It’s e-books like MCGRAVE that are great for tablet reading. Lee Goldberg’s novella is just 70 pages of awesomeness. Think of it as some sort of lost ’80s action film — or both a love letter to and parody of the genre, hitting every beat you would see in those bygone films.
The title refers to John “Tidal Wave” McGrave, a cop who plays by his own set of rules. (Like there were any other kind back in the halcyon days of action cinema.) The story follows our hero as he stumbles upon a house robbery gone wrong, then goes to Berlin, where he’s a full-on fish out of water.
All the while, McGrave — who calls himself a living weapon — just barrels through the plot while having no regard that he is not even a cop anymore, due to earlier actions. The story is literally just one giant action piece from page one, with no let-up, so you don’t stop reading until it’s done. You’re never sure how more over-the-top it can get.
Goldberg seems to have his tongue planted firmly in cheek throughout, with the added bonus that there is no budget to worry about while you write. MCGRAVE is a super-breezy and easy read which will delight those who miss the men’s adventure series of old. Hopefully, Goldberg can continue in this vein since this work alone has me rethinking my anti-Kindle position. —Bruce Grossman
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
McGrave? Awesome.
Other possible names for characters:
McKiller
McDeath
McDestruction
McPunchYourFace
McMorgue
McSolarPlexus
McCharo’sBoobs
McMuffin?
McGuffin!