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Horror and Sadness
No Good Deed follows a man going through a nasty divorce and caring for his mother and his teenage daughter who helps a young Korean woman get to the bus station, putting him in the crosshairs of the Korean mob. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The original inspiration was a news story here in Nashville several years ago about an Asian Spa raided by law enforcement and shut down for promoting prostitution. I watched the story unfold on TV and in the local newspaper. The women were trafficked from China, and some didn’t speak English and could not identify the city they were in. As the details were revealed, my first response was horror and sadness for their situation, but eventually, my imagination began to develop a backstory for one of these victims. As a story arc formed in my mind, Kim came to life.
Christopher Jones is just trying to pull his life together when he does a good deed of offering a young Korean woman a ride to the bus station, and his life transforms quickly from here. What were the driving ideals behind the character’s development throughout the story?
I wanted the lead character, Christopher, to be an average person who encounters Kim, a young woman needing help. Out of sympathy and a desire to do the right thing, his seemingly small deed leads to more involvement than he intends, but his moral compass won’t allow him to walk away from her situation. As I thought about his motivation, I kept returning to ‘this was how he was raised.’
Did you do a lot of research to maintain the accuracy of the subject?
It’s incredible the amount of information available about human trafficking. My research led me into some dark places, and occasionally, I needed to take a break from reading the tragic stories of how young women are coerced into the sex trade. As I immersed myself in writing this story, my emotional attachment to Kim, the young Korean woman, brought her fictional character to life. I identified with Christopher. Characters become real to writers.
Will this novel be the start of a series or are you working on a different story?
I love the characters in this book: Christopher, Bert, and Gloria. I’ve written a second novel with them and hope to publish it in late 2024. This time the story is set in the mountains of North Carolina, a place I know well and love.
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Struggling with a painful divorce, unemployment, and responsibilities of caring for his mother and teenage daughter, Christopher is hardly prepared for the dangers that unfold. Helping the woman escape from sex traffickers puts him on the radar of Korean mobsters, exposing him to a cascade of unintended consequences. His life is in jeopardy, his reputation tarnished, and the police show no belief in his ordeal.
In a desperate bid for survival, Christopher teams up with his Iraq War Veteran friend and a preacher’s widow. Together, they embark on a perilous journey, battling escalating terror, murder, and mayhem.
No Good Deed sheds light on the modern-day slavery of human trafficking, a grave issue affecting millions worldwide. Join Christopher as he courageously fights against the odds in this gripping tale of survival and redemption. Will he prevail against the shadows lurking in the darkest corners of society? Discover the heart-pounding truth in this riveting narrative of courage and sacrifice.
No Good Deed
Jack Wallace’s No Good Deed is a compelling modern adventure novel that skillfully intertwines the lives of its central characters, Kim, a young Korean woman escaping forced sex work, and Christopher Jones, a divorced father, navigating the challenges of everyday life through his newspaper route and IT repair business. The narrative takes a dramatic turn with Kim’s unexpected arrival, plunging Christopher into a world far removed from his own. As they grapple with the dangers posed by sex traffickers and a compromised police force, Christopher’s life transforms from mundane to perilous, with his moral integrity serving as his sole guide.
Wallace masterfully uses the arrival of Kim as a catalyst that propels the plot and shapes Christopher’s character. This narrative device effectively showcases his strong moral compass early in the story, positioning him as a protagonist willing to confront and strive to overcome daunting challenges. His unwavering commitment to doing what’s right, even when it borders on naivety and prompts criticism from other characters, forms the backbone of the story.
The plot is meticulously crafted, unfolding in a manner that is both expected and punctuated with unexpected twists, maintaining reader engagement throughout. Wallace does not shy away from depicting the harsh realities of trafficking, yet manages to do so without gratuitous violence, using these moments to pivot the story in new directions. No Good Deed adeptly balances the portrayal of a grim world, marked by systemic corruption and societal failings, against the backdrop of hope and change driven by the determination of a few courageous individuals.
No Good Deed by Jack Wallace is a thought-provoking and engaging adventure novel that successfully navigates the complex themes of morality, courage, and the fight against systemic evil. Through the intertwining lives of its well-developed characters, the book offers a gripping narrative that is both emotionally resonant and socially relevant. Wallace’s ability to balance the harsh realities of the story’s backdrop with the enduring hope found in human resilience and goodness makes this novel a compelling read.
Pages: 268 | ASIN : B0CLR1S9JJ
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