The author is a trial lawyer from Boston, who writes his novels while commuting on the city’s cross-harbour ferry. He also does some pro bono work defending wrongly convicted individuals – ideal material for an author, clearly.And here he has a woman who has been unfairly prosecuted by the army despite her exemplary service. Cianna Phelan is now on probation after a tour of duty in Afghanistan that ended in a prison sentence. Her routine job helping other parolees stay on the straight and narrow is disturbed when her soldier brother, Charlie, turns up. Where Cianna is an arse-kicking member of the elite forces, Charlie is the dweeb from the supply corps. But the worm has turned – Charlie has stolen some looted treasure from Afghanistan, though he doesn’t realise how valuable it is.What he has is the Heart of Afghanistan, a religious artifact of symbolic importance, apparently imbuing whichever faction possesses it with legitimacy to rule the country. So, the Taliban and more moderate factions are after it.The Heart of Afghanistan is the thriller’s McGuffin, pulling in Cianna, Charlie, a CIA agent called Saunders, and various psychopaths and gangsters all trying to get their mitts on it. The action – and the story is 80 percent action – takes place mostly in Boston, and David Hosp constructs a hectic chase thriller around warmly drawn characters (among the good guys), such as Cianna and Charlie, damaged by childhood neglect, and Nick, the neighbourhood bar owner and all-round decent guy.The politics are black and white. The CIA are good guys selflessly trying hold a sick world together, Saunders seems to favour all-out war in Afghanistan, while the patriotism cloys in places – CIA honchos mouthing sentiments such as, ‘For all its faults, this is still the greatest country in the world.’ Still, watch out for more adventures with Cianna Phelan. An appealing, strong but dented heroine, she is primed for more jolting action at the end of this pedal-to-the-metal race against time.
So, this is the first novel by David Hosp. It is rather good, though it is one of those where the hero ends up getting beaten to a pulp twice. How do these characters survive such treatment. Scott Finn has worked his way up from squalid beginnings to being a lawyer at a good firm with an excellent wardrobe. THere is a serial killer named Little Jack, who did NOT kill Scott's one time lover, Natalie Caldwell. Finn determines that after an interview with the serial killer. Someone who IS interested in Finn is the detective, Linda Flaherty. There are a number of situations where one is not sure who are the bad guys. A good read, if you like lawyers, mobsters and police.
What do You think about Dark Harbor (2006)?
Occasionally, Hosp's clumsiness with key details--and the attempt to drop red herrings--are obvious and telegraph the reader that s/he is being manipulated. The inclusion of too-helpful friends and colleagues, along with Finn's own loose lips about crucial information, are the marks of an inexperienced author trying to control outcomes. Hosp does not have the literary flair or style of Lehane, but this Boston mystery, overall, is exciting, well-paced and clever, ideal for the beach, and great fun to read.
—Nick
This is the first of a series about Boston-based lawyer Scott Finn and his circle of friends, clients and enemies. At this point, he's a fast-rising associate in a big, pricy law firm although based on his background, he doesn't fit the usual ivy league pattern. In the course of his adventure, he first meets Kozlowski, who reappears as an important character in the later books. It's a somewhat formulaic crime story, beginning with a murder, incorporating some of the usual stock characters; but it's very well written and the characters are better developed than is usual for this genre. A well constructed plot that moves quickly and keeps the reader fully engaged as underlying facts are revealed. Perhaps not quite as good as "Among Thieves" which comes later, but still good entertainment.
—Jim Puskas
A woman, Natalie, is murdered and is considered to be the 7th victim of a serial killer. Investigations into the case show that there is much more to it than it meets the eye.Scott Finn, the lawyer and the friend of the deceased who was last seen with her before her murder, becomes the prime suspect.There is also underworld connection here. Finn has to not only save himself but also find out who murdered Natalie and why!Amazing book. A total page-turner. Full of suspense and mystery. Fast-paced and a bit of romance and inner turmoil among all these. Deadly combo.Must-read and highly recommended for all suspense/mystery lovers.
—Jigar Doshi
