Another Review at MyShelf.Com

Island Life

by Michael W. Sherer



      Jack Holm lives with his wife and two children in an island suburb of Seattle. Since his position in marketing communication became a victim of economics, Jack has begun doing marketing consulting out of his home. It’s an iffy business.  Jack’s wife Mary, a flight attendant, tries to help by accepting as many flight assignments as she can.

When Mary drops out of sight, Jack figures she has been called for a last minute fill-in on an International flight; it was a common occurrence.  When several days pass without contact, Jack files a missing person report. Eventually, his wife’s lifeless body is found in a field.

The police have little to go on and focus on the slim circumstantial evidence that points to Jack as the murderer. The police build a convincing enough case based on opportunity, lack of a solid alibi, and trivial marital problems to consider Jack the prime suspect and he is eventually accused and arrested.  Out on bond, Jack realizes it will be up to him to find the real killer, but he has no idea where to begin.

It seems that a CD revealing a child pornography ring had inadvertently fallen into Mary’s possession without her knowledge and she was murdered for it. The evil forces behind the killing have not yet recovered their incriminating CD and so they zero in on Jack and his children: a teenage daughter and an adolescent son.

Jack has no inkling he has become a target and so begins the task of trying to put his own life back together while functioning as both father and mother to his grieving children. His mother-in-law makes the situation even more stressful by filing for custody of the kids. Jack turns to counseling and therapy for answers and he meets a man who can help him unravel the mystery and a woman who offers hope for his future.

And then the villain moves in closer.

What makes this book unique is the insight into Jack’s seemingly hopeless struggles that include the loss of his wife, dealing with the accusation of murder, finding his wife’s killer, helping his children cope, keeping his family together, and protecting everyone from a vicious murderer. The author does a wonderful job of conveying the fears, insecurities, and feelings of helplessness of an innocent man who has been accused of a most heinous crime. He also vividly illuminates the heartbreaking trials of the children. It’s a very well told saga.

I liked the characters, the pace, and the story.

The Book

Five Star
March 19, 2008
Hardcover
978-1-59414-633-0
Mystery
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Excerpt
NOTE:

The Reviewer

Dennis Collins
Reviewed 2008
NOTE: Reviewer Dennis Collins is the author of The Unreal McCoy and the second installment in this series, Turn Left at September. .
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