Richard La Plante

Two stories featuring the duo Josef Tanaka and Bill Foggerty. Josef is a japanese born american medical assistant working in the morgue. His friend Bill is a detective. Josef is the main character, although most of the problems seem to fall on Bill. Both books feature unnecessarily explicit sex.

Leopard. Josef's brother has died, only weeks before his wedding to Rachel. Rachel has suffered at the hands of a kidnapper (presumably in the first? book Mantis? which I haven't read), and although she still has flashbacks Jo and a psychiatrist Stan, have helped her heal. Jo flies out to Japan to discover his brother was murdered and his father under pressure to conform to nationalistic ways. Rachel comes with him and they stay in his cousin Sato's austere flat - but Rachel finds it very hard to adapt to Japanese customs, as does Bill when he follows. This causes tension with Josef who can quickly revert to his former habits, aided by cousin Sato. I've no idea, but suspect the Japanese parts are stereotyped, as they don't seem that realistic. The tension in between the characters is good, even if you don't particularly care for them. The killer's identity is revealed halfway through and there then follows a dull chunk as our heros learn the truth and try and save themselves.

MindKill. Bizarre. A prisonner who was a former religious cult leader develops a dream state control able to stop the hearts of those he 'infects'. The now retired Bill is the last surviving member of a group sworn to ensure he stays in prison. With his parole coming up Justin tries everything in his power to get himself free. Josef has to find a japanese mystic to help him save Bill from Justin's evil dreamstate incursions. Well written but mostly just odd.

Although the basic premise of both these books is quite good, the details of characterisation just don't work that well. Readable, but easily put downable and forgetable.… (mer)