Francey by Martin Dubow

The world is not a perfect place. Even when we fictionalize it, there must be, at minimum, a gritty element that allows the reader a hint of plausibility. In Francey by Martin Dubow we are brought into the world of a young girl who begins channeling a past life and with it she assumes the identity and the talents of her former self. Francey’s strange but vivid memories cause more than one public scene where diverse characters including a school teacher, an architect and an English lord, attached to her past life are brought together in their current day bodies.

If all of this sounds a little unusual then you are not alone in that thought. Aside from a badly written flashback of sixteenth century romance, no attempt is ever made to explain why any of this is happening or why we should care. The reader is expected to accept these coincidences hands down while never questioning the validity of the events. Worse yet, Francey’s sudden but spectacular artistic abilities should bring us deeper into the study of art and its old masters but it only touches the borders of this majestic world. I already knew Rembrandt’s name, tell me something I don’t know. Nothing is ventured or gained from this absence of exploration even though it is entirely relevant to the story.

At its core Francey sets a scene where three hundred year old personalities, obviously considered superior to modern ones, are thrust forward in time to settle past emotional entanglements. What the text does not do is allow the reader to become entangled themselves. It is absent of the kind of drama expected of such works. During the action no one ever trips on a step, skins a knee or embarrasses themselves. Despite the background of New York City, the story displays a frigid but harmless setting where everyone is emotionally stable and willing to connect the wildest of speculations. They do this while being tender, uniquely loving and thus supremely boring. This book badly needed a skeptic or a villain. It needed some blood pumping beneath the flowery images and insincere dialogue. Ultimately, it needs a severe rewrite including a barrel of research and a keg of conflict otherwise I wouldn’t recommend it to anybody.

Janeology by Karen Harrington

A good book will use a strong first chapter to capture your interest but a great book will knock you on your ass in the first two sentences. Janeology by Karen Harrington doesn’t let you escape the prologue without feeling the utmost sympathy for the main character. Tom has just lost one of his children to infanticide. The murderer was his own wife. As we enter the story she is already sitting in jail, and it is Tom who is being accused of negligence. It was Tom who left the kids alone with their mother despite her depression. Shouldn’t Tom have known better? Isn’t this murder really his fault for not paying attention?

What more could you want from a situation tragedy? Here we have a despondent father who feels guilty about the death of his son, an ambitious lawyer who sees the chance to save an innocent man, and a psychic. Okay, the psychic was a surprise even to me, and her presence did flub the credibility of the story a little, but her contribution was important for the reader. Jane is the wife and mother who killed her child, but the question of guilt has already been answered so it’s not a matter of who did it but rather why she did it. Tom’s lawyer has a bizarre strategy meant to bring about the ultimate answer to the question of nature verses nurture.

Despite the excellent plot, Janeology does slow down in parts as we get to know the history behind these tragic events. A litany of seemingly unconnected stories forms a sullen backdrop for the modern day murder, but does so with a sometimes forced intention. The author did a fine job of making us care but the emotions were only skin deep. It was like reading a long magazine article about a real life story instead of reading a novel. Even the main topic of infanticide was brought up for show, but not explored.

Judging by the wild swinging start of the book I assumed Janeology to be one that could not be put down. However, it wasn’t designed for the long haul and ran out of gas midway through, passing the finish line while coasting on fumes. Even though it fell short of greatness, it remains a worthy read. You might not be knocked on your ass, but you’ll have to sit down for this one.

Beneath a Buried House by Bob Avey

Detective Kenny Elliot had just been handed his first murder case. A dead reporter had been found and was linked to a local prostitute with unusual religious ties. As Kenny searches for the prostitute he finds the same pagan symbols bringing forth the possibility of cult involvement. When the prostitute ends up dead and a second suspect disappears it seems that his trail has dried up but nothing could be further from the truth. Ignoring the orders of his Chief and following a well groomed sense of intuition Kenny follows each nearly imperceptible hint until he ends up in a dead end town that is dominated by an enormous church. Despite the detective’s dogged persistence this backwoods religious order with its own privately owned compound is determined to keep its secrets deeply buried.

Beneath a Buried House is part of the detective Elliot series and holds a lot of promise. Kenny Elliot is a likable character partly for his flaws and partly for his moral certainty. He is a small city, green thumb Colombo with a jock background, an open heart, old fashion values and good instincts. You get the sense throughout that he is easy to manipulate but eventually catches on to the ruse. Overall not a bad main character, however, his visual description was left vague at best.

The plot is a slow to start tale of religious extremism in small town America. Once the engine is revved up the reader starts to take second notice of the importance of suddenly suspicious characters. A couple of scenes involving the effects of religious doctrine caught my attention most fervently. One involved a definition of Unitarian Universalism which was right on the money. As a practicing Unitarian I was happy to see that the author took the time to do his research. The other was a discussion of deprogramming a former parishioner of an organized cult. Both scenes rose above the plotline adding another level of significance to the story.

Author Bob Avey sets forth a clean though sometimes slow presentation of people and places. While the action sequences are nerve racking and unexpected, the love scenes lacked nuance and patience. Whenever Kenny was faced with a pretty lady he sounded like Humphrey Bogart from Casablanca. All things considered it was an enjoyable read and worthy of the modern mystery genre. Beneath a Buried House will be released in June 2008.

Hoi Polloi Edited by Robert McNulty

Hoi Polloi: A Literary Journal for the Rest of Us is the first book presented by non-profit publisher Dog Day Press. All proceeds from this collaborative anthology benefit the Sowing Seeds Organization of Marshfield, Massachusetts. The title Hoi Polloi in the original Greek literally means "The Many" and the writing in this collection fits the bill. Contained within is a smattering of short stories, poems, author profiles and interviews from a variety of writers. The result is a modest compilation exhibiting a wide range of voices and talents.

Within these pages are works from first-time authors and self-published writers as well as those with established bylines. Chet Raymo is a Professor Emeritus at Stonehill College where as Marilyn Johnson wrote obituaries for Life magazine. The most notable name is Claire Cook, the author of the book Must Love Dogs, which became a major motion picture starring John Cusack.

The writing overall is less than spectacular, but there are some praiseworthy exceptions. "A Sailors Tale" by Walter C. Frye, jr. is a rhythmic poem about a young man trapped in a sinking boat. Mr. Frye does not waste one syllable in casting his protagonist in an unmanageable peril while goosing the reader with the faintest hope of rescue. "Pull Down the Shades" by Harriet Emerson is a story about a girl growing up amidst the background of the Cold War and the threat of nuclear holocaust. The image of a little girl drawing bomb shelters for fun is bound to stick with even the most finicky critic.

The real value of Hoi Polloi comes not from its bite-size musings but instead from its author profiles and interviews. Using what appeared to be a standard question form, Editor Robert McNulty asked today’s writers both great and small about their experiences in this ever-changing publishing environment. The answers reveal a shift from traditional methods of reaching the public, towards Internet-driven campaigns designed to focus on niche audiences. This change allows a product to reach the market faster and to connect more specifically to the needs and desires of select readers.

The value of understanding this paradigm shift is a necessary boon to all writers and will provide benefits galore for anyone who loves to read. By this measure Hoi Polloi is a great success.

Hoi Polloi: A literary journal for the rest of us, Robert McNulty, Publisher: Dog Day Press. (2007), ISBN: 0615177601, 292pgs, $17.95

Unholy Grail by D.L. Wilson

Successful books set the standard for entire genres. In religious fiction, the bar was raised when Dan Brown's novel The DaVinci Code broke sales records, eventually becoming one of the most talked about and most widely read books in modern publishing. Its popularity grew further with the release of a major motion picture of the same name starring Tom Hanks. The DaVinci Code accomplished many things, one of which was that it established religious fiction as a moneymaking genre, allowing others to follow. However, the authors of those books would have to raise their game in order to pass into acceptance from what is fast becoming a theologically educated fan base of readers.

In the novel Unholy Grail, Father Romano, a Jesuit priest, finds himself intimately connected to a series of murders conducted in a style that suggests that a psychotic religious fanatic is on the loose. During this string of murders, Romano crosses paths with Brittney Hamar, a college teacher of religion who is writing a groundbreaking book called The Jesus Fraud. The two become bound by their mutually passionate desire to discover the truth about a bloodline that might be traced all the way back to Jesus Christ and the organization that has been keeping it a secret.

Parallels to The DaVinci Code cannot be avoided; Unholy Grail carries with it the same central theme. It has two roving characters, one academic, the other investigative, and of course the looming threat of a deadly agent determined to stop them from learning what should not be known. The differences are not in the favor of Unholy Grail. The characters are less interesting and less believable, and the storyline moves with a choppy pace that lacks action, giving the reader picture scenes of where something had once happened, but scenery doesn't trump action.

In the publishing world, timing is important. Had the book come out five years earlier it may have made an impact. Clearly, the story was meant to teach certain lessons concerning faith and skepticism, but anyone who is steadily reading books in this genre will not learn much here that hasn't already been written elsewhere.

The Cage by Jason Brannon

Cryptozoology is the study of animals that are believed to have existed but have not been seen in any recordable manner. But what if these animals do exist? What would it take to find them, to catch them? What kind of a man would one have to be in order to devote his life to such an unusual and dangerous pursuit?

In the novel The Cage by Jason Brannon we are introduced to such an individual. Captain Jack Omaha is the guiding blight behind a traveling freak show made up of all sorts of animals that are not supposed to exist. He’s a modern day Indiana Jones but with a wicked smile and a fumbling lack of ethics. Unlike the typical carnival act, in Captain Jack’s show the creatures are very real and very deadly. Omaha should know. He risked life and limb to catch them all with his own two hands and often at great personal loss.

While trying to strike a deal with an established zoo in the town of Crowley’s Point a huge lighting storm crashes the meeting. Thunderous waves of rain and wind break open the freak show caravan allowing all of Omaha’s worst cryptids to escape. Within minutes the crowded public zoo is lurking with new inhabitants capable of feasting on or freeing their trapped animal brethren. A bloodbath of chaos ensues as Omaha and the park’s manager Kinston Owens try desperately to restore order. Unfortunately for them all some of these unstudied beasts are much smarter than anything any hunter has ever seen.

Right from the moment the first creature is described it’s almost impossible to not want to find out what happens next. Characters like Captain Omaha and Kingston Owens put you in the position of sometimes rooting for the men and sometimes hoping the creatures will eat them. The story is simple and easy to follow with the slightest twists existing within tactical positions that allow the action to continue unabated.

Some books are just plain fun to read. The Cage is equipped with its own unique brand of carnage. Should Jason Brannon come out with another thriller I will be one of the first in line with a ticket in hand eagerly waiting to see the show.

The Cage. Author: Jason Brannon, Publisher: Black Death Books (2007), ISBN-10: 0976791498, 236pgs, $14.99

Confessions of a Corporate Slut

How difficult is it to traverse the corporate world? Author Jacqueline Gum knows first hand. In her debut novel, Confessions of a Corporate Slut, we experience the arduous journey of Roberta, a scrappy chick from a broken family who is forced to become self-sufficient at an early age. Prospects for a prosperous future seem grim until she lands a job selling restaurant equipment.

Being one of the few women in the industry is hardly a hamper on her natural charisma, so instead of folding to the male dominated culture, she uses her femininity as a sales tool. Roberta ignores the whining dictates of college stricken feminists, and instead of demanding equal pay, she beats her male counterparts on the race up the corporate ladder.

While the climb itself is impressive and educational, it's the detour that starts the real story. Roberta meets a young man named John Wendell, who has inherited a large sum of money and decided to pour it into the family business. Wendell Industries fast becomes the purpose of his life, while Roberta becomes the love of his life. Herein lies the dilemma.

Roberta wants to be in love. She wants to be a loving wife and mother of his children, but John wants something more. In times of corporate crisis, he seeks her counsel. In times of intimacy, he pushes her aside. Roberta tries to be everything he could possibly need, but it's never enough. As the years pass his insecurities are used against her like weapons, attacking her self-esteem and confidence.

She cows to his every demand, accepting expensive gifts and events as consolation prizes, but none of it can make up for the cruelties he submits her to. She knows someday soon a bitter divorce is inevitable, but a deep sense of denial keeps her from standing in natural defiance as this merciless juggernaut comes barreling down on top of her.

Confessions of a Corporate Slut is a brilliant re-telling of a successful corporate woman who smashed glass ceilings at every turn, only to give it all up for the man she loved. Based on real life events, this novel reads like a biography and is brimming with deeply emotional content. The author might have paved a pathway to the top, but it was through her painful mistakes that she will help so many to grasp what she herself was unable to attain.

As America's business world is steadily flooding with ambitious women, Jacqueline's lessons will no doubt multiply in value. This is a must read for any young vixen who is considering a corporate career and a great book for those who have loved and lost in our age of greed and power.