Title: Medusa’s Lair: A Chic Sparks-Fish House Gang Novel
Author: Kenneth L Funderburk
Publisher: Author’s Tranquility Press
ISBN: 978-1-957546-40-7
Genre: Crime Action / Fiction
Pages: 205
Reviewed by: Allison Walker
Pacific Book Review
For Chic Sparks, the disappearance of his friend Ken Renfroe remains a giant question mark and un-scratchable itch. Chic’s good friend may have led a secret life, hidden even from his family, as a high profile crime boss. If Chic takes the case, he’ll be diving into the dangerous, underground world of the Sinaloa Mexican cartel and making dangerous enemies. Chic’s own girlfriend, Suzy, was nearly killed during a run-in with the cartel. Yet, how can he not pursue answers when faced with the possible murder of his missing friend?
Medusa’s Lair is an action-packed addition to the Chic Sparks-Fish House Gang series, written by Kenneth L Funderburk. The Chic Sparks-Fish House Gang series is best read in order but, if a reader happened to pick up a book out of order, in mid-series, they wouldn’t have trouble keeping up with the story. Funderburk interlaces enough backstory to catch a reader up without being obnoxious about it. The series gives Funderburk a chance to grow the characters and create more complexity in the plot. Throughout the book, there are a few plots happening simultaneously, characters moving their own agendas independently of each other and growing closer to collision in the big climax.
The novel is dialogue heavy, which serves to develop characters but sometimes cripples the progression of the story. For example, Chic and Suzy visit a Sacred Harp camp when Chic is introduced to Suzy’s mother for the first time. There is a description of the camp but the only significant character interaction is via dialogue. The only time readers are given any character interaction is when the characters are talking. Sometimes, actions do speak louder than words. There is sometimes a bizarre emphasis on extraneous details; for example, listing the weight of character’s weight instead of describing them in more creative ways. Chip is 6’3” and 215 lbs, so readers assume he is lean and muscular with a strong frame but are told this in numbers rather than words.
Medusa’s Lair would make for a good movie adaptation, and not just because of the story’s reliance on dialogue or because most of the characters are described as drop-dead gorgeous. The story is paced well, with constant development and building action. There’s always something happening. Medusa’s Lair is high risk, big money, international, non-stop action. There’s nothing especially gory or risqué that will turn off more sensitive readers, but the novel does have just enough violence and sex to remind readers it is about cartel crime. It’s an interesting crime action novel that can be read as part of a series or as a standalone novel. Fans of the genre will find little to want for.
