The first thing he needs to know is more about who Dorothea really was. It turns out he didn't know very much about her at all, and there are almost no records to prove she really existed; nothing to identify the cremated remains that were assumed to be hers. Dorothea's best friend Sandy is afraid to talk to him, and no one seems to know anything about Dorothea's past. To make things even more complicated, Bobby still cannot believe that Dorothea is truly dead.

Deserted by most of his acquaintances after his conviction, Bobby's ties to his brother and his few remaining friends are strong. With their help, he soon finds evidence that his trial for murder was the result of a well-choreographed operation aimed at his destruction. The money involved in arranging the granting of medical pensions, retirement at three-quarters regular pay, is staggering, and too many people are making money off the scheme for any of them to balk at a murder – or at more murder.

3 Quarters was gritty, exciting, and suspenseful. The mood is dark and tense, emotions close to the surface. Bobby is almost too good to be true, strong and honorable, but there is real depth to the character and to the relationships. His teenage daughter is a particular delight – I love it when she whipped out a disk and popped it in a cyber-cafe computer to look up a license plate for him – talk about a chip off of the old block!

I am giving this four stars, somewhat grudgingly. Other than the last couple of chapters, 3 Quarters well deserves it. The problem was, I felt manipulated by the ending. I can't be very more specific without including a major spoiler, but while the mystery is wrapped up, there is not the sense of satisfaction that I would like to feel in a book that is about, essentially, righting a wrong. Denis Hamill's world is just a bit too dark for my preferences, but with such a strong plot and compelling character, I was carried along with it anyway.

--Jeri Wright