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The Difference Between Justice and the Law
In Out of the Shadows, a woman fueled by revenge and the encouragement of a new acquaintance turns her passion for justice into a career as a detective. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
As a psychiatric advocate, I once overheard the trans woman who later became Gloria say exactly what Gloria did when we first met her. I never met her but I kept those few sentences in my head for 10 years until I found a story to put her in.
Hannah, on the other hand, is a mix of many, many people I have known, both professionally (as a psychiatric professional), and personally, who had terribly traumatic early lives but managed to survive and were some of the most heroic people I ever met. The story evolved from the characters, as most of my stories do, with them leading the way.
I thought your characters were incredibly memorable and relatable. Which character in the novel do you feel you relate to more and why?
Oh, Hannah. I did not have her traumas, but I think her sense of justice and her desire to seek the truth and put down pretentiousness comes from me. I am known for not compromising when it comes to BS and have been a member of the Sceptics Society. I am also a died-in-the-wool feminist and have noted over a long life that life isn’t quite as fair for women as it is for men. So I guess it’s inevitable that some of that comes out in many of my characters. The females, anyway.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
One theme is the difference between justice and the law. While the law of the land seeks to address injustice, it so often fails to do so. Take rape, where 92% of women do not report this serious assault to the police. This is after 20%+ of women and 6% of men experience it. Then because of all kinds of prejudice plus the adversarial nature of court proceedings of the 8% of cases reported, many drop out, so only 1% result in a conviction. It’s not only rape but any crime where injustice happens because of the necessary high burden of proof, clogged legal system, disparity between lawyers’ competence (poor vs rich). So many people will never see justice. Gloria makes all this clear to Hannah.
The other theme is the drag theatre. I didn’t see that as a theme because, as an actress, I worked with gay people all my life and saw nothing odd about that. But a beta reader said it was interesting to him how `these people’ were portrayed as simply ordinary everyday people – which, of course, they are. But to him, it was an important book because it didn’t in any way sensationalize that, and he felt people should read the books to get a better understanding of `them.’ Dear me, are we really in the 21st century? With all the shenanigans going on in America right now, I begin to wonder.
Can you give us a peek inside book 2? Where will the next installment take Hannah?
Book 2 has Hannah wondering if the detective life is for her. As she puts it, in all her cases her clients did okay but she was kidnapped, beaten up and failed in her major task, But when her first and eternally grateful client asks her to `just visit a friend of her daughter’s, Hannah bites the bullet and goes along with it. What she doesn’t expect is that this favor will bring her head to head with a clever and ruthless psychopath. She’s appallingly out of her depth as she tries to outmaneuver this rogue human being in a race to save her client’s life and her own. In his twisted mind, anyone who thwarts him must be destroyed, and Hannah is in his way. To defeat him, Hannah must think like him, but will that threaten her mind as well as her body?
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In Hannah Tree’s flotsam life only two things motivate her, injustice and the desire to destroy the person who ruined her life.
Troubled loner Hannah Tree’s drifter lifestyle changes forever when she meets the statuesque Gloria Starr.
Gloria, who sees something in Hannah that Hannah cannot, pulls her off the streets, gives her a job and puts a roof over her head. She also encourages her to turn her fierce pursuit of justice into a detective business. Hannah isn’t so sure, but since ramming justice down abusive people’s throats is something she’s always done she figures she might as well be paid for it.
But when, by a twist of fate, Hannah stumbles across the man who ruined her life, her burning need for revenge takes over. Heedless of the consequences Hannah pursues her obsession down dark and dangerous pathways, exposing appalling abuses at every turn, risking not only her own safety but that of everyone around her.
But those responsible do not tolerate meddlers.
THE FRIDAY NIGHT CLUB
The Friday Night Club emerges as an enthralling Australian crime thriller, inviting readers into the complex world of its protagonist, Hannah. This novel cleverly intertwines her gritty confrontation with a dark past and her unwavering dedication to forging a brighter future for others while delivering sharp retorts and resolute denials that keep the pages turning.
The narrative’s unique quality lies in its vivid, anime-esque portrayal of scenes and characters, conjuring a visual feast reminiscent of Japan’s renowned art style and storytelling pace. Whether intentional or a happy coincidence, this approach provides a dynamic backdrop for the unfolding drama. The novel boasts a tapestry of diverse and vibrant characters, including Gloria, an emblematic figure of the transgender community, Damian, a flamboyant drag queen, and Nick, the ostensible heartthrob. Each intersects with Hannah’s journey uniquely, enriching the narrative with their distinct presence. Hannah herself is a study in contrasts: a woman striving for emotional detachment yet continually drawn into the lives and troubles of those around her. Her battles against external injustices, sinister crimes, and internal demons offer a compelling exploration of the protagonist’s psyche, history, and evolving worldview.
The story unfolds briskly, presenting a series of rapid developments that keep readers on the edge of their seats. However, this occasionally limits the space for characters and readers to fully absorb each twist. While the narrative’s portrayal of institutional systems in Australia may offer a fresh perspective to those accustomed to American settings, it adds a layer of intrigue and cultural nuance. Moreover, the central romantic subplot evolves with a fervent intensity, offering a passionate, if sometimes unexpected, journey that captivates and thrills.
The Friday Night Club, by Deirdre Oliver, is an exceptional book that readers will be drawn into from the opening pages. Oliver delivers a captivating and emotionally resonant experience that holds the tension and suspense from start to finish. The novel’s narrative and memorable characters have firmly established it as a not-to-miss read.
Pages: 310 | ASIN : B0B8XM7Z31
Out of the Shadows
I recently read Out of the Shadows by Ashlee Nicole Bye and was immediately hooked by the first chapter. The prologue to the book, which I admittedly skip over, caught my eye and sets the scene for what is a very interesting concept and well written novel. We meet Julian, who we learn is not from this world as he uses ‘humans’ and as you read on, you learn that he is way older than he appears to be. Although his age isn’t described until later, you know he’s old because his eyesight has been bestowed to him almost a century and a half ago. Clearly, he’s seen some things.
I really enjoyed this book. Maybe it’s because I’m Australian as well and we rarely get treated to books that are supernatural AND also mention state capitals that we know (such as Melbourne), but it was immediately easy to immerse myself into this world that Ashlee has so lovingly created. The characters, such as Sachi, are so well written that you can feel their pain, anguish and confusion as Sachi is thrown into a world she’s not entirely sure about. Sachi’s best friend was killed by the ‘Melbourne Slasher’, but it’s not until she ventures out after months of solitude that she sees things that were definitely not there before.
As the book goes on, Sachi and Julian’s worlds become intertwined as we learn that Julian and his friend Moss are a part of a secret society of reapers (which explains why he’s over a century and a half old) called the Order of Light and Dark, who are tasked with finding out what the Melbourne Slasher is and how they plan on stopping it.
This book also brings into play a very interesting idea that you can play with. The Order of the Light and Dark, and their jobs as reapers, means that they control who dies, when they are supposed to die and what manner they are supposed to die in. This ‘melbourne slasher’ is throwing everything out of balance and is throwing the reapers off schedule. It brings a concept forward that can make you feel at peace; your death has been scheduled and you are going to die when you are supposed to. For a control freak like myself, I really liked this concept.
I really ejoyed Sachi and her strong banter with the other characters within the book. I love that strong female leads are becoming the norm (thanks, Gone Girl!). I feel like without the banter and the wit of Sachi, this book would have been a bit difficult to read. She definitely made me laugh a fair bit.
Another thing I enjoyed were the chapter names. The first one had me snorting with ‘It’s too damn hot for a monster to just be walking around’. Ashlee really nails how Australians tend to describe things and this definitely comes forth in the chapter titles. They were descriptive and funny and accurate.
Pages: 338 | ASIN: B06W58K67L
LITERARY TITAN 