The search for the killer, labeled by the authorities as 'The Monster,' takes the traditional twists and turns of the series. The most interesting aspect of these mystery/thrillers comes from Begley’s portrayal of the life of wealth in New York City and Sag Harbor ... The series captures a great deal of that life in its descriptions of dinners, cocktails and weekend trips that are entertaining and make the plots different from your typical detective thriller. But Killer's Choice then takes a plot turn that can only be described as quite disturbing. No spoilers from me, but if you have read the first two books, you will want to read the third and then look forward to the next installment. I was not at all prepared for the twist, but I am anxious to discover what happens next to Captain Jack Dana.
This installment begins with the insanely gruesome torture and killing of a wealthy couple ... Jack takes ridiculous chances whenever he isn’t savoring Feng’s elaborate gourmet meals and pricey whiskey and wine. A preposterous, if neatly rendered and readily consumed, tale of suspense in which elegance counterbalances horror.
Hard-boiled meets high society in a novel of unspeakable horror among the unspeakably wealthy ... Begley continues to fall short of the incisive craftsmanship that earned him acclaim with more-literary novels such as About Schmidt (1996). Having dispensed with an evil nemesis at the end of Volume 2, Begley doesn’t even bother with a plausible successor or much of a plot. Instead, this is more of a wildly implausible addendum to the last novel ... The major lesson learned here is that Begley's crime series has run its course and was an ill-advised detour from its inception.
... elegantly written if unsatisfying ... Extremely talky and populated by stereotypes—loyal girlfriend, stalwart Feds, and the redoubtable Feng, a Chinese houseman, gourmet cook, and bodyguard (shades of Kato, Inspector Clouseau’s servant in The Pink Panther)—the story creeps along until reaching an ending full of wild plot twists that mock the genre. Begley’s insouciant narrator has limited appeal. Fans of serious crime fiction can safely take a pass.
