There Was a Little Girl

JLWarren3@aol.com
Tue, 15 Aug 1995 21:23:15 -0400

Your review of THERE WAS A LITTLE GIRL indicated that you went back and read
a few of the Matthew Hope series to determine what the fuss was about when
Lawyer Hope was shot. The books you read were fine, but to really get a feel
for how good McBain could be with Matthew Hope you must read MARY, MARY.
McBain is one of the acknowledged masters of dialogue but in MARY, MARY he
carries that mastery over to cross examination in the courtroom. Go back and
read MARY, MARY and you will see what the fuss is about.

I am going from memory now but I think you reviewed Conroy's new book, too.
I just finished BEACH MUSIC and must say that while some of the stories it
contains are great the book is really too long and too poorly put together.
For the first time Conroy's characters are just not believable. He has
always been weak on dialogue but in this effort he allows his characters to
say things no one would say in ways no one would speak. Sad thing is that
those of us who love his depictions of the Carolina low country are still
glad to get whatever he is willing to dish out. And regardless of how bad
the book might be his story of George Fox's experience during the holocaust
was chilling.

Thanks for your reviews. Keep up the good work.