Gideon Redemption

 

Gideon Redemption is the third novel by Grant Rosenberg that I’ve reviewed, the third in a series about his protagonist Kelly Harper. It was Kelly’s father, Dr. David Harper, who was the main figure in the first book, Gideon. He was a physician who took over responsibility for a clinic in the Mission District of San Francisco, but in a highly unusual situation, in order to adequately fund the medical care that he was doing at a considerable financial loss, he accepted a roll as an assassin of the worst of society’s dregs. The assassin was known as Gideon. When he was killed in the second book, Gideon Resurrection, Kelly, who had followed her father into a medical career and who placed her father on top of a tall pedestal for his humanitarian acts, knew nothing about his dark activities until she read his diary. Although aghast at what she learned about her father and then when she gained responsibility for the clinic’s survival, she eventually agreed to become the next Gideon. The contrast in roles of being a literal savior of the downtrodden on the streets of the Mission District, and a woman was also a killer who used the money she earned to pay the clinic’s bill, caused Kelly great emotional distress. In the third novel, Gideon Redemption, it becomes clear that stress of her two identities was tearing her emotionally apart.

 

If you check out my prior reviews of Mr. Rosenberg’s books, you’ll find that I literally raved about his writing and the characters that he skillfully developed. The third book is equally well written with regard to the evolution of Kelly and the associated characters. The three books together get my ultimate 5/5+ rating. He does a remarkable job tying together the plots and subplots in a most satisfying manner.

 

I think this book was originally intended to be the last in the series, but I hope Mr. Rosenberg changes his mind about this. Kelly is such a compelling and intriguing character, I would be disappointed not to see where she might go from this point forward. Whatever he decides, if you’re a fan of murder mysteries, this three-book series should be on your bookshelves.

Gideon Resurrection by Grant Rosenberg #1579

Gideon Resurrection by Grant Rosenberg is the second book in a trilogy, and I reviewed the first novel, Gideon, in 12/20. My review of Mr. Rosenberg’s debut novel was as glowing as any review that I’ve ever written, so I hope you’ve taken my advice and have read that one. You can see my review by searching for the title in this blog.

 

Two and one-half years later, I received the second novel, and it did not remain on my nightstand for very long – it jumped my reading queue, and I was not disappointed. We learn that the protagonist David Harper, a physician who runs a medical clinic in San Francisco’s Mission District, has been murdered. He had taken on the role of Gideon, an assassin of the worst of the worst characters, typically people who had been deeply involved in crime including rape and murder. What a contrast! On the one hand, he was a great physician who was willing to treat all persons that came to his clinic, but he also became a murderer. The fees he collected for such work helped keep his financially troubled clinic afloat. Harper’s daughter, Kelly, had followed him into the world of medicine, having graduated from medical school and having become a physician at the clinic which her father had founded. But, at least for the murderer of her father who was known to her, she had also followed her father into the role of Gideon. After killing her father’s notorious murderer, she swore to herself that she would not murder again.

 

However, upon reading her father’s diary, which he had left for her to find, Kelly began to have second thoughts. When the building of the clinic was sold, and the new owner increased the clinic’s rent, Kelly had the option of allowing the clinic to close or accepting another assignment for Gideon. After doing her own dangerous research about the proposed victim, Kelly agreed that another person deserved to die, but there were people on her trail who were about to discover her identity. Meanwhile, her homicide detective boyfriend also seemed to be about to discover this mysterious killer.

 

Rosenberg has created captivating characters who are put in ethically-challenged situations. Once again, Kelly is operating in the dangerous world of the Mission District in San Francisco. He has set up a fascinating story for the conclusion of this trilogy. Gideon Resurrection gets my strong recommendation (but read Gideon first).

Gideon