Robert Ferrigno - Flinch (2001)
Jimmy Gage writes acerbic movie reviews and other miscellany for "Slap," an obnoxious LA tabloid published by a weirdly eccentric billionaire as an in-your-face affront to the Southland's beautiful people. Understandably, he's the target of a lot of resentment and hate mail. One piece of mail was different, though.
It was from someone calling himself "The Eggman," purporting to be a serial killer and claiming responsibility for six unsolved murders. Unfortunately for Jimmy, the police investigated the crimes and found no evidence to support the existence of The Eggman. The whole thing was declared a hoax and Jimmy was branded a fraud.
Flash forward ten months. Jimmy has lost his job, lost his home, and has just returned from self-imposed exile in Europe, including a few weeks spent in an Italian jail. He can't stop thinking about The Eggman, though. Despite what anyone else says or believes, Jimmy is convinced the killer is real. A disturbing discovery only intensifies this belief, and points to a likely killer: Jimmy's own brother!
Flinch is a unique book that defies categorization. It combines intriguing mystery with edgy satire, all complemented by wickedly dark humor. Robert Ferrigno has created a fascinating place, populated with some delightfully whacko characters. (I loved the ever-so-polite "Extreme" wrestler who keeps apologizing while bouncing Jimmy like a basketball.) I couldn't wait to find out what happened to these people next.
Perhaps the most surprising thing about Flinch is how sympathetic a character Jimmy Gage turns out to be. Under his callous, jaded, and cynical exterior beats the heart of a warm and honorable man. His character gives the story a firm center, grounding the madness in reality, and thus making the story more moving and effective.
Read it for the mystery, read it for the humor -- whatever the reason, just read Flinch. You won't be disappointed.
Posted by David J. Montgomery in Book Reviews | Permalink
