Honest Faces

Author: Steven Donkin
ISBN: 9781608300358
Publisher: Aberdeen Bay

"I have known a vast quantity of nonsense talked about bad men not looking you in the face. Don't trust that conventional idea. Dishonesty will stare honesty out of countenance any day in the week, if there is anything to be got by it."---Charles Dickens

"Honest Faces" is written through several different person's point of view so the reader needs to pay attention to character changes. It is not a quick reading book, it takes time to read between the lines, which gives the story its suspense and mystery.

The book is about, in part, of the reunion of two brother after 47 years of being estranged. The younger brother, Jonathan Allerton, is a 65 year old retired college professor and is married to a woman named Ruth in New Jersey. The older brother, Frank Allerton, is a 75 year old bachelor who once ran the family hardware store. They were both raised by their widowed father until he died from a heart attack that Frank was too drunk to call for help for. Jonathon decides to hold his fathers death against his brother and move out of state and not stay in touch with Frank. The visit of Jonathan to his home town awakes old ghosts and haunts. He sees that his family home has been burned and the family business abandoned.

Other important characters are introduced during an alcohol inducted discussion of current events at the home of Conrad Hagwood (the Colonel) which is Frank's neighbor. The Colonel is an US Army veteran and since being shot in a hunting accident has been wheel chair bound. He is a saucy, opinionated old man who is raising his middle-aged daughter Ruth, who is considered mentally impaired. Also in attendance is Malcolm Louis Peters a widowed African American retired school teacher who moved to Ohio from Washington D.C. and years earlier was a member of the Black Panthers. He tried all his teaching career to make a difference to his students however he does not feel he has. He then takes it upon himself to solve the mystery of his friend Frank's death to once again try to make a difference.

The topics of the discussion included the war in Iraq, Obama's election and terrorist which showed to me that it is set in modern day times. My favorite part of the friendly debate was the Colonel's retell of what he learn from someone during the Vietnam war. It is an interesting reasoning behind the phrase of how violence only begets violence. He explains the if you kill someone, you are not just taking that person's life. That person had family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, anyone that person had a relationship with, you would have effected them all. Revenge doesn't work unless you kill everyone involved.

The characters of Cora the waitress and Gretchen her nice she adopted, I felt were not very necessary to story other than how they are really related and the poem that Gretchen wrote.

As I read Honest Faces, I was surprised of the plot twist after the suspicious death of Frank, and the disappearance of Jonathon. Frank's will is in question especially when it was changed just before his death.
Along with the obvious mystery of the plot line, the book also contains explanations and opinions about certain forms of government and the state of our education system. Could not stop thinking that these maybe the author's way to express his thoughts in an indirect way.
I recommend "Honest Faces" to all adult readers with a word of caution that some of the writing maybe complex in nature but it doesn't take away from the story the author is trying to tell.

The Fruit of the Fallen

Author: J. C. Burnham
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
ISBN: 9781450018159

"Human beings must be known to be love; but Divine beings must be loved to be known." Blaise Pascal

As a nun hands a baby to Dr. Jonathan Keats, she is fatally shot and Dr. Keats must run for his life as well as the baby's. He is later framed for the murder of the nun and has to go into hiding. The infants name is Serenity D'Evele and her past is shrouded in mystery. When events occur, that are beyond Dr. Keats control, Serenity is given to Sister Sophia D'Evele who adopts the girl as her grandchild. After moving from country to country through most of her childhood, Serenity and her grandmother settle in California at a all girls school called Mount Sterling. Soon strange things start happening, a sighing of a demonic looking dog-like animal and the appearance of a tall blond hair man. One night Serenity is force to fight of the creature with some help from an unknown person. Her classmate Sarah starts to act differently too and seems to have burning hatred for Serenity. Serenity's dreams also take a disturbing turn by become more vivid and having a man's voice calling for her. She turns to her faith and her support group which consists of her best friend Ellen, her music teacher's brother Talmadge and Father Abrienne. She will need all the help she can get, since she is possibly the key to a prophecy which may have apocalyptic consequences.

"The Fruit of the Fallen" with its beautiful cover art and its intriguing story line is a truly great read. It consists of 22 chapters that are divided by drawings of grapes on a vine, which becomes relative later in the book. Even though there were several religious references, they are explained for easy understanding. There are flash backs so the reader must pay attention, as well as they should anyway. Serenity, as the main character, is a likable person who has no lack of innocence.

The book is a mysterious and absorbing novel, which I think would appeal to the adult and the young adult reader. I high recommend this to anyone who likes a mystery with some faith testing added in.

Voice of Conscience

Author: Behcet Kaya
Publisher: Authorhouse
ISBN: 9781449014537

"The human voice can never reach the distance that is covered by the still small voice of conscience." Mohandas Gandhi

With the on going discussions of where to build a Mosaic in New York City near ground zero or not, a book comes along to give a reader some insight into the lives of a Muslim family in Atamkoy, Turkey.
Although the first part of the book takes place in the year 1962, the descriptions of the rites and ceremonies may still take place in some remote parts of that country. With the abundant of Turkish words included in the text, they are recognized as being italicized and are given the English translates right after so a Turkish dictionary is not needed.

"Voice of Conscience" is a story of a family preparing for the marriage of there only daughter Erin, whose mother died in childbirth. Ramzi Ozcomert, her father, has remarried a woman named Nermin Ozcomert and they have a son named Ramzi Ozcomert Jr. Even before the wedding week can begin a rift is make with Ramzi Ozcomert and Elder Korucu for not giving in to the request of the Elder that Erin should marry his grandson instead of her boyfriend Turkel. Tragedy strikes with a very heavy and violence plow on the family of Ramzi Ozcomert Jr., which changes his live forever. His taken on a journey of both through different lands as wells as different ideas and what his destiny may have to be.

Within the Turkish culture it is instilled that vengeance is away of life and a death should be avenged at any cost. This becomes Ramzi's mantra has he grown into a man of great means; wife, two daughters and a vast company. He soon finds that this way of thinking takes a toll on the mind as well as his heart. He must make the decision to uphold his traditional ways or let go of the rage that will consume him.

"Voice of Conscience" gives a glimpse into the world of the Turkish Muslim as he becomes an American with more questions than answers regarding his religion, philosophy and challenges of his life. As this book is written in a easy understandable way, I would recommend this book to adult readers and even to young adult readers.

Dead of Knight

Author: William R. Potter
Publisher: RealTime Publishing
ISBN: 9781849610261

"There is a great streak of violence in every human being. If it is not channeled and understood, it will break out in war or in madness."
~Sam Peckinpah

The murderer is known by many names. He is called Tyro, a apprentice title, until he has killed more then his name is Damian Knight, soldier of justice, that passes judgment on the guilty. In the bar where he plays video games he is known as Retro, the police call him the Birthday Boy, but soon everyone will hear his true name. Jack Staal is a detective with the Hanson Police and has vowed to bring the killer in. "Dead of Knight" is told from the murderer's and the detective's perspective, which allows the reader to get a sense of both characters' personalities. Detective Staal is a veteran cop who is dealing with demons from a past case gone wrong and the killer is also trying to come to grips with a event from his past that has marked him for life.

"Dead of Knight" is set in British Columbia in a fictional town called Hanson where the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are enforcers of the law of the land. The book gives a "real" look at what it takes to solve crimes and that it is not done in an hour as seen on Television. DNA samples take weeks instead of minutes and the suspect is not caught in the last 15 minutes of the show. Suspect after suspect are questioned and ruled out, while the killer continues to murder.

Although "Dead of Knight" in not a true murder mystery since you know the killer, the reasons for his actions are not clear until later. It is still a psychological trip with road block around every corner. It gives a chilling outcome of what can happen to someone who was a product of bullying. The characters are realistic and interesting. I recommend this book to mystery buffs that are old enough to read detailed content regarding killing, sex and drug use.

Prison Earth

Author: Clifford M. Scovell
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
ISBN: 9781935605058

"Before you can break out of prison, you must realize you're locked up." ~Author Unknown

Imagine that the planet Earth is use by Aliens from other far away universes as a prison for their worst offenders. The life forces of the criminals are extracted from their bodies are implanted in to an unborn human fetus. The individual life force can not die so they are transferred to other fetuses as their current body ages and dies; the persons good and bad characteristics are carry through each. Until the offenders sentence is complete and their life force is extracted back to the original alien form they were, their lives are consisted of living and dieing on planet Earth. Thoughts or actions are inserted into the minds of the prisoners, to make them do things they might not otherwise do. This process is to give them empathy for their former victims and make them better people for it.

This the world that author Clifford M. Scovell, has developed in this book. There are several different alien species that have lived among the inhabitants of Earth but are confined by the physical limitations of your bodies. Their memories are also repressed by an elaborate monitoring system which become damage and allows some to start recalling past lives they are lived. Next comes a live and death scrabble to save the life of an convicted killer of not just one or two persons, but a whole planet. But did he do it or not.

"Prison Earth" gives the reader an adventure to remember. It has the sci-fi aspects as wells as romance, mystery and intrigue all rolled in to one. I would just caution the reader that because the names of the aliens are very different it maybe hard to remember who is who. I found that if I wrote them down as I read it was easier. I would recommend this book to adults who are lovers of sci-fi, but like "human-like" story line built in.

Rendezvous Rock

Author: Rickey Bray
Publisher: Robert D. Reed Publishers
ISBN: 9781934759257

"For my part, I have ever believed, and do not know that there are witches."
~Thomas Browne, Sr.

Ah, young love and the promises they try to keep. The lovers to be are Susan, a beautiful green eyed, red haired, 15 year old, witch and Eric, a dark eyed, dark haired, handsome, 15 year old, Halfling. They meet on a camping trip that Eric and his uncle Ned have taken for some male bonding. As the time to leave draws near Susan makes an offer to Eric that seems to him too good to be true. Their bonding is forever and is sealed with a tryst and a braid of Susan's hair placed on Eric's ankle. However, Susan has put a condition on this relationship that forbids them from seeing each other for the next ten years and after this time they must meet right back to the rock that they made their vows to each other on. The book "Rendezvous Rock" follows them both during this ten year span, where both have changed and grown in many ways. There are witches, spawns and enchantresses that Eric has come to know and learn from in order to understand and appreciate the world he is now a part of without even knowing it. The most important realization is that of the Three Circles and how for the rest of his life, he must protect all within them with his life, if necessary.

Do not judge the book by the author, Rickey Bray. He has spent time in jail, but it doesn't show in the way he writes with the grace and pose of a seasoned writer. He has the gift of telling a tale of love, beauty and also drama and suspense. Mr. Bray keeps the reader engrossed in the lives of people with special gifts and talents that are used mostly for the good of the world. I highly recommend this book, it has everything a reader may crave in a good read. The characters are believable and draw you into their world with their vast belief systems and religious rites. It is a great read and I look forward to more books from Mr. Bray soon.

Flashes and Specks

Author: Mark Pogodzinski
Publisher: No Frills Press
IBSN: 9780578047119

"Listen, my friend, there are two races of beings. The masses teeming and happy --common clay, if you like --eating, breeding, working, counting their pennies; people who just live; ordinary people; people you can't imagine dead. And then there are the others --the noble ones, the heroes. The ones you can quite well imagine lying shot, pale and tragic; one minute triumphant with a guard of honor, and the next being marched away between two gendarmes." ~Jean Anouilh

Just in time for the Christmas holiday season comes a story of comfort and joy, guess again. Even if the book "Flashes and Specks" takes place close to Christmas it is far from being a holiday classic.

"Flashes and Specks" begins at the funeral breakfast for a troubled young man, Carter, who decided to try once more to end the anguish he was suffering. Carter was the cousin of Henry Kent, who is the main character of the book. Let me try and sum up the life as Henry knows it. When Carter was still alive they were comic book buffs. In reading them they found that characters, although you wanted them to stay the same, changed as their writers changed. In the present time he is a 8th grade Math teacher who hopes he is shaping young lives as he teaches his formulas and solutions. Henry's wife has left him with no word as to why and even if she plans on coming back, he is hopeful she will. He has seen his father go through the same situation and his mother, after a time, returned home. He has a young son, Arthur, who takes random pictures of people and adds them to the "city" he has made out of milk cartons and a vast amount of imagination, in the basement of their home. Playing in the background of Henry's life are the rumors of nuclear bombs and of World War III, as seen on news reports and heard of the radio. Even his teaching mentor is having delusions of having the exact date of the end of the world by using random numbers in a secret formula he has developed.

This book will lure the reader into the psyche of a man who craves for a hero to fix things and make the villains go away. On the surface Henry seemingly lives a normal ordinary life, but underneath its really full of complex relationships and circumstances that are out of his control. The book is a fast read and I recommend it to adults who want to read a present day story that shows how life can get in the way of real life. But I would not recommend reading it during the holidays!