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A Lost Love Story
The Fires of Rubicon follows a Police Lieutenant and his team who take on a complex case involving the disappearance of an employee at the Rubicon Steel Corporation. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Interestingly, I imagined this as a love story, or more aptly, a lost love story. I saw Anton, the missing worker, as the central figure. But during the first few days of writing, I realized that Seazy, Anton’s friend, was far more interesting because he, too, had lost the woman he desired and he had far more issues in his life than any other character I could have imagined. Then, although perhaps I’m the only one who sees the connection, Lt. Wesner, the police investigator, is almost an older image of Seazy with many of the same issues — lost family when young, lost love, sensitive soul. Since I spent a few summers during college working in the steel mills of Cleveland, the setting was a foregone conclusion.
What were some of the emotional and moral guidelines you followed when developing your characters?
Each of the characters has significant personality flaws. All of the major characters have lost the love of their life or their family, or they soon will. Each struggles with how to resolve their conflicted feelings. Rowden lashes out murderously. Benny tries to ensure his wife’s love with expensive gifts. Lt. Wesner hides his pain deep inside, masquerading as a church pastor, until it is revealed he is weighed down with a dark aura. Georgie wears a mask which she momentarily drops for Wesner causing her to flee what might come next.
How do you balance story development with shocking plot twists? Or can they be the same thing?
This story is broken down into a day-by-day view of the investigation and the antagonist’s reactions, almost like reading a diary. As such, we should expect a new revelation each day, and therefore an accompanying plot twist.
Do you have more mysteries planned for Police Lieutenant Alex Wesner, if so when can your fans expect the next story?
Originally, I saw this as a stand-alone story, with characters who lived only during the telling of the story. But there have been questions from readers which may require a response. Will Wesner and Georgie ever meet again? Can she help him in future Private Eye cases? Did Seazy really end his life? Did Anton and Jessica ever patch things up? Perhaps a few of those questions should be explored further.
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Keep your eyes wide open as you take a frightful ride through the polluted river valley created by Rubicon Steel and other rusting and rotting industries, the belly of an old rust-belt city. The corrosive atmosphere spawns many shady, treacherous characters. Can Lieutenant Wesner cleanse his own soul and save himself from the fires that threaten to consume those around him.
Little Town Blues
Set in the fictional town of Fryebury Falls, this story revolves around police chief Mike’s family and a diverse community of people suffering from various mental or psychological issues brought together by the hand of fate. Like in a typical small town in Fryebury, everybody knows everybody, and their lives are deeply interconnected. But when Jack Cleary joins Mike’s department as his deputy, the fine state of balance between reality and fantasy, right and wrong, sane and insane, becomes suddenly upset.
Little Town Blues by David Gonthier Jr. starts as a police procedural and eventually develops into a mystery novel with a hint of paranormal in it. One might find it interesting how the narrative builds towards a particular ending but surprises us with a completely different resolution. Although it is unclear as to why the author chooses to conclude his novel in this fashion, it is not one that the readers can quite anticipate. However, it is worth noting how each character has been given the opportunity to flourish within the story.
The novel is replete with literary and movie references, allowing us to identify characters with specific traits or preferences that were previously established in the original works and giving the readers an impression of the vast knowledge base of the author himself. However, some references make us question their significance to the plot. One must admit that stories loaded with references can be a distinctive style of writing, but keeping the targeted audience in mind can be equally challenging. Despite the unconventional mode of writing, as a thriller and mystery novel, this book captivates readers with its innovative delivery and a healthy dose of melodrama.
Little Town Blues is a thrilling genre-crossing novel with mystery and suspense. From the police procedural side of the story to the paranormal elements, this story will intrigue readers that are looking for excitement, unpredictability, and memorable characters.
Pages: 368 | ISBN: 1639885153
Overturned
Overturned by Emily Donoho is a gritty crime thriller that follows detective Alex Boswell. After joining an elite homicide squad in New York City, Boswell is forced to decisions that will forever haunt him. Decades later the courts begin to overturn wrongful convictions due to police misconduct, Alex must face his demons in court.
Author Emily Donoho has written a powerful story of crime, drugs, deceit, and injustice. I was instantly immersed in this world of crime and police unfairness. Donoho’s vivid descriptions set the standard high and you feel as though you are watching a movie.
I enjoyed the sequence of time as each chapter follows a different year in Boswell’s life and career. We get to see Boswell’s character develop and progress which added a different layer to his character and allowed us to see what shaped him into the person he is now. He starts off with the view that the police are always right and can do no wrong. As his career advances so does his moral campus, but by this point, he is in too deep with the police force status quo. He ends up making choices that haunt him and that he must answer for when an investigation is opened.
There is another aspect of the book that I really liked. This book is reminiscent of the tv show, The Wire, which was a pleasant surprise. The author uses police terminology which was hard to follow but the author includes a glossary for the reader to refer to for a better understanding which I found to be very helpful.
Overturned by Emily Donoho is a thrilling read that I recommend to those who enjoy a gritty plot, with real characters and a complex story. I wholeheartedly recommend this to all crime and drama enthusiasts.
Pages: 848 | ASIN : B09XPKGZB4
The Other Side of Good
The Other Side of Good by E.A. Coe raises a profound and existential question we’ve all pondered at some point: is it possible to be both ‘good’ and ‘bad,’ or is it one or the other? This captivating police thriller explores the idea that the kind of person one is may not be so black and white and takes readers on an exciting and thought-provoking journey of the gray area in between right and wrong.
Author Coe introduces an exciting combination of characters based in Cincinnati intertwined in each other’s lives with intriguing complexity. First, we meet police Commander Denton Jones, who reconnected with childhood friend turned high-powered drug cartel leader, Theo Jackson.
Both men experienced childhood trauma together, leading them to turn to different sides of the law. However, they now find themselves fighting for the same cause-to take down an alarmingly powerful human trafficking ring. We follow the men through a fast-paced mission, full of unexpected twists and turns and unusual alliances. Add in police and government corruption, shocking acts from a Pastor, and international gang activity, and Coe gives us a page-turning tale we find ourselves entranced in.
This riveting crime novel gives readers a look into the horrible realities of human trafficking. It plays with the notion of a gray area between good and evil. Coe encourages readers to open their minds and explore if our intrinsic beliefs about those we see as ‘good’ and ‘bad’ are really as cut and dry as we have thought. This suspenseful novel has a large cast of characters that the reader will need to pay attention to learn who is part of what faction. Once readers understand who the key players are, readers won’t be able to help but root for the ‘bad guys’ and the ‘good.’
The Other Side of Good is a gripping and intensive police crime mystery novel. The action and suspense will keep readers on edge till the last page.
Pages: 356 | ASIN : B09M96X57D
The Fugitive’s Trail
Suspense, intrigue and subterfuge. An agent chasing a fugitive who knows more than is healthy for him. What begins as a cat-and-mouse game evolves into a spectacle that is sure to entertain all readers. The Fugitive’s Trail by J.C. Fields appears to be the first book in a series centering on the skills of Special FBI Agent Sean Kruger. His son now off to college we meet Kruger as he sells his home and moves into a condo where he hopes to just relax and quietly move about his business. Relaxation is not so easily found for our agent. No sooner does Kruger make a romantic connection with his attractive neighbor than he is pulled into a man-hunt. Will Kruger catch this so-called fugitive and bring him to justice? Or is the thought of justice much more subjective than previously thought?
For a debut novel this is a fantastic piece of work. Any reader can tell that a lot of time and effort went into crafting this adventure. Fields has done his research in this area of crime fiction and it all feels quite realistic. Understanding how major organizations like the FBI, CIA or even the local police department work can be a daunting task for a new writer. Fields is clearly comfortable with this topic and has either studied or done enough research to become so. What’s unsettling with this genre is the matter of how loose-lipped certain agents can be when they are in the comfort of their home with their significant other.
Fields does a great job describing the scenery, particular points of interest and characters in general. The main characters in this particular book have their back stories fleshed out under the pretense of first-dates. Instead of feeling forced, this is a natural stage for such information to be shared. A clever trick indeed.
If there are any drawbacks it would be when Fields describes the race of a character. Using such phrases as ‘the black guy’, ‘the white guy’, or the ‘girl of Asian descent’ seems rather bland in comparison to how he describes other aspects of the book. Opportunities to describe a characters skin tone with more grace are missed here and it grates hard to read such a stereotypical and flat profile. Other parts of the character are described with more elegance which is what makes this particular aspect stand out.
If you are looking for an adventurous crime-drama where the elements of surprise and intrigue hide around the corner then The Fugitive’s Trail by J.C. Fields is a must-read. Quick-paced with easy to digest chapters and interesting characters you can’t go wrong by adding this to your collection. Besides, aren’t you curious to see just what happens when Kruger does catch the fugitive? The delectable twist shouldn’t be missed.
Pages: 307 | ASIN: B00WS00FW8
LITERARY TITAN 