Shadow of Broken Man

There is a vast amount of mystery series in the market, and some of them have something special that makes them stand out above the rest. Chesbro's character Mongo, a dwarf private investigator, who is also a university professor and a black belt in karate, provides this series with enough charm to place it in the group of reads worth your time. Besides the colorful Mongo, this series incorporates elements from the fantasy genre, placing these works in a very special niche. In the case of this novel, Mongo is investigating the case of a man that is supposed to be dead but may still be alive. As the case progresses, the private eye unveils astounding secrets that lead to complicated and dangerous situations. The pace of the story builds nicely until we reach an ending with a myriad of surprises. Since I like reading fantasy and mysteries, this series is a good fit for me. The main character also makes a big difference, and I particularly enjoyed the first person narration, since it allows us to understand this wonderful character better. In a time when most heroes are tough as nails and bounce back from defeat almost immediately, it is uplifting to find a character that is affected by important events as a typical human would. I think I am hooked, and hope I enjoy the next books in this series as much as I did this one.

The Mongo books defy any attempt at classification, and that's what makes them so entertaining, as well as the engaging writing by Chesbro. They're thriller/comedy/occult/philosophical exercises that work very well (though the last two entries in the Mongo series are a bit less sterling-- sometimes even dogmatic). Read this and the next four or five in the series (as well as the Chant and Veil books)-- it ain't Shakespeare, but it's entertainment of a high order.

"Shadow", quite simply, is the starting point of the finest mystery series ever written.It is very important that you read these books in order. Mongo is hired to find a person who is dead... and that is not, by a long shot, the most unique concept in this book. It is a mystery, wait..no it's fantasy, umm...no it's action adventure, well...not quite,it's a study in the family dynamics between a dwarf and his larger (much) brother. This book has anything you'd want. The characters are well drawn. The plot is cleverly conceived. Villains aren't villains, or are they? When I first read this book about 10 years ago it spurred me on to buy the next 3 available in the series at that time.I've not missed one since. Everyone I've lent this book to (and there have been many) has wanted the rest of them immediately. Do yourself a favour and buy this book. Read it,love it , and then buy the rest of them.You'll end up buying the spin-off series like Chant and Veil as well.

This first book of the 'Mongo' mysteries reads like a cross between Raymond Chandler and Ray Bradbury. Well-realized characters, a unique plot, and the creepiest villain I've encountered in years make it stand out from the average mystery. I read it first back in college, and I've worn out two copies since by loaning it to friends. 'X-Files' fans adore these books, I've found. Terrific series!