Usually,
Betty Conley (contact) works
behind the scenes with her editing at IGW, but
occasionally, we are graced with a review from her. In this issue, she
reviewsScimitar by Michael Halfhill
(the 2nd book in a series that began with Bought and Paid For)
Scimitar by Michael Halfhill
AuthorHouse, 2005, 209 pages
ISBN:1-4208-0700-5
Review by Betty Conley
Scimitar is a minimally written, complicated story. A contradiction? No. Because of his writing skills, Michael Halfhill manages to convey Jan Phillips’ feelings in a straight forward way that draws readers into the plot from the beginning.
Halfhill’s first novel, Bought and Paid For, introduced us to Jan, then an underprivileged 18 year old boy who met a man, Tim, who changed his life forever. Ten years later, because of the late Tim’s legacy, Jan has become the leader of a worldwide organization, The Mundus Society. Mundus brings to justice those who commit crimes against humanity, or crimes that would otherwise be overlooked and go unpunished. In Scimitar, Jan and his Mundus Society associates travel to Egypt and the Sudan with carefully laid out plans to expose and bring down a slave ring. The author did his homework, researching facts about native Bedouin tribes whose way of life played an important role in Scimitar.
Michael Halfhill is a gifted story teller, unfolding his tale precisely and allowing the reader a hint of what might be coming up next. His characters are well defined, and the reader can tell who’s speaking by their speech patterns alone. There are many beautifully worded sentences and phrases throughout Scimitar. The following is just one that caught my attention, “A regal moon attended by a court of shimmering stars crowded the predawn sky.” Wow. Simply stated, yet so beautiful.
I recommend that a prospective reader read Bought and Paid For prior to reading Scimitar as it lays a sturdy foundation for what will come. Although Scimitar is a stand-alone novel, previous knowledge of characters and events clarifies certain aspects of the story and adds understanding and depth to Halfhill’s plot twists.
The conclusion of Scimitar is not what this reader expected, but it suited protagonist, Jan, perfectly. The ending fit in with Jan’s background and reinforced his purpose in life—a fine example of how unwaveringly Halfhill is true to the characters he created. An excellent five-star read, I highly recommend Scimitar and look forward to reading Halfhill’s next Jan Phillips novel, Sons.