FICTION

Canary

Mulholland: Little, Brown. Feb. 2015. 400p. ISBN 9780316403207. $26; ebk. ISBN 9780316403177. F
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OrangeReviewStarSarie Holland is a typical honors student, yet her life becomes anything but when she gives a cute guy a ride and it turns out to be a drug buy. Before she knows it, he's on the run, and she's been arrested. In order to avoid possible jail time, Sarie agrees to become a confidential informant (CI) for well-meaning undercover narcotics officer Ben Wildey, who is determined to bring down drug czar Chuckie Morphine. Wildey has his hands full with Sarie; however, she's determined to bring him a big fish and get him off her back, without getting her friend arrested. It seems CIs have been disappearing at an alarming rate, and Sarie's proactive nature may backfire in a fatal way.
VERDICT This high-on-thrills, low-on-gore thriller from Shamus Award winner Swierczynski (Fun & Games; Hell & Gone) is really a family story at heart and is told in large part through Sarie's diarylike letters written to her deceased mother. This gives the novel a poignant edge, while showcasing Sarie's dry wit and original voice. Her herculean efforts to keep her father and younger brother from becoming suspicious while her life spirals out of control are a joy for any fan of clever, edgy thrillers populated with quirky characters.
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