Reader Review of "Bloodthirsty" by Marshall Karp

[John Masse]

I try my best not to read an author “two in a row”. That means that if I have a couple books in an authors series, I will normally try to read “spacer” books in between the book I am reading and the next one in the series. That is, unless I have a deadline. Then I will read the whole series straight through. This is the case now, as I review the second book in Marshall Karp’s Lomax and Biggs series, “Bloodthirsty”.


The story picks up where “The Rabbit Factory” left off. Hollywood is always in the mood for the next big summer blockbuster, and the Famliyland murders screamed “ticket sales” to producers and civilians alike. So Detectives Mike Lomax and Terry Biggs have been hounded by producers and directors to sell the rights to the case for a feature film. One man finally got through, and is planning on setting Mike and Terry up with one of the most powerful (and hated) producers in Hollywood, Barry Gerber. They plan to meet at the premiere of his latest movie, but he’s a no show. The next morning, they find out why. Barry has been murdered. Killed in such a fashion that no one has seen or heard of anything quite like it. The man had many enemies, so the suspect list is as long as film credits. The situation soon turns ugly, when the number one suspect, and equally powerful and hated Hollywood power player, is found murdered in the same fashion. What could be the motive for the killer? Can Lomax and Biggs find the killers before another Hollywood hotshot is murdered? And will these murders hurt their chance at a feature film deal?


The story is unique, the characters are still as engaging as the first time we met them. The plot runs quite smooth, and because this is Marshall Karp’s second novel, the book is about 300 pages shorter than its predecessor. But what stands out to me is the comedy. Through all the drama, all the bloodshed, all the pain, Marshall Karp has a gift for finding the humor in any situation. He knows just the right buttons to press at just the right moment.


The second book in the Lomax and Biggs series from acclaimed author Marshall Karp delivers the laughs, action, and edge of your seat thrills I have come to expect from him. Sorry if that puts some pressure on ya, Marshall.