Point, counterpoint

With a decidedly different take than last week’s review in the Washington Post, David Thayer critiques Kevin Wignall’s FOR THE DOGS at Collected Miscellany:

Kevin Wignall doesn’t blink. The narrative moves toward the climactic scenes with brutal assurance. The style is direct; you’ll want to brush up on your personal pronouns because the author uses them often. This is confusing at times, intriguing at others. Several chapters open with ‘he’ or ‘she’ and it takes some effort to discern the identity of the character. This isn’t a flaw, it’s a technique to heighten suspense.

The most interesting scenes are between Ella and Lucas. The bond they form becomes a catalyst; what they see in one another, or think they see, sets them in motion. Loss and desperation drive Ella; Lucas wants redemption…

FOR THE DOGS succeeds as a thriller, a character study, and a dark exploration of cause and effect. Hit men sip Chardonnay and marinate duck breasts for dinner; life is short. Read the book and you’ll see why.

Couldn’t say it any better. Kevin’s slated to be interviewed by Mr. Thayer in due course as well.