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Thomas Perry should be more popular than he is. I would submit that part of the problem is one of his greatest strengths: when you pick up a Thomas Perry novel, you never quite know where he is going to take you, even when it seems as if there is only one potential destination. This is certainly true of NIGHTLIFE, Perry's latest and arguably best novel.
The dark protagonist of NIGHTLIFE is a woman of many names and identities who, as we eventually come to learn, was born Charlene Buckner. Every man of even moderate success has met someone like the haunted and dangerous Buckner, who uses her beauty, skills and knowledge to seduce and entice wealthy men. Buckner, as we quickly learn, does a bit more than that, however; she also murders them. She makes a particular mistake when her victim is Dennis Poole, whose cousin Hugo is a West Coast underworld figure. Hugo suspects that Dennis's death might be connected to Hugo's business and hires Los Angeles P.I. Joe Pitt to begin an investigation.
Pitt finds himself at loggerheads with Portland homicide detective Catherine Hobbes, who is officially investigating Poole's death and who initially has little time for Pitt or his employer. But as Pitt and Hobbes come to realize who married Poole, what at first seems like an exciting but typical cat-and-mouse chase begins. Be forewarned, however: this chase is anything but typical. Buckner is extremely adept at changing her identity, including her looks, and using her sensuality with a sinister twist. She slowly comes to blame Hobbes for the difficulties that have befallen her --- the quiet, sinister logic by which she does so is chilling --- and before too long Buckner is pursuing Hobbes with a grim and homicidal determination.
While the ending is perhaps inevitable, the conclusion is anything but --- you'll see what I mean when you read it --- and Perry provides surprises from almost the first page to the last. Additionally, Perry has created that rarity with Catherine Hobbes: a totally believable female police detective who doesn't need… But I'm giving too much away already. Pick up a copy and be introduced.
Reading NIGHTLIFE is such an addicting experience that it should be available by prescription only. Fortunately, you can get it on demand. And you won't be sorry if you do so.
--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
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