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Paul
Malchrone has a face that doesn't stand out and that makes
elderly people think he's a relative. When visiting a nursing
home, Nurse Brigit Conroy asks that he visit Martin Brown,
a patient who’s whose had no visitors since being admitted.
Unfortunately, Brown mistakes Paul for being the nephew of
an enemy and nearly kills Paul. This sends Paul and Brigit
down a dangerous path, helped by D.S. Bunny McGarry, Paul's
former mentor. The question is whether they can survive.
Ah, the Irish is thick here and the author's voice plays into
what one thinks of as classic perception—"You do
realise that just saying 'no offence' does not magically make
whatever you say inoffensive?"—and humor—"The
fox was now sniffing at the sandwich it had retrieved. Rather
than eating it, it elected to urinate on it instead. As reviews
went, it was pretty damning."
It's the characters who truly drive the story. Paul, the granny
whisperer, is delightful and quirky when joined with Bridgit.
Dr. Singh, D.S. Bunny McGarry, the lawyer's secretary, and
others, and combined with the situational humor, and one can
be assured of laughing through the entire book…almost.
One might even find oneself using the phrase "fair play"
on occasion.
The plot moves along at a brisk pace and is one where everything
falls brilliantly into place in the end with a wonderful rescue
scene. One should definitely read the epilogues, as well as
give the author credit for some well-done self-promotion.
A
Man With One of Those Faces does get a bit silly at times,
but this isn't intended to be a serious book. Still, McDonald
does balance the humor with insight, tension, and suspense.
Happily, there are more books in the series.
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