Mark Arsenault, Speak Ill of the Living

Speak Ill of the Living

Mark Arsenault

Poisoned Press, Feb 2005, $24.95, 256 pp.

ISBN 1590581393

Bank president Roger Lime was carjacked; later the coroner Dr. Crane identified the body using dental records. Now Roger Lime's picture is shown in the Second Voice, a weekly newspaper, very much alive and freelance journalist Eddie Bourque is covering the story. Eddie's brother Henry, who participated in a bank robbery, took six million dollars in gold, killed two security guards, but was caught thirty years ago writes a letter to his little brother that contains a newspaper account on the Lime story and the message "I know who's doing this."

For the first time, Eddie visits his brother in prison. Hank tells Eddie that in the accompanying picture to the Lime article is a table that he made and gave to his partner's "old lady." Hank's wife demands Eddie get her husband released because the only person who testified at the trial was Dr. Crane who slanted the case like many others for the prosecution. While Eddie tries to help, someone wants Eddie dead to keep him from learning the Lime truth.

Although Eddie has never seen his brother before his first visit to the prison, he soon realizes he has familial feelings for the man and if he is innocent, he wants him out of jail. He wants to get to know the man. After several attempts on his life, he realizes that he has no idea who wants him dead or why but it has to be related to his newfound relationship with Hank. Speak ILL OF THE LIVING is a cleverly constructed mystery with so many people wanting the gold that Eddie doesn't know who he can trust. Mark Arsenault uses misinformation to create a fantastic, journalistic thriller.

Harriet Klausner