GREAT READS

Mine All Mine

Adam Davies.

Otto Starks is a Pulse, a security guard with exceptional abilities that include sitting still for days without falling asleep, extra sensitive hearing, and the ability to consume toxins.  Despite his exceptional abilities, in Mine All Mine by Adam Davies, we learn that Otto has a few problems as well.  He can't work up the courage to propose to his girlfriend, his dog was killed in the line of duty, and now the infamous Robin Hood art thief, the Rat Burglar, has been targeting the pieces Otto is hired to protect. Suspicion has fallen on Otto himself.  Having put a few criminals away, Otto's chances in general population are about as good as a snowball's in the warmer side of the afterlife.  To add insult to injury, his girlfriend is rooting for the burglar for his altruistic work returning pieces of art to their country of origin.   What is a guy with nothing more than superhuman detection and squealing powers supposed to do when his life is being stolen one piece of artwork at a time?  The path seems clear: catch the Rat!  Mine All Mine is a neat blend of humor, absurdity, and drama, complete with footnotes and a vocabulary that would ace a college entrance exam.  This novel is a step up in the misfit crime-solver genre made popular by lighter reads such as Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. A great read for men and women, if you are looking for a smart book with dark humor, a touch of romantic drama, and a great plot, make a clean getaway with Mine All Mine.

Recommended by Megan Willan