A shadowy network of sex and murder
draws Harry into his most shattering case yet!

6 Shots, Or Only 5?
**** 1/2

The Long Death contains many of the elements that made the films popular, and may be the best all-around entry in the book series.  A fairly violent tale, it finds Harry amidst a world of discotheques, bondage, and even child pornography.  Its plot concerning white slavers also provides a welcome return for Big Ed Mustapha, (now Mohammid), who once again finds himself being set-up for hate crimes.

The action sequences are also nicely done, and feature some of the most imaginative settings to appear throughout the books.  For instance, when Harry first appears on an arrest raid, he finds himself in a shoot-out that unfolds in a planetarium.  Later, he has an interesting interrogation scene in a morgue, (where the reader is given yet another clue as to why he is called "Dirty"), and is attacked in a medieval chamber of horrors.  He is also given a strong partner/love interest this time, and the relationship is handled better than some of Harry's loves in the other titles.

On the downside, it does contain a bit too much moralizing about horror flicks, and there is one very odd moment, with Harry discussing the finer points of "American Bandstand"!

It also loses half a star for taking a liberty which I won't reveal here.