Marked Man

by: William Lashner

Published by: Wm. Morrow

Reviewed by Jeff Foster

In Marked Man, an exciting legal thriller...

When he wakes, his suit in tatters, a throbbing hangover and the stinging pain in his chest prompt him to pull aside a gauze bandage revealing a fresh tattoo boasting the name of a woman he's never met. Victor Carl's fuzzy recollections of the evening are limited to a beautiful blonde in the black leather jacket.

Carl finds himself embroiled in the bold theft of a priceless painting, and the mysterious case of a missing young girl. The twist? Both are unsolved and happened almost thirty years ago.

Charlie Kalakos, an aging hood from Philly, has been on the run for fifteen years from notorious local gangsters. His irascible mother has held sway over his life since he was born. Now, as she feels her life slipping away, she calls in an old family favor, from Carl's father.

This results in Carl's engagement to find their son and bring him home to say good-bye to his mother before she dies. The problem? Some very determined ghosts from Charlie's past would prefer he not resurface, and are willing to do anything to see him stay missing forever.

Charlie and his old gang are the prime suspects in the art theft, but nothing has ever been proved, and since the statute of limitations has expired, Carl cannot fathom why the man is still running. But like any good criminal defense lawyer, he's willing to take a retainer and find out.

Rapid-paced, Marked Man is difficult to put down. Subplots and hidden agenda's abound, effortlessly keeping the reader changing gears in and out of the main story, providing an extremely well-devised legal thriller.

Lashner's supporting characters are, as always, eccentric to a fault, but believable, as we have all encountered these people in our everyday lives. Carl's sharp cynical wit is at its best, and he still has his red tie. You will laugh out loud as the narrative as this admittedly unsuccessful lawyer toes a thin line between right and wrong, and just plain slimy.

Armchair Interviews says: Needless to say, Carl continues to encounter clients and situations that consume all his time and pay very little--making for a darn good read.