Flat Spin: A Cordell Logan Mystery (The Cordell Logan Mysteries Book 1) by David Freed

" It's very rare that I read a book and have the simultaneous thoughts that I want to get to the end of the book to see how it ends; and I don't want the book to end because it's so good. This was one of those books. It's a mystery/thriller, but made me laugh out loud and I never laugh out loud when reading a book. The entire story is mapped out in a very creative way and I found myself wondering how in the world the author came up with some of the ideas. Certainly worth your time to read it....." " David Freed's engaging protagonist, Cordell Logan, is retired from a secret government special ops group known only as Alpha. He now buys groceries and occasionally pays his rent by giving flying lessons in his Cessna 172, or did until his last student washed out. He's never gotten over his ex-wife Savannah, who was stolen by his former Alpha boss, Arlo Eschevarria. So he's not terribly disappointed to learn Eschevarria has met a violent end, nor does it bother him that the police have no suspects. He’s unresponsive to Savannah’s pleas to let the police know about the special ops until Savannah’s rich father slips him some cash to sweeten the job. But the police don’t believe him. For his trouble Logan becomes suspect number one......."

작품의 기본분위기는 역시 유머다. 유머러스한 대화나 묘사가 작품의 장점이자 단점이다. 주인공의 직업이 민간 비행기 강사이기 때문에 비행과 관련된 장면이나 묘사가 많이 등장한다. 그의 전직이 CIA, DIA와 같이 작전을 하던 특수 암살 요원이라는 점이나 그의 과거에 대한 설명이나 암시등이 작품에 대한 규모나 흥미를 더하는 점이 있지만 사실 이 작품에서는 크게 느껴지지 않는다. 그리고 이야기의 전개가 예상과는 다르게 느린 편이다. 인물들 간의 관계들이나 이야기 전개가 막장인 점에 비해서 '불교'의 가르침 같은 나름 무게감 있고 울림이 있는 인용문들은 좀 의외라는 느낌이 든다. 문장은 큰 문제가 없지만 표현은 좀 읽는데 고민을 해야 하는 부분들이 있다.