Easton’s latest is easy to jump into
It can be tough for a reader to drop into a series on book No. 11. But, thankfully, Don Easton makes it easy. The Victoria-based author and former undercover Mountie’s latest mystery novel starring Jack Taggart will please both newcomers and faithful fans.
Subverting Justice details the latest drama in the life of Vancouver-based detective Taggart. After being taunted and targeted by Purvis Evans (somewhat comically referred to as Pure E), who is the new leader of the fictitious motorcycle gang, Satans Wrath, Taggart makes it his personal mission to bring down the violence-prone bad guy. Easton clearly draws on his experiences to add authenticity to his characters’ work, taking readers through surveillance runs, meetings and informant-officer relationships. While it’s easy to be entertained by the crime-fighting drama detailed in the book, it’s particularly fascinating to get an inside look at the inner workings of a gang. With drug trafficking, murder, and battles with rival gangs, Subverting Justice provides a chilling glimpse into what life is like for those who choose to pledge their allegiance to a gang.
Easton’s latest release has a good cadence, carrying the reader through administrative lulls straight into page-turning standoffs. And, the book’s final twist is enough to make those slow moments a distant memory.