Crucified

This book isn't what I expected from Michael Slade. I'm used to layers of intrigue centered around the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. This book, although a big departure from his usual style, is a fast read with plenty of action to keep you coming back for more. If you are a fan of The Da Vinci code, you will enjoy the subject matter of this book.

Michael Slade's 13th thriller is a true departure from what made him one of the best crime fiction writers; The Special X division of the RCMP. Instead Slade introduces us to a new cast of characters for Crucified, and what do we the readers get? Final, unquestionable proof that Michael Slade is THE best crime fiction writer of the past half century! Lawyer/Historian Wyatt Rook is drawn into an investigation by Liz Hannah where he must deal with a series of locked room mysteries, whodunits, and biblical puzzles that build to a crescendo with the ultimate locked room mystery: The Judas Puzzle. This is a fascinating book that spans the globe and spans history from two thousand years ago, WWII Germany, and the present day, and continues at a break neck pace until it spirals to the dizzying conclusion. A great, page turning, thriller that is a must read.

As a devotee of all things Slade . . . I was interested in reading this latest offering . . . and I was not disappointed. As usual, my friend Slade brings history into the story line . . . and that prompted me to want to read more on the subjects mentioned. And with the creation of a new character in Wyatt Rook . . . the creative juices will be renewed for future adventures. In my opinion it takes a lot to keep those juices flowing . . . as evidenced by the change over time in the books of Dean Koontz and Steven King and others who have continued to create and develop characters that I truly care about and want to read more about. Those are the kinds of authors I ENJOY . . . and kudos to Slade for continuing the cause!!!

I admit I have a soft spot for all things Slade, but this book exceeded my expectations. It's not a Special X book, which made me think it might be a little weak. I suppose it also fits in that category of books capitalizing on the Da Vinci Code, but... The good news is, Slade doesn't need the Special X team to be great, and Slade's novels have often included some historical mystery, so it's not like a blatant Dan Brown rip off. The structure of the novel and quality of the writing far exceeds those comparisons. This novel is more similar Kamizake and Swastika than anything else. I'm sure the Catholic element was timed to capitalize on the current fad, but in that regard the book shares more with David Morrell than Dan Brown. Anyway - I found the novel exciting, and the historical background interesting. If anything, some of the historical background gets in the way of some of the action, but...that's just personal taste - I like the way Slade presents the historical elements. Definately recommended.

[Note: This review based on the Canadian trade paperback edition] For many years after my introduction to Michael Slade during the mid-80s, it was tempting to compare successive Special X novels to Slade's first two, Headhunter and Ghoul. This made for a somewhat unsatisfying progression despite some excellent stories. The antidote was to appreciate the merits of each novel on its own. Eventually it became clear that Slade has little interest in being nailed down to any formula, genre, or subject matter, except perhaps for his love of mystery, history, and inventive mayhem. Even so prepared, I was stunned to learn that Slade has offered in his thirteenth novel a thrilling departure from the Special X series. Crucified is sweet torture for the reader who seeks an answer to the still-hanging "who lives, who dies" question at the end of Kamikaze, the previous Slade novel. It's also a superb example of Slade's ability to link seemingly disparate elements--to reveal what they are would spoil the fun, but they exceed the jaw-dropping connections (among Chinese pharmaceuticals, General Custer, and the legendary Sasquatch) found in Slade's novel Cutthroat. Yet the connections are quite logical; Slade has simply looked deeply enough into history to find them. On top of it all, Crucified entails some interesting twists on the locked-room puzzle found in some Golden Age mysteries. Wyatt Rook, an author who specializes in Second World War plots, probes the crash site of a British bomber downed over Germany in 1944. As he tries to learn the fates of missing airmen, Rook runs afoul of murderous conspirators who are determined to acquire religious artifacts on behalf of the Vatican. Crucified includes some fine, realistic exposition of Royal Air Force bomber crews' daily routines. The passages seem to stem from first-hand interviews. If so, it's commendable that Slade has saluted war heroes from another era before they pass on. Tight, smooth, and engrossing throughout, Crucified is the work of a novelist moving onward and upward. Even far from the familiar ground of Special X, Slade flies high, straight, and true. It's a most welcome adventure.