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Summary
Summary
Drew Danner , an L.A.-based crime novelist, awakens in a hospital bed with a scar on his head, blood under his nails, and a cop by his side. Accused of murdering his ex-fiancée, Drew has no memory of the crime but reconstructs the story the only way he knows how--as a novel. As he searches the dark corridors of his life and the city he loves, another young woman is similarly murdered and Drew must confront the very real possibility of his own guilt. A thrilling piece of contemporary L.A. noir, The Crime Writer is sure to boost Hurwitz's profile as one of the coming masters of the genre.
Reviews (4)
Publisher's Weekly Review
Hurwitz's L.A. thriller has noir pulp chutzpah in spades, even if it does start out with a bang and end up shooting blanks. When Andrew "Drew" Danner, a crime novelist, is tried for the murder of his ex-fiancee, Genevieve Bertrand, beside whose body he was found holding a bloody knife, he pleads not guilty. He has no memory of how he got to the crime scene because of a breakdown caused by a recently removed brain tumor. Once he's found not guilty by reason of temporary insanity, Danner sets out to find the real killer-or discover some very nasty things about himself. Someone's also trying to frame him for a second murder that appears to be similar to that of Bertrand. Luckily, Danner gets help from old friend Chic, an ex-professional baseball player, and Lloyd Wagoner, a troubled police criminalist. A tense, page-turning first act leads to disappointing explanations involving the police and a misinterpreted phone message. Still, the fast pace and ingenious setup provide considerable tension. Hurwitz (Last Shot) may not have written a California classic, but it's a worthy effort. 5-city author tour. (July) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Kirkus Review
When crime writer Drew Danner is discovered standing over the dead body of his ex-fiance, Genevieve, he quickly learns that real murder is a lot messier than the stories he pens. In the latest from Hurwitz (Last Shot, 2006, etc.), Danner wakes up in the hospital and learns two things: He has been accused of Genevieve's murder, and he has had brain surgery for the tumor that obliterated his memory of what happened. At his trial, the district attorney taunts him with his own writings: "I believe, in my darkest heart of hearts, that when fate and passion align, every last one of us...is capable of murder." After he is found not guilty by reason of temporary insanity, Danner struggles to remember the events leading to Genevieve's death. He can't imagine wanting to kill her, but doubts linger: What if he did do it? When a second woman is murdered and Danner's blood is found at the scene, he digs deeper to find the killer: Is it the convicted rapist whose brown Volvo was spotted at the scene? Is it a copycat killer? Who's trying to set Danner up? Is his own life in danger? With the help of his book editor, Preston, he begins to write down the story. Hector, a teenage graffiti artist in juvenile detention, and Danner's friend Chic help him dig into the case, as does Lloyd, the forensic specialist who has been his source for realistic details in his fiction. Hurwitz's carefully interwoven plot lines and taut writing--as well as his pulsing descriptions of Los Angeles--make for a deeply satisfying read, and the ending, revealed with masterful simplicity, shows the complex desires that make each of us capable of murder. A performance worthy of applause. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Successful crime-novelist Drew Danner has gained true tabloid fame--as the murderer of his ex-fiance. Found by the police in the midst of a brain-tumor-induced grand mal seizure, with her blood covering his hands and his fingerprints on the murder weapon, Danner seems to be the only person in L.A. who isn't sure he is a killer. Emergency surgery after his arrest removes the tumor, and a temporary insanity defense frees him, but his comfortable life is shattered. He can't live without knowing if he killed a woman he once loved. His only choice is to become a character in a story he hasn't written. Danner's anguish is compellingly described, and the plot has more twists and turns than Mulholland Drive. At least half a dozen characters are vividly drawn, and nearly all are like Danner--struggling to recover from some tragic and life-altering event. Hurwitz's insights about L.A. life sound knowing and are often ruefully funny, e.g., L.A., where a porn star runs for governor and an action figure wins. Crime fans looking for something different will love this one. --Thomas Gaughan Copyright 2007 Booklist
Library Journal Review
Drew Danner is a crime writer who's always done his homework. He's cultivated cops and forensic specialists to give his novels the necessary realism. He's researched everything from the guns his characters use to the ways in which bodies deteriorate. But in his latest effort, Drew is leaving fiction behind and exploring true crime. The result is almost more real than he can handle, because the murder he's researching for his newest book is one he may have committed. In the opening pages of Hurwitz's latest crime thriller (after Last Shot), Drew wakes in the hospital with a scar on his head, a cop by his bedside, and no memory of how he got where he is. The police think Drew killed his ex-fiancee in an angry frenzy. Four months later, Drew is acquitted of the murder by reason of mental defect (he had a brain tumor) but is driven to discover whether he is capable of the crime. Hurwitz has written a nice puzzler with a sympathetic hero and a great supporting cast. Recommended for all public libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 3/15/07.]-Jane Jorgenson, Madison P.L., WI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.