An Absence of Light is a mid-nineties crime novel that I picked up at
my library's
ongoing book sale. I haven't read anything by this author before but the
story telling is tight. Almost too tight.
David Lindsey seems too careful about
what he tells you. This seems especially true about the female
characters. If I had to guess I'd say author has a high regard for some
women and not as much for others; and they seem to be split by type.
They may be frumpy or plain or elegant. They may be sexy or the girl
next door. But he always describes their small habits and tics; what
they wear and how the move; the looks on their faces and the fall of
their hair.
The men? Yeah, not so much.
So how was it? Well, if you get past the distinctly male POV it was
pretty good. The ending was a little weak and reminded me a few movies
I've seen, that kind of withered away at the end.
Lindsey does throw
us a bone after all, but a share of the meat would been good too.
After
all the bones are for the dogs, right?
Am I looking back at 1995 with the eyes of 2015? Sure. Is that fair? Maybe not, but it is a reality that books do last longer than the era in which they are written. I think that gives a window to look into the past and react as we see fit.
