Well Plotted, Shabbily Written
Well Plotted, Shabbily Written.

This story is well plotted and set, but the prose was atrocious.

In general, I liked the story, with its intricate cross, and double-cross. The setting was also well-done (although I remember Barcelona as shabbier and smellier). The Katixa character was well rendered, but Pascual lacked motivation.

What really hurt the novel was the clichéd and overly-intellectual prose. This flaw was noticeably worse in the beginning. For example, there was the terribly over-used description of Katixa being "lithe as a jungle cat". But, my favorite passage (This had me running to the dictionary.) is listed below:

"Pascual runs Benigno to earth in a grimy `tasca' in the Carrer del la Merc'e, with a .... demimonde clientele."

Either the author needs to be slapped-up against the side of the head for writing this, or his editor needs scrounging for letting it be published in a Thriller.

There is a lot of Terrorist inspired fiction market right now. "Lying, Crying, Dying" is too flawed to compete with the best of them. I think with at least as much concentration on his prose as his storyline this author may have some future potential.

In general, I liked the story, with its intricate cross, and double-cross. The setting was also well-done, although I remember Barcelona as shabbier and smellier. The Katixa character was well rendered, but Pascual lacked motivation.

What really hurt the novel was the clichéd and overly-intellectual prose. This flaw was most noticeable in the beginning. For example, there was the terribly over-used description of Katixa being ýlithe as a jungle catý. But, my favorite passage (This had me running to the dictionary.) is listed below:

ýPascual runs Benigno to earth in a grimy ýtascaý in the Carrer del la Mercýe, with a crapulous demimonde clientele.ý

The Thriller-reading public is generally not interested in building their vocabulary. Either the author needs to be slapped-up against the side of the head for writing this, or his editor needs scrounging for letting it be published in a Thriller. (But, the authorýs verbosity did teach me a new word: ýfellatrixý.)

There is a lot of Terrorist inspired fiction market right now.ýLying, Crying, Dyingý is too flawed to compete with the best of them. I think with at least as much concentration on his prose as his storyline this author may have some future potential.

In the early stages, the story is convoluted with numerous flashback sequences serving to set the scene and give us an idea of how ruthless these main characters can be. It also gives us an idea of what a big part in this story trust is going to have to play.

Pascual and Katixa have to leave Barcelona, pick up the money from where it's hidden and then, somehow, smuggle it out of the country. It's a hard enough task at the best of times, but Pascual finds that his past is starting to catch up with him. He is a marked man and his pursuers are zeroing in on him, causing him to go to ground while still trying to organise his passage out of Spain.

This is a very good story of intrigue and deception, with no character above suspicion of double cross. When dealing with spies, thieves and murderers and in possession of a lot of money, you have to have eyes in the back of your head. From a slowish start, this story builds in momentum and provides a satisfying conclusion.

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