Justin Scott, McMansion

McMansion

Justin Scott

Poisoned Pen Press, January 2007, $24.95

ISBN: 159058063X

Long term residents of Newbury, Connecticut hate avaricious developer Billy Tiller, who has built several vulgar "palaces". Thus, it is not a shocker when Tiller dies in a hit and run accident; though the vehicle of choice was a bulldozer. The local police arrest environmental activist Jeff Kimball, who was found sitting in the driver's seat while Tiller was crushed under the treads.

Whereas Jeff welcomes martyrdom, as he sees imprisonment, his father hires attorney Ira Levy to represent his son. In turn, Ira hires Ben Abbott to investigate. Ben welcomes the fact that the odious Tiller is dead, but though biased, he accepts the case after Ira persuades him to do so. When he concludes that Jeff is innocent, Ben takes a different tactic; instead of finding some doubt, he concentrates on uncovering the identity of the killer, which alienates everyone, including the client's dad who wants the case closed and forgotten.

The premise behind MCMANSION is simple; avaricious developers will build disgustingly gauche edifices if the money is there, while extreme tree huggers will turn to eco-terrorism, including murder to prevent these abominations. Thus the audience and his lawyer believe Jeff is capable of homicide in the name of the environment, with only Ben thinking otherwise. Though Ben stays somewhat aloof so the readers never really get to know him, fans will appreciate his inquiry into whether the Lorax could commit murder.