The Dead Don't Bleed -- by David Krugler

 

Fantastic.

That's just my opinion, but it was 540 Large Print pages that whizzed by in a hurry.

The author, a University of Wisconsin-Platteville history professor, wrote such a clever and absorbing novel which still doesn't want to let go after the last page. A following book, or video, detailing how he wrote this, researched it, plotted it or lived some of it would be appropriate. 

It was set in Washington, D.C. in 1945 as WWII was coming to a close, but the atomic bomb and those problems were only just beginning. Espionage was all over the place, and it was deadly.

I've been to DC a few times, and that helped quicken my mind to the relatively fast pace that I enjoyed. It wouldn't surprise me if the author eventually found himself at Georgetown or American University. He certainly seems to know the turf.

In an earlier note I said that there might've been too much dialogue for the start, but that narrative smoothed it out. The only other possible overuse, going further, was the several unfinished thoughts in dialogue. It was difficult to find low points.

I was lucky enough to find my copy among the offerings at my local Ollie's, which is visibly improving its books section.