Review: Unnatural Creatures

 Unnatural Creatures begs to be compared with Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, because there’s a huge hole in both: the main character. The mover of events. And focusing instead on peripheral characters,  in both points up the artificial nature of a plot’s unraveling.  The main characters (in this case Victor Frankenstein’s mother Caroline, his future bride Elizabeth, and her malformed maid, Justine) are  largely cut off from knowledge of what causes the mayhem which claims them all. This isn’t merely a shifting of perspective: Victor Frankenstein and his creation are rarely on stage, or even in the same geographic location as our three heroines. The sources of his genius and his madness are obscured. The monster himself is only glimpsed at first, and he and his creator never share the stage.

All this would seem to be insurmountable obstacles to the story development. But Waldherr has created (or extrapolated) such complex, breathing characters that the hole at the center of her story becomes a whirling maelstrom which seeks to drown its main characters. Her secret is in placing the blame for the horrifying events which occur on Caroline, Elizabeth, and Justine in turn—in their own minds. Which leads them to struggle with their fates—fates laid down two centuries ago by Mary Shelley. The struggle is fascinating, not least because Waldherr coaxes forth a wholly original story which cheats the original. 

Does the monster have his revenge on his creator? Or is he tracked down and destroyed? Like I’m going to tell you. Unnatural Creatures is at its heart a magic show. I’d never reveal the magician’s secrets. What are you waiting for? Read it.

Listen up!

 It's finally here!

I have been listening to the brilliant rendition of my book The Strange Case of Eliza Doolittle by Peter Noble and I'm just delighted. I hope you will be, as well. This Sherlock Holmes novel available at all the usual suspects, including

Audible

Audiobooks

Amazon

...and other letters of the alphabet.

Review: Wayward Son

 As Chekhov once said, “If you hang a bowling ball on the wall in act one, you should fire it by act three.” Or maybe those aren’t his exact words. But it certainly applies to Steve Gobles’ Ed Runyon mysteries. Ed is a former NYC cop and a former small town Ohio cop who’s now set up as a private investigator in a town too small to support a P.I., and he’s got some anger issues which have a lot to do with his downward (or outward) mobility. 

He’s also got a tiny trailer in the middle of nowhere, girlfriend problems, and the enmity of a lot of local cops. He’s not the most together guy in the world. But by god he’s got a case. And a bowling ball.

The case is a missing teen-age boy, which is exactly the kind of case he was put on earth for. It may seem simple, but this case will throw everything but the kitchen sink at Ed, and he’ll have to fight tooth and nail to get this kid back home safe. 

That’s what sets Ed Runyon stories apart. It’s the reality of them. I don’t want to use the word “gritty” about them because it’s a word that’s been devalued by over-use, nor does it really apply. There are no mean streets in Mifflin County, Ohio, though there’s mean sleet. But Ed has true grit, and from the moment he takes the case the action roars along without taking a breath. 

And along the way, Ed the avowed loner develops a nascent support group as real as he is. This book is number two in a series. I look forward avidly to number three.

Eliza will be heard

I have had people ask me whether the audio version of The Strange Case of Eliza Doolittle will be available in Audible format.

Lo and behold, it is apparently available in that format for pre-order right now, at the low low price of $12.24, which is a savings of over 5 buckaroos.

I don't know how long it will be available at that price, so hie thee to:

Amazon

Or if you prefer,

Audible. 

The book is narrated by Peter Noble, who does a fantastic job. I really think you'll enjoy it.