"Vachss is the best!"
Still healing from the Hunt's Point New York ambush,
Burke decides to remain in hiding in Portland, Oregon a bit
longer. His new web is still tentative and being formed
unlike that waiting for his return to the East Coast. Burke's West Coast woman Gem, a Khmer Rouge survivor
with her own "business" sends work to the still injured
sociopath vigilante. The job is to find a missing runaway
teen, whose parents already went the full law enforcement
route including a high priced private detective agency
filled with former cops. They all failed. Gem heard the
street whispers about the unsuccessful search and offered
the parents an unlicensed detective who accepts cash only
to find the teen. Desperate the parents jump at the
opportunity to search anew and hire Burke who begins his
trek to find Rose. An underground series of clues seems
serpentine and circular leaving Burke to wonder if he will
adjust to the confusing environs of the Pacific even as he
slowly unravels the truth about why Rosebud ran away from
an allegedly loving home. The latest Burke tale, PAIN MANAGEMENT, is a powerful
entry in this long running series starring a different kind
of hero. The story line engages those readers who do not
mind violence. Andrew Vachss modifies his approach by
adding a different type of depth with this novel as readers
hear the voices of key cast members not filtered through
Burke's interpretation. The answer to why is fabulous and
keeps the audience sitting until Burke metes out justice
his style. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted September 15, 2001
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