Lionel Essrog has Tourette's syndrome, which makes him blurt, count and tap compulsively. He works for Frank Minna, a small-time Brooklyn fixer who took him and three other orphans from a Catholic home and gave them jobs as his Minna Men. When Frank is stabbed and dies, Lionel decides to find who did it, following a trail through Brooklyn that touches a Zen center, a Japanese conglomerate and a pair of brothers. His speech tics shape every conversation.
Crime readers who like a detective story told in a distinctive first-person voice will find one here. It suits anyone interested in a mystery that is as much about the narrator's mind as the plot, with plenty of word play.
Balanced in tone; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Story Seeker. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1999
- Language
- EN
