It's a standard noir convention to feature a main character that many might deem unlikable, but the great ones make you identify and root for that character anyway. The key strength in Reichenbaugh's sly novel is that it not only does this but pulls it off in its own sneaky way. I went into the book reading it as a standard crime thriller. Kent Starling is a regular guy that's actually likable and who's banal but satisfying life is interrupted when a long lost friend begins pestering and blackmailing him online. But as Kent tries to get out from under, Reichenbaugh steadily shows us Kent's secrets and hints at the true nature of his character. I was uncomfortable in the way that I couldn't seem to decide how I felt about him. I found him self-involved but also strangely relatable. The author was really skilled with his handling of Kent's character and the way he withheld judgment. This aspect, along with Reichenbaugh's handling of the twists and turns, made it a pretty gripping read to me!
GRADE: B+
Thanks for the nice review! Kent Starling was a fun character to write about.
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