The Deadly Tools of Ignorance    by Robert Elias Order:  USA  Can Rounder Books, 2005 (2005) Hardcover    Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth Though Robert Elias has published six impressively titled non-fiction books prior to this one, The Deadly Tools of Ignorance is his fiction debut. However, he hasn't made the transition from non-fiction to fiction too successfully. I do like his protagonist Debs Kafka – like his name even more. The other characters are wispy around the edges – not as strong as they could be. The plot is a good one, but suffers from constant sidebars that distract the reader from the main thrust of the story. The major occurrence is the murder of a Laurentian priest in San Francisco. After a suspect is arrested, the search for the real killer continues throughout the book without any real suspense. Several of what should have been exciting scenes don't quite make it. I must say, though, that the climax is very exciting, with a crucial baseball game tied into the uncloaking of the murderer. Religion, feminism, the death penalty, crime and punishment and baseball – each discussed at great length - hang together incongruously. The sexual scenes don't make the grade. But for all my criticisms, I feel the author has a future in fiction and hope he has started another Debs Kafka novel. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Mystery books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews