(Reviewed by Christopher J. Lynch)
It’s said that good things come in small packages and Two Suspects by Gary Sherbell bears this out. At only 107 pages, the book could easily be devoured on a plane flight or on a slow raining day around the house. But what it lacks in length, it makes up for in depth, character development, and pacing.
Sherbell gets us as quickly as possible into the world of the main character, Alan, a dedicated but struggling defense attorney for a legal aid group that represents indigent clients. It’s one of these clients, Johnny Jones who soon ends up having Alan pitted against both his erstwhile best friend Tim, while simultaneously aligning himself with Tim’s ex-girlfriend, Cathy. The plot becomes messier and is filled with Shakespearean treachery and betrayal, but it never gets too complicated or complex to follow. I found the dialogue to be convincing and fresh, and while Two Suspects seemed to bog down a bit in the middle, the surprise ending and clever machinations of the characters kept me hooked to the last page.
A very enjoyable and quick read.
Note: Two Suspects was adapted from a stage play of the same name.
