Counting To Infinity
J.L. Abramo
Dunne, Sept 2004, $22.95, 240 pp.
ISBN 03123260505

San Francisco private investigator Jake Diamond is forcibly persuaded to meet Max Lansdale for a job he can't refuse. Max wants Jake to find Harry Chandler who was reported dead in a shoot-out. Max says that a private investigator reported to him that he ran into Harry. The reason Jake is chosen for the job is that his mentor and associate Jimmy Pigeon reported that Harrison died. Max believes that the mantle has passed to Jake. Max wants to find Chandler because he killed Max's brother Randolph.

When Jake returns to San Francisco his trusty associate Darlene tells him that Max is connected to the mob. Jake buys time to figure out how to handle the situation because Max has threatened Darlene and his ex-wife and lover if he doesn't get results. When he finally meets with Chandler, an unknown person kills Harry. Soon after a bomb goes off in Jake's apartment, killing Sally and injuring Jake. When he recovers, Jake and his friends put into motion a plan to bring Max down.

COUNTING TO INFINITY is a dark and gritty urban noir thriller that starts off at light speed and quickly gains even more momentum. This is not a book for the faint of heart because there are some violent scenes but they are necessary to make the plot feel realistic. Readers will feel empathy for Jake who loses someone he loves dearly and will admire him for trusting his friends to formulate a plan that will take care of Max while working within the boundaries of the law, including not murdering him. J.L. Abramo has written a very special crime thriller.

Harriet Klausner