Having read Walla Walla Suite a couple of years ago, I thought it would be a good idea to search out the first Quinn novel, Homicide My Own. I knew the premise was that of someone trying to solve their own murder. However, this book ends up on my not highly recommended list after finishing. Both plot and characterization bothered me.
In Walla Walla Suite, Quinn is much more believably burned-out and cynical. Her partner, Odd Gunderson, becomes possessed by the soul of a dead person, and wants to solve the murder. That part I get. What I disliked was that he often just knew
he had to do something. Lazy writing. Better told were his occasional visions and recollections of his previous life as the victim.
As for the crime and investigation, little of it survives the smell test. Sent by their lieutenant to Shalish Island to pick up a wanted suspect, Quinn and Gunderson become involved in the cold case on the other side of the state. Sending a couple of beat cops across the state after the end of a long shift is already suspect enough. Sending them without the chance to shower, with instructions to get the suspect and return without sleeping, and then to work another shift on return? Nuh-uh. And then when they get there and get delayed, the same lieutenant (who I would presume would normally have the sense to go home himself), lends
Quinn and Gunderson to the tribal police for a cold case they aren’t even investigating. Why?
I did like Ponicsan’s setting for the book though, which seems to be loosely based on Lummi Island. Quinn and Gunderson drop into a small-town atmosphere where everyone knows everyone else’s business. But despite the chumminess of the locals, the place is big and spread out enough that it’s possible to keep things from others with some effort.
I’m hoping that I’ll like Krapp’s Last Cassette better.
Other blogged reviews:
- Evil Editor’s Gallimaufry (not exactly a review, but worth reading!)
- Kaijsa Reads
Title: Homicide My Own
Author: Anne Argula (Darryl Ponicsan)
Series: Quinn; 1
Imprint / publisher: Pleasure Boat Studio
Format: Paperback
Length: 219 p.
Publication date: 2005
ISBN-10: 1-929355-21-1
Subject: Police — Washington (State) — Fiction
Subject: Indians of North America — Fiction
Subject: Fugitives from justice — Fiction
Subject: Washington (State) — Fiction
LC classification: PS3601.R49H66 2005
