 at 1:17 PM

    TracyK: The book will challenge you. I hope you have a chance to read it.

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