Reviews for The King of Swords

The average rating for The King of Swords based on 2 reviews is 4 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2019-10-19 00:00:00 Carole Robbins The second Max Mingus book doesn't have the same level of black magic mystery as Mr. Clarinet but it certainly packs a punch when it comes to the darker side of crime fiction. The mysterious, almost supernatural-like entity that is Solomon Boukman, a dangerous criminal who seems to have the ability to change his appearance is at the center of Max's sights. Presumably responsible for mass murder in cult-like fashion, Boukman's body count is as scary as his legend. Aided by an interesting and well developed supporting cast which includes a wanna-be pimp (who just doesn't have the heart for the game), a mother with serious control issues, and voodoo shopfront owner with a penchant for the macabre, Boukman's crew makes for meaty reading, worthy of a series of books about them in their own right. As far as the investigation and police procedural aspects go, this isn't your run of the mill popular crime fiction. King of Swords takes the reader into a dark place where blood flows like wine and death is a rite of passage. I give this a solid 4 (out of 5) stars.

Review # 2 was written on 2019-10-26 00:00:00 Michelle Haag Utterly excellent cops-n-robbers investigation, with a meaty plot, memorable characters and voodoo mystique to add to Miami's inherent black magic. There are other tales in the Max Mingus series but this prequel is set back in the early 1980s and introduces the detective and his arcane opponent. It's a sprawling story which encompasses corrupt cops and a surprisingly sympathetic pimp; brutal enforcers and queasy detectives trying to escape the quagmire of political need, racial tensions and personal frailty. The tarot cards, Samedi rituals and zombie assassin all add brilliantly to the mix. 8/10 Join me for (many!) more reviews of crime / thrillers over at