"Mating Season" is the second novel of Loomis's Frank Coffin mystery series. Having not read the first novel, I was unprepared for Loomis's kindergarten writing style and character development. First, though, the plot. "Mating Season" revolves around the murder of a sex addict. I feel that the author chose this plot line so that he can write about kinky sex, even if it doesn't serve to further the story.

The characters were thinly drawn and demonstrated no real emotional depth or complexity. Sometimes in mystery series, it can be difficult to get a feel for a character without having read novels earlier in the series. Good authors overcome this by revealing enough about recurring characters' backstories so as to engage readers new to the series. Loomis, however, is not a good writer in this respect. That said, I have a feeling that the first novel did do much more to flesh out the characters' motivations, weaknesses, psyches, etc. either.

Finally, the "mystery" of the story. Talk about anti-climactic. It's not that the murderer's identity was predictable, but that the motive was completely underwhelming. (Frankly, the murderer as a character was entirely underwhelming too, per my comments above.) If nothing else, a mystery novel should keep the reader engaged in the outcome or "solution." By the end, however, I simply didn't care who did it or why.

Overall, I was wholly disappointed in this novel. The only good news is that the novel did not force me to think at all and therefore I didn't waste too much time or energy in its reading. ( )

This is the second in the series of Frank Coffin mysteries. Loomis tells an engaging story with interesting characters. Frank Coffin is a mass of neuroses who seems ill suited for his occupation. But he still manages to solve the crime with his partner, Lola Winters. ( )