The Bottomless Well . . . terrific story marred by anti-semitism at end. British occupied Arab land. Legend of Aladdin (different one) building into the heavens. God, angry, throws him into well as deep as the building was to be high. Brits have golf course, clubhouse, etc., near the well. And then--murder. Famous general (Hastings) killed, apparently by his wife's lover. Enter Fisher: He figures out that a revolving bookcase holds the secret as to how the death occurred. Also the (lack of) use of the bottomless well as a place to throw the body plays into the solution. Very clever, and then, some nasty anti-semitism which blames Jews for involving England in places they shouldn't be, all for money. G.K.--I didn't know!
Follows Sadie and Sam (Mazer) from childhood to mid-thirties when both are feeling old and a bit out of it in the gaming world. Characters are well-rounded, develop throughout the novel in interesting way. Plot is involved but sensible. Not a single, "Oh, come on!" moment. The book could have been faster paced. Odd, since the main topic is video games which are not for their speed of engagement and Gabrielle Zevin clearly knows her video games. Recommended by Michael Connelly in an interview. He also has Bosch pick up the book in his novel, Resurrection Walk, as Bosch tails a possible witness to a crime as she moves through a bookstore. Sadie and Sam do not get together at the end, which is good. Marx killed by homophobic nutcase who really wants to kill Sam, but Sam isn't there. Marx is father of Sadie's child.
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