The Crime of Julian Wells by Thomas H. Cook

I am a Thomas H. Cook fan, ever since I purchased a copy of The Chatham School Affair while in Cape Cod. Mr. Cook is a Cape Cod resident and I was searching for a local author. I find his books literary, ethereal and different. And that can certainly be said for The Crime of Julian Wells.

Julian Wells is an author of books about horrific crimes. For instance, Andrei Chikatilo was a Soviet serial killer who confessed to 56 murders between 1978 and 1990. However, Julian doesn’t write about the killers so much as the victims and the feelings they might have had as their fate became apparent…the feelings of fear and deceit as the killer lured them to their torment. After Julian is found dead by his sister, Loretta, in a rowboat in the middle of a pond on their Montauk estate, his wrists slit, his best friend, Philip wonders what he could have done or said to change the outcome.

As he reviews Julian’s books in order prepare the eulogy, he notes the dedication in his first book is to Philip himself, “To Philip, sole witness to my crime.” This begins to make Philip wonder what that crime might have been. As he reminisces about their lives, Philip wonders whether, indeed, he knew his best friend at all.

Cook takes us on a journey of discovery as Philip relives their times together, travels to meet Julian’s contacts and unravels the mystery.  It is the manner that Cook uses to weave his story, the use of words, the back and forth between now and then that hooks you and keeps you. You have no idea what the end will be and when you get there, you wonder whether it is the end or Cook has just added another hook for you.

The Crime of Julian Wells is a worthy addition to the bibliography of Thomas H. Cook and a worthy read for mystery lovers and lovers of books with the proper words in exactly the proper place.