“Terminal” by Marshall Karp - Disposable Hitmen
However, we go on day to day without being too concerned by that fact, mainly because the probability of it all ending is one we feel we can neglect... and rightfully so, for most people actually do end up living until a relatively old age without all that many problems. On the other hand, there are those who suffer terrible misfortune, being diagnosed with incurable illnesses, making the clock tick ever faster.
This puts them in the most strenuous position imaginable, one a vile criminal takes full advantage of in Terminal, the latest Lomax and Biggs novel by Marshall Karp, the #1 bestselling co-author of the NYPD Red series along with James Patterson.
Before beginning the review, I'd like to mention that even though this book is part of a series, each and every novel in it is written so that you can start wherever you please. While it is true that reading the books in the proper order will help you understand the characters a little better, it certainly isn't required for them to be enjoyed to the fullest.
The story opens up with a rather curious sequence as a couple sits in a car, plotting the murder of a man they seemingly know very little about. They manage to run him over with their car and make it look like an accident he was actually responsible for, clearing them of all wrongdoing.
Not long after, Mike Lomax is visiting his doctor for that prostate exam he keeps putting off for later, and just as he is about to reach the point of no return, shots erupt in the medical complex. Making his way through the panicked corridors wearing nothing but a gown, Lomax comes face-to-face with the distressed gunman who had given the fertility doctor, Kristian Kraus, an incurable case of lead poisoning.
Before blowing his own head off, Calvin Bernstein claims that he had no choice, that he had to do it. Soon enough, Lomax and Biggs dig their way onto the tracks of a ruthless criminal, one who had the bright idea to persuade or coerce terminally-ill people to become assassins, cashing out one big cheque before they make their final departure.
With this fifth long-awaited book in the Lomax and Biggs series, we see Marshall Karp return in full force with his poignant trademark humour that never seems to leave the room, even under the direst of circumstances. Karp really has the coveted talent of being able to turn virtually any situation into something worth laughing at, helping to create a balance with the numerous dark places the story goes to.
There is some violence (this is a story about assassins, after all), innocents get killed, and as you can imagine, the book deals a whole lot with terminal illness and the ways it affects people.
The combination of those themes makes it feel like if there is a message to this book, it's that every second in life ought to be enjoyed as much as possible, even in the darkest days... for it could all disappear in the blink of an eye.
Themes and such things aside, the story is a rather interesting one to follow with an original premise, or at least one I can't recall seeing often out there. Lomax and Biggs work together as well as they always have, the chemistry between them feeling real enough to think they were based on an actual cop duo.
The humorous remarks and observations almost never stop when these two are together, which makes it all the more impressive that they are able to move along with the case and unravel as many twists and turns as they do. There is a very stable build-up to the exciting climax, and everything gets wrapped up neatly at the end with no loose ends to speak of.
While the main plot for the terminally-ill assassins certainly takes up most of the text, Karp throws in a few additional wrenches into the mix as Lomax's home life is slowly turning upside down.
For starters, he and his girlfriend have to take care of an eight year-old Chinese girl of a friend who went back home to be with her dying mother. In addition, his blood test results show some alarming indicators that could spell some real trouble.
By throwing these personal elements into the mix, I believe Karp actually raises this novel a bit above the other ones in the series, as the story becomes about much more than the resolution of a crime spree. We get closer to these characters we've come to love over the years, sharing in their pains and burdens, worrying for what might await them, and learning who they really are on the inside.
If you're looking for a police procedural thriller that can mesmerize you with its plot and have you laughing out loud at the same time, then you'll definitely want to look into this novel, and the whole series as a matter of fact.
 | Marshall KarpPersonal site Marshall Karp has been a writer his entire life, creating scripts for commercials, plays, sitcoms, and even a movie. Now, he has dedicate himself to being a full-time author. After five years of effort, he managed to publish his first book, The Rabbit Factory, which turned out to a be a real success. |
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