The Session: A Novella in Dialogue

Samuel Beckett fans might be briefly diverted by Akashic's first title under its Hotel St. George imprint, a novella consisting largely of dialogue between two detectives named Smith. The contentious pair is assigned to solve the murder of a mathematician whose organs have been removed. Over the course of their laconic conversation, they focus their suspicions on a new, possibly cannibalistic cult. Petrovich's execution doesn't quite match the ambition of his concept, while mainstream mystery readers may not appreciate the emphasis on language rather than action. Original monotypes by Vilem Benes add to the surreal mood. (Apr.)