Bad Twin by Gary Troup

And since I mentioned "classic beach reads". . .

Bad Twin, by Gary Troup

This mystery is supposedly written by an author who disappeared on the Lost television show's plane crash of Oceanic Flight 815 (Lost fans note the plane's number and the birthdate of one of the characters in the novel). I picked it up because I am a fan of the show, but I was pleasantly surprised to find it a fun, fast, mystery that was totally readable for anyone who simply likes crime novels - whether or not he's even heard of Lost. Sure, there are some connections that get you thinking - our detective hero accidentally pushes the wrong elevator button and ends up on the 42nd floor, where he finds himself in the lobby of the Hanso Foundation. But overall, it's a missing person mystery. A "good brother" hires a low-rent private eye to track down his missing twin brother, long the black sheep of the very wealthy Widmore family (another Lost connection). The chase takes detective Paul Artisan around the world and through some deep thinking about his own purpose in taking the case. There's some interesting discussion on purgatory and plenty of references to classic literature. And it all ends with a neatly satisfying ending.

Buy Bad Twin Buy Lost DVDs and Books


July 2, 2006 Update

Since I wrote my review of Bad Twin it's been revealed that Gary Troup is the pseudonym for thriller writer Laurence Shames. Now I haven't read any of Shames's other books, including Welcome to Paradise, Tropical Depression, Florida Straits, and Sunburn. But I thought the titles worth mentioning because if you liked Bad Twin's Key West setting and the overall thriller nature of the novel his other books are probably worth checking out.