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Andrew Moyo Beyond the Cover
IT has only been five years since David Mark came on the scene with his debut “Dark Winter”, but this writer is already proving to be a force to reckon with.
While we cannot place his work among the industry’s global heavyweights, his talent is hard to ignore considering the attention he has managed to generate with his Aector McAvoy novels.
The latest edition to the McAvoy series “Cruel Mercy”, brings a new refreshing feel, rather setting, with the writer taking his protagonist from the familiar streets of Hull to the more daring New York City.
The detective is tracking his brother-in-law, Valentine Teague, who disappears on the night of a botched assassination that leaves visiting prominent boxing trainer Brishen Ayres in a coma and his protégé Shay Helden dead. It is suspected that Valentine is involved in the murder and McAvoy has to do everything he can in order to clear his brother-in-law’s name. The fact that the victims and the suspect have only been in New York for a few days makes the case even more difficult as they struggle to find another motive behind the attack.
The New York detective who is in charge of the case, Ronald Alto, has to work with McAvoy as he has more information about the parties involved. With the surviving witness unable to reveal anything since he is in a coma, the Hull detective is in a better position to solve the case. As the protagonist digs for clues, he gets in the crosshairs of both the Italian and Russian mafia who also have interests in boxing. The writer gives us a glimpse of New York’s criminal world where the gangsters author death warrants, shady deals are made and corruption is rampant.
Whether it is the mafia’s cruel machinations or the threat of religious fanaticism, the author brilliantly skirts on the line between the good and the bad.
Will the two detectives manage to uncover the mystery behind the attack on the Irish boxer and his trainer before there is more bloodshed? I guess that is for the next reader to find out, lest I spoil the plot. From the beginning, it is evident that the book is full of thrilling episodes as it takes off with an atmosphere of violence and cruelty.
“On the ground, Claudio breathes out, slowly. He tries to become a part of the forest floor. He does not want the man to come back and finish him off. He knows that were the roles reversed, it is what he would do. He is a killer. He takes no pleasure in it but it is his life’s work to stop human hearts.”
There are many interesting characters in this book who keep the plot exciting as they add varying elements to the story, with the cast growing as you go deeper into the text.
From cold blooded ruthless killers to men of the cloth, the writer made a great effort in creating the various personalities. There are also flashbacks, which had a great effect as they give the book interesting twists and new angles, shading more light as the story unravels. This might not be the best crime novel I have come across but it is still a brilliant piece of work, an easy read to be precise.
Online Reporter