4 out of 4 stars
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Do you know that I can make you do anything I wish, anything at all? Your opinions will not matter; you will do exactly what I ask of you. All I have to do is to hurt you bad enough for long enough until the pain breaks you. But it will also have changed you in unimaginable ways, and I will get more than I bargained for.
This is the theme of Pancake Money by Finn Bell, a crime/forensic/psychological thriller set in New Zealand. Three saintly priests are brutally murdered on three consecutive days and the cops have no idea why, let alone any lead on who did it. Detective Bobby Ress and his mentor-cum-friend Pollo Latu try desperately to find clues and if possible, to prevent the next crime. But as they approach the probable crime scene, all hell breaks out. Will they be able to sort things out on their own?
What sets Pancake Money as different from the other books of this genre is that the read is comparatively short but extremely fast-paced and intense. The entire story takes place within a span of one week. There is news of a grisly murder every day, and the reader suddenly finds himself caught in a whirlwind of actions. This pace suits the story very well and makes it captivating to the point of being ‘unputdownable’.
Short sentences are used throughout the book with a matter-of-fact tone about them. This strategy fits the storyline perfectly because it reflects the precise nature of the forensic investigation and in some cases, a complete lack of emotions resulting from recurrent exposures to horrible murder scenes on the part of the detectives. It reminds the reader that this is no flowery tale but the stark reality.
Pancake Money is unique because it provides the reader with deep insights into criminal psychology. As part of the ‘Forensic Psychology 702’ lecture Bobby attends, we learn how intense pain can affect our psyche in unpredictable ways. Throughout the story, this theory is demonstrated again and again. There were times I wanted to scream ‘It is not fair’! But we were dealing with a devious mind, a mind twisted by agony and trauma. No one is above the effects of pain, not even a cop, as Bobby eventually comes to realize.
Bell also masterfully shows how tension and mental strain is a constant part of the daily life in a street cop’s family, and how the family members try to support their spouse/father despite their own fear and uncertainty.
There were a few weak points about the book. First of all, twice I found almost identical paragraphs to be repeated within a span of a few pages. Secondly, as the deductions went pretty fast, sometimes it was difficult for me to follow the detectives’ train of thoughts and I had to go back and re-read a couple of paragraphs. Also, the story was a little predictable. I guessed the ‘who’ much earlier, and even a possible ‘why’ later on. However, when Booby Ress finally realizes the truth, his explanation helps to tie all the loose ends together.
In spite of those, I would still rate the book a perfect 4 out of 4 stars. From a technical standpoint, I noticed only a few minor errors. Anyone who loves psychological thrillers will enjoy the book. However, the novel calls for a mature audience as it deals with issues such as sexual abuse and has a lot of blood and gore to boot.
In the end, Bell puts a section explaining the premise, the various tribes and groups of New Zealand mentioned in the book, as well as his primary motivations behind writing the novel. This context makes the story more real. Finally, he ends the novel with a profound question that leaves a sense of immense sadness in its wake.
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Pancake Money
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when I get a little money I buy books; and if I have any left l buy food and clothes
