The Codicil

The first time I read this book I stayed up all night because I could not put it down. It has everything; believable characters, a fascinating and intricate plot, and even a bit of history thrown in. I've recommend this book to all my friends, who have also loved it.

This is a love story, war story, mystery, and thriller all rolled into one. Matthew Marshall is dead. But as the title implies, he lives through the codicil to his will. Adam Bruno is hired by some questionable executors Matt Marshall has named to see that his wishes are carried out. He instructs them that there are to find the Vietnamese woman he loved and their child. That child will inherit half of his sizeable estate, fifty million dollars. The problem is, there are people who do not want them found. Mr. Torpor has created characters you learn to care about, a story that sometimes gets entirely too close to what we might imagine what the Vietnam war was like, and what has happened to the guys who fought there. All loose ends are accounted for. I like that in a story.

If you begin this rapid fire thriller in the evening, be prepared to stay up late. Screenwriter Topor has woven a realistic package of twists and surprises that is hard to put down. When wealthy Matthew Marshall dies, the heirs to his $100 million dollar estate, his wife and three children, find that a codicil has been added to his will. Marshall is bequeathing half his estate to a child they never knew existed, a child he fathered in Vietnam. During his last visit to Vietnam, Marshall had tried without success to find Cricket, the child's mother. Savvy, street smart private detective Alan Bruno is hired by the estate's attorney to find the child. As he begins to discover Marshall's life over the past 30 years and his Vietnamese connection, Bruno is stymied with each new lead. He is aided in his search by a Puerto Rican-Vietnamese interpreter, who finds more information in old letters than words would indicate. Suspense builds as the plot escalates. After a stunning parade of shocks and shivers, Topor skillfully ochestrates a satisfying conclusion.

This book was recommended by a former Peace Corps volunteer,my friend Rhonda. I cannot thank her enough. I found it to be engrossing and very interesting. I hated to finish it. I wanted the story to go on and on. I always do that with books I really enjoy. I liked all the characters. They seemed believable and as far as the foul language goes, just visit any shopping center or public place and you'll hear much worse. Sorry if it offends you, but that's how society speaks; it's realistic. I would not have minded if it were twice as long as it is. My only problem is the attitude of the characters related to the Vietnam era and their reactions to the war. I am a Nam vet myself and I have none of those negative attitudes. I think the book would have been more representative if all the ex-Nam era people had different outlooks and opinions instead of the same attitudes. I heartily recommend this book to anyone looking for a good read. I look forward to the next Topor book.

I'm amazed that the other reviewer (so far) did not like this book. It was one of the fastest reads I've encountered. I literally could not put it down. Indeed, at one in the morning, my eyes would sag and I would have to fight to keep them open, I wanted so much to see what happened. Codicil is a richly layered, gripping novel. Topor's ear is precise--his dialogue is superb, as are his insights. The only regret I had when I finished the book was that I had reached the end. Well done!