The Book Reader, America's Most Independent Review of New Titles * Fall/Winter 2002
Cash Call By William Manchee, Top Publications, $12.95.
The latest in the mystery series starring lawyer Stan Turner. Manchee, a lawyer, pulls out the stops and it's all go as Turner and his wife Rebekah get involved with friends who are in great trouble with an impending bankruptcy. Turner is involved in a spiral of hounding creditors, arrests, murder, diamonds, gangsters, and a pell-mell pace that holds readers glued to the pages. All sorts of interesting California episodes are here-the Rendevous Club and lap dancing, a Peruvian pottery that is supposed to contain diamonds but doesn't, the business of lawyering by a lawyer who is always struggling with clients' payments, the lives of his four growing children, the IRS, interviews with police-and engrossing attorney procedures, in court, in documents, which Manchee knows so well. An old romantic interest complicates matters and creates problems between Turner and his wife. The action moves forward at a brisk pace with surprising (and ingenious) plot twists, and this deeply felt book may be Manchees best work to date. The extraordinary and ordinary: "Feeling a little better with one more problem resolved, I went home early and took the family to dinner. It was Thursday, our bowling night..." Manchee writes a very realistic prose, exact, viewing the sharp edges of reality wisely, and he also gives us glimpses beneath the surface, wondering, sympathizing, fearing. There's a special power and grace here, about family, friends, death, and all the ties that bind one into a non-stop chase to unwrap puzzle with puzzle.
Reviewed by: Brenda Weeaks, MyShelf.Com
PI Lawyer Stan Turner is back in his fourth mystery. "Cash Call" is written in the first person with Turner's voice leading readers through his latest perplexing case.
Readers will discover that Turner isn't a stereotypical lawyer, like those on television. He isn't part of a large lawyer group, nor is he rolling in dough. He accepts clients who have had little, if any, money and shows compassion for those who have trouble paying their bill. He even accepts goods instead of cash for payment. In his personal life, he is a serious family man, intent on providing for his kids and being with them as much as possible. He is also a loyal husband, although his eye does wonder occasionally. Stan Turner is one of the best lead characters to come along in quite some time.
In "Cash Call," Turner accepts a case for a friend who seems to have made a deadly investment. Don Blaylock hires Turner to help him when the investment invades his financial life through a frozen bank account and bad checks. A man named Luther Bell brought Don into a restaurant investment. In this investment, Don and the other partners receive one too many "cash calls," which means they were expected to come up with cash capital each time the restaurant has a cash flow problem or loses their interest. Someone wasn't happy with the way Luther was handling things and made a call of a different kind.
Once the murder occurs, the mystery begins to unfold, taking readers down various paths of suspects and alibis. There is enough doubt and suspicion, along with other storylines to keep the pages turning. Again, Manchee has provided readers with an impressive contemporary mystery to test even the most experienced sleuthing mind.
