A Necessary Evil by Robert Stricklin

[janet ames]

After reading comments about this book on this and other online forums,
I was curious (but a bit skeptical) whether the hype was justified. So
instead of buying the book, I suggested that my local library
order a copy and put it on hold for me so I could check it out, which
they did.br
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Now that I've read it I can say, for the most part, I agree with the
positive reviews. Although I found the book a bit shorter than I'd
prefer and thought it could have used a little more backstory and,
perhaps, a more jaw-dropping twist ending, there's no denying it's a
very suspenseful thriller (especially during the climax) and
emotionally involving throughout. It also sets an unusually thoughtful
and unflinching moral tone (for a genre thriller) about violence and
its consequences. Considering the quality of the book, I was a bit
surprised it was published by a small press. Though not that surprised,
considering how competitive the publishing industry has become.br
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I'd categorize this book as the literary equivalent of a good
independent film, as opposed to a "blockbuster" by a big-name author.
And although slightly flawed by my demanding standards, I'd concede
it's a worthwhile read.br