Serving up murder, with a side of mayhem

We all have our dark side. Mine leads me between the covers of books that feature a fair amount of disappointing human behavior and sad examples of poor choices (sex and violence). I can say this in a family newspaper because my taste in books pales in comparison with what is seen every night on prime-time television.

Folks who know me are often surprised when I tell them what I’m reading.

Especially surprised because, by profession, I am a book group facilitator. As part of my job, I select the books for my groups, and believe me, the following three will not be on my list. There are books I read to study, analyze and discuss because they’re the best examples I can find of brilliant writing and enlightening ideas. And there are books I read just for the fun of it. Sometimes the boundaries blur and a book group book is also a hoot; but often the inks don’t blend.

This summer I read three terrific novels, and if you promise not to think less of me, I’ll share them with you. Remember, I still like Jane Austen. It’s just that, like many others, I’m a person with a kaleidoscope of tastes, some of them a bit shocking.

First, I recommend “The Snowman” by Jo Nesbo, a Norwegian writer whose craft is described in a Slate online review as featuring “deeply psychological, highly individualized portraits of twisted motivation …” Just imagine a serial killer on the loose, with the only hint of his/her next target the mysterious appearance of a huge snowman with black, beady eyes standing outside the victim’s home. All that snow around Oslo, all that angst in the mind and heart of the detective, Harry Hole. All that creepy mingling of mood and madness. I’ve been to Oslo and Bergen, Norway, and let me tell you, chilly doesn’t begin to describe the grim backdrop for this thriller.

Another summer joy was “A Wild Surge of Guilty Passion” by Eric Larsen, the author of “Devil in the White City.” Like “Devil,” “Surge” is built around a true story, a domestic murder set in the 1920s. The particular pleasure of the book is how firmly the author anchors the story in time. It’s also fascinating to observe two very decent people becoming slaves to their desires. As they become entangled, they pull innocent bystanders into their web. Somehow, by taking a droll overview of his characters’ passions and weakness, Larsen creates a murder story that’s quite entertaining, even though not all the characters survive.

I saved the best for last. The main character is 200 years old, and he has 1,650 victims to his name. The book is “The Last Werewolf” by Glen Duncan. And no, I don’t read vampire books; twilight is just a time of day for me. But I read the review of this novel, downloaded it and, pardon the expression, devoured it in three nights.

As the review in The Guardian asks, “Would you rather be a werewolf or a vampire?

Merely changing into a big dog and eating people once a month seems to pale in comparison with being able to fly. And while vampires live forever, werewolves last only 400 years. Still, vampires get bored, living so long, and they can’t really have sex …”

The story of Jake Marlowe, the last werewolf, is witty, intelligent, and both furry and funny as a tale of a man-eating werewolf can be. Lots of blood and guts flow through the pages, skillfully sanitized by laugh-out-loud lines. One example: Jake the werewolf says, “Two nights ago I’d eaten a forty-three-year-old hedge fund specialist. I’ve been in a phase of taking the ones no one wants.”

The book offers social commentary, cultural observation and contemporary opinion, all of which lend credibility to an incredible story. The tale of an attractive, sexy man and his beautiful soul mate, turned by the full moon into craven animals, really does have its light side. The story of love and lust and overwhelming urges also offers a meditation on human desire and the moving scale of morality to which we cling.
“Reader, I ate him,” begins one chapter. Of course you did, Jake. You had to. We understand.

This is one of the dark-side stories that do morph into good literature. And thank goodness (not to give away too much of the ending) Jake is not the last werewolf.

Copyright © 2011 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 304.