Box Nine

Simply put, Jack O'Connell's books belong at the very top of the list of Best and Most Original Crime Novels Ever Written. BOX NINE is his first, and serves as a perfect introduction to his eclectic vision of post-industrial America gone mad.

Box Nine by Jack O'Connell is a riveting crime story following the fall from grace of a detective and her brother as they fight with the complexities and complications that linguistics has to offer. In his other book I reviewed earlier, Word Made Flesh, Mr. O'Connell uses linguistics and the semantics of a semantically deprived linguist to embark on a journey where the word is made flesh. In this story, he follows again in the path of logic, semantics, and meanings, but this time focuses on the supersensory experience that might be experienced by people with hyper sensitive language centers of the brain. Whereas the other story was one of depravation, this one is full of overindulgence, rancid sensual stimulants, and over the top characterization of the main players. He continues to use the jumping back and forth between scenes to keep the pace moving smoothly forward, and twists the end around his little finger like a wedding band on a trailer keeper. A very interesting read, and a book that will keep you wondering about the boundaries of language and reality, and where the line between them blurs.

Jack O'Connell is one of my favorite authors I love the Combat Zone and all of its quirky, demented characters. Postal Service...Box 9... it doesn't get much better then this if you like very unusual settings and characters. I've just had a taste of his newest, "Word Made Flesh," and am already intrigued. Jack, you've made my next week of reading!

Crime fiction does not get any better than the books of Jack O'Connell. Lots of writers try hard to emulate the likes of Leonard, Crumley, and Burke, but only O'Connell can stand with them and, quite often, rise above them. Hunt down copies of his books---there're well worth the effort.