Brady Coyne's history is well known to fans of William G. Tapply's stylish plots and writing.Coyne has killed two people before, defending a lady in each case.Naturally, the police wonder if he's done it a third time when Coyne and girlfriend, Evie Banyon, report finding Evie's stalker, Larry Scott, dead after a nasty confrontation the night before.Because they're both suspects, Coyne cannot represent Evie during her interrogation.They have to move out of the house they've rented on Cape Cod (it's a crime scene), and Coyne has to leave his BMW behind (while it's checked out for signs that the body has been in it).So much for their plans for a romantic summer weekend of love and lobsters.Over the next week, Coyne becomes concerned when he cannot reach Evie.The police become angry when she ignores them as well.Coyne decides to check out her home, and finds a trail that leads him back to the town where Evie had once lived and worked, the same town where she had met the stalker.
The book develops in three dimensions at this point.There's the mystery of who killed Larry Scott as the first dimension.The second dimension is learning about Evie's untold story of her life before she met Coyne.The third dimension is revealing the mechanism being used to create circumstantial evidence to frame Evie and Coyne.For my taste, the second dimension is by far the most rewarding.
The story evolves in a compelling way among the intense love-hate relationships that only a small town can have.That's the book's strength.If you've ever spent time in or lived in a small town, you will recognize the situation well.
One of the book's weaknesses is that Coyne often acts unprofessionally with the police in a way that could have been avoided with a tiny shift in the plot development.This character flaw seemed gratuitous.It's as though Mr. Tapply wanted to show that lawyers are always untrustworthy when it suits their purposes.By writing the book this way, Mr. Tapply encourages disrespect for the police and their investigations.
Another weakness is that most readers will have solved most or all of the book's various mysteries early on.Although unveiling Evie's story is interesting, the mystery becomes secondary too early in the book for that aspect of the book to be fully rewarding.I found it painful to read as the resolution slowly, oh so slowly, unfolded.
Finally, Coyne leaves himself at risk from the murderers even with plenty of warning from Evie and the events as they unfold.I doubt if many people in similar circumstances would have taken the same foolish chances.
After you finish reading this story, think about how well you know the backgrounds of those around you.What are you assuming that could be totally false?
Get the facts!
Click Here to see more reviews about: Past Tense: A Brady Coyne Novel (Brady Coyne Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)
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