Review | ‘A Measure of Darkness’

The father-son duo of Jonathan and Jesse Kellerman is back with a new crime novel, 'A Measure of Darkness.” A story that wraps you in with the frustrating process of police work, 'A Measure of Darkness” will keep you on board until the end.

When Deputy Coroner Clay Edison is awakened in the middle of the night, he finds himself at the forefront of a case that will last for months. A party turns into panic when several teenagers start shooting, causing several deaths. The tragedy brings the coroner to the suspicious murder of a Jane Doe. The Kellermans, both with several best-selling crime novels under their belts, show the frustration that often comes with solving a murder - false leads, inconsistent stories, and an encumbrance in cooperation.

The Kellermans add pop culture references to Tinder and the Black Lives Matter movement, relating the story on another level, even if they don't directly impact the story.

Family subplots add tension. Tensions between the successful detective and his sketchy, trouble-seeking younger brother is somewhat of a cliche. Yet, the relationship rebounds as they connect over shared interests, creating an escape from the gory murders. A fallout between a mother and daughter shows the despair that comes from staying out of touch.

While enticing, the style in which the story is written is distracting. Lots of indenting after single sentences disrupts the flow, rather than aiding it. While it can be a form of emphasis, it can easily be overdone. The novel also is full of irrelevant timestamps.

Despite its flaws, 'A Measure of Darkness,” is an enjoyable crime novel. In this case two minds are indeed better than one. This duo clearly thinks enough alike to produce a well-written narrative yet again.