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Body Language |
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 Body Language byJames W. Hall St. Martin’s Press 336 pages, 1999 ISBN 0312192436 Reviewed by PJ Nunn Alexandra Rafferty, Miami PD photographic specialist, has had a rough life. Something about the crime scenes of a serial killer she’s investigating connect with her on a subterranean level and the thought is disturbing. Going home to a father plagued by advancing Alzheimer’s and a loser husband who complains at every opportunity doesn’t offer much relief from a hard day's work, either. With survival skills born out of a tumultuous secret past, Alex does what she’s always done – she shuts down and survives. Even when her husband robs the armored car he’s driving and she finds the stolen money in the closet of his mistress. Even when she realizes the serial killer is spelling her name with the bodies he leaves behind. Even when someone she thought she could trust - no, you’ll have to read the book. Body Language is a study in the craft of writing good mysteries. Some might even say great mysteries. Hall uses simple wording, but he’s clever, twisting and molding everyday words seamlessly. The reader doesn’t realize when the picture begins to form, much like the work of an artist who carefully places smears of paint seemingly at random, continuing with increasing intensity until a masterpiece emerges. Body Language is filled with nuances and shades of gray. Lines are not distinctly drawn. It’s a good plot with characters that are compelling and easy to visualize. A little on the dark side, but again – that’s life. Anyone who’s bold enough to look at life the way it really is without flinching and enjoys reading characters instead of just words will want to read this book. |
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