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Our Assumptions Are Often Very Wrong
Soul Man follows a murder victim who is forced to see through his killers eyes and tries to stop him from committing another murder. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
The storyline came to me in a dream. The unique viewpoint really intrigued me.
David and the killer are intriguing and well developed characters. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
First, thanks! Second, as noted above, the storyline came to me in a dream. As I started writing, the characters started taking shape. At several points, I did extensive rewrites as the characters developed on paper (or, more accurately, the computer screen).
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I wanted to explore the unique viewpoint of the main character. First, to be imprisoned in a body that you had no control over. Sadly, many people experience this through disabilities. Here, though, the character knew he had to gain control — at least partially — in order to save other people’s lives.
I also wanted to pay tribute to the tremendous jobs Navy Seals (and all our military) do.
Third, I wanted to point out that our assumptions are often very wrong.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
Good question. I have several books in development — including sequels to Duty and Defiance and Soul Man, plus a romantic comedy based on my own experiences. It will probably be after the first of the year before any of them are ready for publication, let alone published.
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David realizes he must be in this position for a reason. First he must solve the mystery of why he was killed, then figure out a way to prevent his killer from killing again.
His host is a man on a mission, trained to push aside any emotions. Learning more about him, David discovers shocking secrets about his past, and the reason why he took David’s life. But can he stop him from committing another murder, and find peace for his own soul?
Soul Man
Soul Man, by John Selby, presents a riveting supernatural thriller of self-realization mixed with a thrilling and unique murder mystery. David Reynolds, a self-centered psychiatrist, is forced to take a journey into a murderer’s mind, and see his struggles through his eyes; struggles that oddly mimic his own. The situation dives into age-old curiosities around the human psyche and provides readers with an intellectually invigorating crime fiction novel.
Author John Selby is able to create a unique setup to his thriller that I was completely enthralled with from the beginning. David is as intriguing as his killer host and both characters dimensions are revealed slowly throughout the novel.
Selby writes well, never losing focus on the thrilling plot that explores emotion and morality in interesting ways. Though writing from the unique perspective of a man who is only able to see through his killers eyes, the author is still able to convey David’s discoveries in a realistic and believable way. It will not be a perspective many readers can relate to and yet readers will still empathize with the protagonist at each challenge he faces.
The short paragraphs and one liners collectively create a jagged flow to the story. Although at risk of disengaging readers it is highly affective within this story and represents the nature of this book, a bit of confusion representing the constantly changing psychological state of David. This aspect is extremely well written, and I enjoyed confronting the various concepts that Dr. Reynolds encounters. All of this ensures this is an emotional-rollercoaster of a novel that is never predictable and always entertaining.
Soul Man is one of the most unique psychological thrillers that I have read this year. The murder mystery at the heart of this story, and the creative and compelling character exploration we are taken on is enthralling and is executed superbly by John Selby’s fantastic writing.
Pages: 372 | ASIN: B096R3XHVN
LITERARY TITAN 