Saturday, November 28, 2009
Los Angeles in the 1930's and a murder is committed. America is in the grips of the depression. Hollywood wannabe's Robert Syverten and Gloria Beatty meet by chance outside Paramont Studios. Both have come from hardship in the rural midwest to the bright lights on Los Angeles. Both have dreams of making it big. Both have so far failed.They decide to enter a dance marathon taking place in an amusement pier by the city beach. The prize is $1,000 and it's known that Hollywood producers frequent these marathons looking out for a new potential star.
All of life is contains within this novel, greed, envy, lust, the rupture of ideals. We see the depths to which the contestants are forced to debase themselves in order to win the prizemoney. The promoters of the dance marathon even propose holding a sham wedding in order to draw the customers in. The dancers become mini celebrities in their own right and the good and great of the entertainment industry come to observe and be observed.
Reading this short novel with the dance contestants searching for the elusive pot of gold that is fame the reader will be reminded of X-Factor. The constestants Robert and Gloria pushing themselves to the limit of endurance in pursuit of their dream.
Unusual in the sense that in this short sharp crime novel, the reader knows from the very first page the identity of the murderer and their motivation. This tale is one which will easily captivate the imagination of the reader.
Labels: by Horace McCoy, Don't They, They Shoot Horses
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Denver city in November. Jack McGuane works as a travel development specialist promoting the city and his wife Melissa have just adopted a nine month old baby girl. The legalities have been checked and all appears to be going well. The girl, Angelina, appears to have bonded well with her adoptive parents.
Then out of the blue Jack gets a call from the adoptive agency, requesting a meeting. Angelina’s father never signed away the parental custody papers. Apparently he wants the child back.
The child’s natural father is Garrett Moreland, 18 years old and son of Judge John Moreland. Eventually a meeting is arranged between Judge Moreland, Garrett and the McGuane’s. It soon becomes apparent that Garrett Moreland isn’t particularily interested one way or the other in the fate of Angelina his daughter. It is his father John Moreland who appears to be the driving force wishing to reunite Angelina with what he regards as her natural family.
When Jack and Melissa McGuane refuse his offer to help them find another child should they voluntarily give Angelina back to him, Judge Moreland informs them that they will be legally obliged to hand her over after three weeks. Thus the stage is set for what amounts to every parents nightmare, the thoughts that in a short while they will loose a child.
The McGuanes decide they will fight the judge and with the help of Cody Holt, a local disgraced police officer and Brian Eastman local entrepreneur, commence the fight to keep their daughter. What ensues is a story of corruption in high places, the breaking of an international paedophile ring and a look at the murky political machinations of Denver city.
In the ensuing investigation we learn of Garrett Morehead’s involvement with Sur-13, a Mexican mafia gang and his fathers attempts to cover up his sons many misdemeanours down through the years. We learn of the judges possibly murky past and the unanswered questions which continue to haunt him.
Jack McGuane represents the everyman in pursuit of justice for himself and his family in the face of seemingly overwhelming odds. Throughout the novel the reader will easily empathise with hardworking McGuane as he sets out to uncover the truth.
A thriller with a difference with no murder to solve and no fugitives’ from justice. One which will break your heart but leave you compelled to keep turning till the last page.
Labels: Three Weeks to Say Goodbye by CJ Box
