Killer’s Choice

In Begley’s elegantly written if unsatisfying third crime novel featuring Jack Dana (after 2015’s Killer, Come Hither), bestselling author Jack, a former Marine who was wounded while serving in Afghanistan, doesn’t take the threat of a demented nemesis stalking every corner of his life seriously until it’s too late. Despite a couple of attacks, Jack wonders, “How I would reconcile using the club, riding or hiking in the forest, and other such activities with our need for security was a puzzle I would have to solve.” His adversary, the Monster, wants revenge for the death of his mentor, Abner Brown, from a previous adventure. 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. [em]Agent: Georges Borchardt, George Borchardt Inc. (Aug.) [/em]