Title: Merryll Manning: The Health Farm Murders
Genre: Mystery/Suspense Thriller
Pages: 232
Synopsis:
Miami Police Sergeant Merryll Manning takes a holiday at a health farm in the so-called Blue Mountains (they're actually reddish in color), west of Sydney, Australia. Manning comes up against a real killer who is at loose in the district.
Merryll Manning: The Health Farm Murders
by John Howard Reid
Review by Melissa Bowersock
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Merryll Manning is a Miami cop who decides to take a break at an Australian health farm. Fresh air and natural foods seem like the perfect way to de-stress, but then people start dying one by one. No matter that it's his vacation, Manning cannot remain a useless bystander but jumps into the case with both feet, to the chagrin and (eventually) the gratitude of the local police. Unraveling the tangled thread of old friendships gone bad, passions gone wild and secrets galore, Manning follows the twists and turns of events just a few steps behind the killer. Through one surprise after another, one startling revelation after another, he claws his way to the truth.
Although I don't normally reach for murder mysteries as a first choice, I love Australia and was intrigued when I saw this book took place in the Blue Mountains outside of Sydney. Reid does an excellent job of describing the wild, wonderful scenery there, the danger in the land itself and even the Kamikaze flies. The dialog also rings true with its slang and Ozzie expressions. I was impressed with Reid's introduction of the characters. Thirteen men share the train ride to the health farm, and Reid introduces each one with a quick deft sketch, giving the reader a reference hook on which to "hang" each one so he quickly becomes a distinct person, no small feat with an ensemble cast. The book moves along at a good clip and never drags. Each new bit of information leads the reader on to next, twisting and turning like a ride on a roller-coaster. Reid's subtle dark humor sparkles, and he even takes a page from Agatha Christie's playbook and does it well. This was a fun read, full of surprises.
