Book Review: “The Portland Laugher” by Earl Emerson

The Portland Laugher by Earl Emerson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Author Earl Emerson has written a complex serial killer mystery with a whole lot of interesting connections to different parts of Seattle and Portland. The nice thing about authors who pick areas outside of New York, Chicago, San Farancisco or L.A. for their novels, is that you are tempted to go get a map and find out a little bit more about another big city where crime can take place just as easily and conveniently for a killer as in one of the big ‘4.’ This book has all the trappings of a really great movie storyline. I liked all the familial connections in the ‘Laugher’ and I likes the back and forth transitions: from the hospital bed to the street, from the inner city offices to the small neighborhoods in Seattle, and from the love/friendship/hate triangle that exists between the leading characters. I felt the ending was a bit contrived, although it was exciting and our hero wins out in the end, although I should think he has a few nightmares still about all of the twists that get him into tight places with the hunt for this serial killer of two cities.

Enjoy the “Laughter”! Ha! Ha!Ha!



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