This was the second Max Power book that I've read, the first being Little Big Boy. The reason I mention this is that the two books couldn't be more opposite in many ways. I admire Power for his ability to write Little Big Boy from the perspective of a seven-year-old boy and then Larry Flynn from the perspective of a dying, decrepit, rude and curmudgeonly old man.
The character of Larry Flynn was beautifully drawn and managed to evoke both anger, frustration, sympathy and sadness, all at the same time, from the reader. A fantastic job in character development. Like Laura, I as a reader, fluctuated between hating Larry and feeling so sorry for him. This is the sign of a skilled author and there is no doubt that Power is one of those.
Larry has harboured a deep secret all his adult life, one that ruined his life and turned him into the bitter, twisted old man that he had become. On his last legs, he finally sees a chance for revenge against the family that caused him so much pain.
This story, I guess, is an action/thriller and as such is a very enjoyable read. I did find some of the action scenes to be just a little beyond the vein of believability, especially the resilience of some of the participants in the face of very serious injuries. Nonetheless, Larry Flynn ran at a fair fast pace and kept me interested and intrigued to the very end.
For me, though, the highlight of the novel was not the action scenes at all, but the very real interpersonal relationship that developed between Larry and his intended victim in his thirst for revenge, Laura. I think Power captured perfectly the various emotions Laura went through as she dealt with this nasty, old man who was hell bent now on destroying her life and that of her father's.
An excellent read and one I would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys action/thrillers with a real bite of emotion and humanity.
Was it as good, for me, as Little Big Boy? No, it was not, but that doesn't make it any the less enjoyable from this reviewer's perspective and I'm happy to give Larry Flynn, as solid four stars for a great read.
The character of Larry Flynn was beautifully drawn and managed to evoke both anger, frustration, sympathy and sadness, all at the same time, from the reader. A fantastic job in character development. Like Laura, I as a reader, fluctuated between hating Larry and feeling so sorry for him. This is the sign of a skilled author and there is no doubt that Power is one of those.
Larry has harboured a deep secret all his adult life, one that ruined his life and turned him into the bitter, twisted old man that he had become. On his last legs, he finally sees a chance for revenge against the family that caused him so much pain.
This story, I guess, is an action/thriller and as such is a very enjoyable read. I did find some of the action scenes to be just a little beyond the vein of believability, especially the resilience of some of the participants in the face of very serious injuries. Nonetheless, Larry Flynn ran at a fair fast pace and kept me interested and intrigued to the very end.
For me, though, the highlight of the novel was not the action scenes at all, but the very real interpersonal relationship that developed between Larry and his intended victim in his thirst for revenge, Laura. I think Power captured perfectly the various emotions Laura went through as she dealt with this nasty, old man who was hell bent now on destroying her life and that of her father's.
An excellent read and one I would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys action/thrillers with a real bite of emotion and humanity.
Was it as good, for me, as Little Big Boy? No, it was not, but that doesn't make it any the less enjoyable from this reviewer's perspective and I'm happy to give Larry Flynn, as solid four stars for a great read.
Be sure to go and check out some more of Max Power's extremely powerful literature, on Amazon:
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