LemonSky reviewed The Book of the Lion by Elizabeth Daly
Review of 'The Book of the Lion' on 'Goodreads'
2 stars
Henry Gamadge is contacted by Avery Bradlock, who wants Henry to evaluate the correspondence of his late brother, Paul Bradlock, a rather notorious playwright who was murdered two years earlier. Paul specialized in absurdist plays that no one understand and even fewer people wanted to watch. He was also a deeply unpleasant alcoholic who abused everyone around him. One evening, he went for a walk and did not come back alive. It is assumed that he was killed in a mugging. His widow, Vera, is left penniless and has to live with Avery and his wife.
Avery hopes that the sale of Paul's correspondence could give Vera some much needed money. As it turns out, Henry does not get to view Paul Bradlock's correspondence because Paul's widow, Vera, has surprisingly sold the lot to an old friend named Iverson. Gamadge becomes intrigued by Paul's murder and begins to look into …
Henry Gamadge is contacted by Avery Bradlock, who wants Henry to evaluate the correspondence of his late brother, Paul Bradlock, a rather notorious playwright who was murdered two years earlier. Paul specialized in absurdist plays that no one understand and even fewer people wanted to watch. He was also a deeply unpleasant alcoholic who abused everyone around him. One evening, he went for a walk and did not come back alive. It is assumed that he was killed in a mugging. His widow, Vera, is left penniless and has to live with Avery and his wife.
Avery hopes that the sale of Paul's correspondence could give Vera some much needed money. As it turns out, Henry does not get to view Paul Bradlock's correspondence because Paul's widow, Vera, has surprisingly sold the lot to an old friend named Iverson. Gamadge becomes intrigued by Paul's murder and begins to look into it. Certainly, no one but Vera misses Paul. However, would anyone really want to kill him?
The investigation leads Henry Gamadge into a case of smuggling, possible forgery, and the legendary Chaucer work, "The Book of the Lion," which has long believed to have been lost.
This was a bit of a disappointment for me - a little too short, too fast paced, and rather shallow, uninteresting supporting characters. I really didn't care about the victims. In fact, I think the world was a better place without at least one of them. The problem was, I didn't care about any of the other characters due to lack of development or the fact they just weren't very nice people. The ending is rather abrupt and a little too tidy. You could skip this Gamadge and not miss anything.