Andrew Vachss, Mask Market

Mask Market

Andrew Vachss

Knopf, Aug 2006, $24.95

ISBN: 0375424229

In New York City, private investigator Burke still mentally recovers from being shot in his face by posing as his brother. However, Charlie the Fixer knows the avenging vigilante is pulling a masquerade of sorts so confronts him with a client seeking a missing woman Beryl Preston. Burke accepts the job, but when the client goes to his car to get the fee, he is killed.

Burke is angrier over being a witness rather than over his losing a paying customer when he can use the money. He knows these professionals will leave no witnesses so they will come after him. Burke meets with his peers at Mamas. They agree with his assessment that the pros will come for him and ergo figure he needs to go after them first with their assistance, which means finding Beryl, the link to the killers.

This is a typical Burke tale filled with violence and the vigilante's code of justice; the twists this time are Burke is vulnerable including emotionally and that he rescued Beryl from abuse two decades ago and apparently will need to do so again. The storyline is fast-paced and action-packed as no one takes Manhattan like Burke does. Fans of the series will agree he is back doing what he does best, killing his adversaries.

Harriet Klausner