The Third Deadly Sin

This is an interesting serial-killer novel, except for the parts involving sandwiches and Zoe Kohler's suitor, Ernest Mittle. The sandwich stuff makes you feel like you're reading transcripts from The Food Channel, and poor little Ernest Mittle is simply too prim and proper for words. By the time you've known him for about five paragraphs, you yearn for him to meet Irene in a hotel bar very soon, and join the ranks of her victims.

A strange choice for a comfort readI know, but every now and then I come back to read this book again. The familiarity of Edward X Delaney and his delicious sandwiches. The developement of a killer who you grow to like and feel sorry for, even as she continues her murderous adventures. It does not matter that you know she is a killer, it is not even that important how Delaney catches her, I just the style of Sanders writing in this book. It is not similar in any way to his later McNally series, but the one thing Sanders does fantastically is to create characters you believe in.

Maybe Sanders's best book (other choice is First Deadly Sin). Same detective in all the Sin books, but each has a slightly different feel. This is Ed McBain-ish, but (much) better.

The Third Deadly Sin had a lot of factors that i found resembled the first novel a LITTLE bit too closely, such as the suspect dying of physical deterioration towards the end, the suspect's pathological relation to the act of sex...things like that. Also, the relationship between Monica and Edward Delaney (the detective) really does not clash well with the rest of the story. Who cares what Monica thinks- i think she is a pathetic and dull character- thats also what made the First Deadly Sin much better- it focused more on the detective, not his wife. Otherwise it was a good book. Lawrence Sanders is GOOD, but he was best in "THe Tenth Commandment." If anyone is wondering what one person thinks is his best work, thats it.

Even though you find out whodunit in the opening pages, this nvel is riveting. Not only do you get Edward X. Delaney and his sandwiches, you also get a couple of hundred pages from the killer's perspective. Some of Sanders's later works were kind of weak, but this one is superb!