Singled Out (Isis Series)

Rating:
Summary: Suprisingly dark little tale from cosy crime maestro
Review: Singled Out stands somewhat apart from most other crime novels by Simon Brett.For one thing it is not a series book and there is no place for either Charles Parris the actor cum sleuth,or for Mrs Pargeter ,the Miss Marple like figure,who have been in the vast majority of his titles.More importantly it is not a cosy,for there is an edge to the book lacking in his series works.
The book takes place in two distinct halves,opening in 1974 when Laura Fisher,a TV producer sets out to seduce a total stranger in a London hotel room,with the object of getting pregnant.She was abused by her father who is serving time for murder and child abuse,and her marriage to privately educated Michael has also seen her beaten up.She is determined to prove that she can raise a child as a single mother and break the chain of abuse and violence.Her policemen brother Kent,who sought to protect her during childhood is unsure of her wisdom but she proceeds.At the end of the opening part it is revealed that the father was under suspicion of murdering a woman near the hotel where the child was conceived.
Part 2 takes place in 1993 and the son Tom is now 19-a strange,uncommunicative child who is accused of assault on a female student who is subsequently killed.Has "bad blood"asserted itself again?
The book deals with the theme of child abuse frankly and openly and the damage to those who are victims is made clear especially on Kent,the brother who is emotionally constipated.Brett is strong on the type of middle class hypocrisy that can sweep abuse under the carpet in order to maintain appearances
He also deals with sexist attitudes in the 70,s and shows how the spirit of the pioneers of the womens movement has been hijacked by platitude mouthing nonentities in these exalted times and the lie of political correctness is nailed with precision..Good plotting,sharp characterization and crisp writing go towards making this a neat and economical little tale that devotees of the medium boiled crime tale will enjoy
Crisp writing,sharp characters and a neat working out of the plot

Rating:
Summary: Quick read, interesting character, surprise twist at the end
Review: This book was recommended to me by a fellow Richard North Patterson fan. This is not as gripping, but a very good read. I could feel a plot twist coming at the end of part 1 -- but I didn't figure out "who did it" until the last few chapters. This is a great summer book.