Title: The Redhead
Author: H.M. Howington
Publisher: AuthorhouseUK
ISBN: 978-1-5246-4468-0
Pages: 184
Genre: Fiction, Mystery/Detective/Suspense
Reviewed by: Susan Brown
Pacific Book Review Star
Awarded to Books of Excellent Merit
There’s a genre of mystery writing that hit its heyday in the 1930s to 50s. It’s been dubbed “hardboiled crime fiction.” Two well-known authors of this style were Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett who refined the characterization of the smart-alecky, one-line tossing, rough around the edges detective who really had a heart-of-gold; the guy who fell for dames, got roughed up by thugs but in the end got to the truth.
The Redhead, by H.M. Howington, takes a page from that style of mystery story in his mystery The Redhead. It follows the exploits of a private detective Charlie McQuillen who takes a case, knowing he shouldn’t trust the statuesque redhead who slips into his office, “straight from the angel factory” and hires him. She was dangerous, but he knew “the puppy-dog eyes were too sad and beautiful to turn down.” Plus, the money was too good to leave on the table. His struggling PI gig had yet to really takeoff so, of course, he is between that proverbial rock and a hard place when it comes to turning down money. He takes the dough.
From that first meeting, he’s thrown into a vortex of lies, half-truths, falsehoods, blackmail, misdirection’s and misinformation, all the makings of an engaging murder mystery, which delivers a nice twist at the end. Along the way we are introduced to McQuillen’s ex-wife, old Army buddies, a new girlfriend, former partners on the local police force and a host of shady characters who play a part in the shenanigans.
Mr. Howington kept up a good pace with just the right amount of twists and turns in the narrative to keep you guessing. As a devotee of this genre, I enjoyed the derivative feel to so much of it, but also the originality that he brought to this tale. It’s set shortly after World War II, so the cars, clothes and lifestyle are described in terms of that era, but the writing has a more modern feel to it; really the best of both worlds.
The plot goes something like this: the redhead is being followed, or is she? Her boss is her father, or is he? McQuillen’s new girlfriend is in the mix, maybe. His ex-wife is pulling some strings, kind of. The Army is doing things on the QT that help McQuillen, or do they? The thugs are the good guys, how can that be? It’s the lawyer or the bartender or the police detective or the Army buddy or maybe it’s all of them. The possibilities are captivating.
H.M. Howington presents readers with a well-written, page-turning mystery which I found difficult to put down. “The Redhead” by H.M. Howington is a ‘must read’ mystery, certain to add fans to this author’s followers list. I recommend it as a Five-Star read to all mystery lovers for sure! It turns out The Redhead…well, I won’t spoil the ending.
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