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Book Review: ‘A Man With One of Those Faces’ by Caimh McDonnell

This is a book with one of those covers.

Yes, I know we’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but who among us can honestly say we don’t do that. We see a gorgeous man or woman, a sleek sports car or an electronic gadget that looks sexy and think, “Don’t know what that is, but I gotta have it!”

This book was the opposite of that. It turned up in my “to be read” pile and I had no idea where it had come from or why it was there. The title was uninspiring. I didn’t recognize the author’s name and what’s with that weird H at the end? I was about to toss it aside for the next book in the pile when I looked at the back cover. It said, “A brilliant comedic crime thriller.” It said, ” … whip-smart and funny.”

I knew it was illegal in Ireland to lie on the backs of books, so I thought I’d give it a chance.

I was hooked by the end of the first page. Clever writing. Funny plot. Good characters. Terrific idea for a crime thriller.

The funny and the clever stayed for the whole book, but the terrific idea for the crime thriller — a guy with “one of those faces,” a face that everyone mistakes for someone else — rather disappeared. After the first couple pages it played little role in the story.

Paul Mulchrone, the man who looks like everyone else, accidentally doesn’t learn a deadly secret, but someone’s trying to kill him, just in case. Nurse Brigit, who persuaded him to talk to the dying man, has read a lot of detective books and wants to help Paul figure out why anyone wants to kill him. Bunny McGarry is a hurling coach and a police detective. He never bluffs, and he’d like to atone for something he did to Paul many years ago, though he’s too mean to even think it.

With the help of some of New Scotland Yard’s finest, Paul has to solve one of Ireland’s most notorious crimes while running from the police and the Irish mob.

I learned many years ago that Irish bulls are always pregnant. When I started this book and was delighted by the clever writing and humor, I sought the author on Facebook and told him how much I was enjoying his book.

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