Goodreads Synopsis:
The twisty tale of a Detroit process server whose search for a missing stockholder leads him into more serious peril than he ever imagined possible, Unknown Man #89 is a gourmet stew of mystery, suspense, and double and triple cross, peppered with the razor sharp dialogue for which Grand Master Leonard is justifiably famous.
My Review:
This crime novel shows further development in Leonard’s writing style. This book revives one of his earlier characters from The Big Bounce, Jack Ryan, as a Detroit-based process server that searches for a man that has property coming to him that he is unaware of. The story has many twists and turns and ends up with a clever Ryan coming out ahead in the end. I was struck by a new technique that had not appeared in any earlier Leonard novels. He had two simultaneous threads going in the story and brought one to a cliffhanger at the end of the chapter and then followed it up with a chapter dedicated to the other story thread. I have seen other writers use this technique effectively as Leonard does in this work. Overall, it was an enjoyable read.
I give it 4 1/2 out of 5 pizzas.
Author Don Massenzio 