No one would accuse Ken Bruen of being a master plotter. It's not his style. He's more Chandler than Hammet, in fact, the plots of his novels are often refreshingly free of twists and turns. Regularly, the protagonists figure out who is really out to get them around 3/4 a way into the story. From there on out, its about who gets who first.
Some people may find this unsatisfying, but I find it refreshing and real. Bruen focuses less on plot, and more on creating compelling characters, that inspite of being bad people, are often still likeable.
It's Bruen's characters that keep you coming back for more. Ammunition is the latest in the Inspector Brant series, and it's equally as satisfying as all the titles that have come before it. In this one we find Brant and his colleagues even more messed up and vulnerable as possible. If you are familiar with the series you might be asking, "Is that possible?" It is. The novel opens with a life-altering event for Brant, and the past begins to catch up with Falls and McDonald in a way that makes both their lives very uncomfortable.
Ammunition doesn't break any new ground either in the Brant series or for Bruen. Do I care? Not really. I loved it anyhow. Will I buy the next Ken Bruen novel that comes out? Will I fuck.
