Sudden Loss of Serenity by Jacqueline Wallen and Undercover by Laurinda D. Brown
Arlene Germain is a former English teacher who currently lives in Massachusetts. She is a book reviewer for The Lambda Book Report [www.lambdalit.org], the Golden Crown Literary Society newsletter, The Crown, [www.goldencrown.org], the Midwest Book Review [www.midwestbookreview.com], and the Just About Write Newsletter [www.justaboutwrite.com].
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  Sudden Loss of SerenityBy Jacqueline Wallen New Victoria ISBN: 1-892281-21-X Paperback $12.95 191 pages Dr. Claire Winston, a college professor, awakens to a day unlike any other. There has been a brutally violent murder of a woman; ironically, the body has been discovered in the local cemetery. Claire’s best friend and neighbor, Marlene Lundstrom, fails to keep an early morning appointment with her. Then, to make matters even more appalling, she discovers that her teenage daughter, Serenity, is missing. Soon, Claire realizes that the deceased is Marlene, and there appears to be a connection between her dear friend’s demise and her absent child. Unbeknownst to Claire, apparently both Marlene and Serenity were involved in a Buddhist group, led by a monk called Sonam, practicing Chod, the ancient ritual of releasing demons. Events slowly unfold, shocking revelations surface, and the most personal of secrets are revealed, but Serenity has yet to be found. Claire Winston will discover how little she knew about the two people closest to her, and she will finally be forced to deal with some personal issues of her own. Jacqueline Wallen’s first novel is a commendable effort. It has an original mystery premise, an array of intriguing characters, elements of suspense, more than a few red herrings, and a realistic denouement between mother and child. The Buddhist slant and its impact for some of the main characters are also a refreshing departure from the more common and formulaic mystery plots. Wallen’s writing style moves the storyline along at a swift pace. The first few chapters engage the reader by not revealing too hastily the important plot elements. Although some may question the plausibility of the resolution to the crime and this reader might have made an adjustment or two, this is such a minor point that it fails to detract from the overall quality of story. Sudden Loss of Serenity has several memorable characters, people who are distinctly original and well-crafted. Claire plays well as the distraught and confused protagonist whose witty retorts serve to deflect her true feelings. Sharon Goldstein, the police detective in charge of the investigation, is low key, sardonic at times, and thoroughly enjoyable. Harry, the distraught widower, plays the suffering and betrayed husband with enough anger and stupidity to make one experience his situation. Wallen also captures the essence of speaking to teenage girls when she attempts to get some answers from one of Serenity’s friends. “Prying information out of Allison was like opening one of those heavy duty shrink-wrappers, she seemed hermetically sealed” (p. 18). The dialogue is right on the mark. The reader feels she is actually standing nearby listening to these typical exchanges of teenage ambiguity and equivocation. The interaction among characters drives the plot much more than the actual crime. This diverse group of characters sustains the interest of the reader, and as one becomes more familiar with them, one realizes that this development of personalities is the central focus of the story. Complex situations and relationships make for excellent narrative material, and Wallen manages quite handily to deliver both. Sudden Loss of Serenity is a quirky, amusing, fiction delight. This first person narrative is an enjoyable way to spend a few hours with the citizens of the sleepy little village of Hector’s Mill. The conclusion certainly provides a graceful and logical segue to into a sequel. This reader would very much like to continue getting to know Dr. Winston. |
 UnderCoverBy Laurinda D. Brown Strebor Books ISBN: 1-59309-030-7 Paperback $15.00 234 pages Laurinda D. Brown’s novel, UnderCover, tells the story of Chris Desmereaux, a professional woman who has recently survived a violently tempestuous relationship. While surfing the net and attempting to get her life back on track, she meets Amil, a doctor who is soon to marry a successful entrepreneur. The immediate friendship between these two women begins to develop into something more without their having actually met. Then, when Chris and Amil actually meet by chance at a business meeting, they realize their attraction goes beyond mere words on a computer screen. Prior to this event, Chris’ friend Nathaniel, a former drag queen, has put his past behind him and now has assumed the role of loving husband to Chris’ sister. However, when financial problems arise, Nathaniel resumes his former occupation and must now come to terms with his sexuality. The lives of these people entwine and overlap until, inevitably, each will discover what genuine love, acceptance, and compassion truly are. Brown has written an unusual opening for this novel, a scene in a drag club. Nathaniel’s lover, Patrick, has decided to honor a promise to his dying mother and is giving his life over to God. Hurt and confused, Nathaniel accepts this decision and walks away from Patrick and his performing career. The story then moves forward five years, and the reader is privy to the chat room conversation between Chris and Amil. These two brief vignettes manage to pull the reader into the plot and definitely makes one want to discover more about these people. It is always rewarding to see some ingenuity in story construction, and the initial pages of this novel reflect that. The main characters are well developed and mostly credible in both their actions and dialogue. One can sense the anxiety and uncertainty each has experienced. The winning secondary characters are also written well, and the reader is easily engaged in their subplots. This reader found the Nathaniel storyline to be somewhat more captivating. At times Chris tends to over verbalize and display less than ideal traits, but one can overlook this as it does not affect the storytelling in any major way. To breathe life into the characters on the page, the author must create a dilemma, a problematic situation which will propel the narrative and thereby create within the reader a need to learn more. Brown achieves this through the writing of an absorbing and entertaining scheme. Her characters grow, expand, fail yet again, and accept others and themselves in a credible and intriguing progression. Both explicit and implicit themes are dealt with in UnderCover. Understanding the importance of one’s past, being true to oneself, tolerance, if not acceptance, of others and their ideologies, and recognition of both sincere and faithful love are dealt with, not through any proselytizing on the part of the author, but through the actions and nuances of speech. Amil’s realization of where her future should be and with whom is conducted in a subtle and affecting fashion. The tone of this novel is quite different from Brown’s previous work, Fire & Brimstone. There is a maturity of writing and characterization not quite as evident in the latter. The overall story is much more compelling and thought-provoking. The evolution of Chris is well worth waiting for; she is a much more sympathetic figure here. One can care more deeply about a positive outcome developing for her. There appears to be a less vociferous snarl in her attitude and actions. This reader found it much easier to empathize with a more mature Chris. UnderCover is a novel which will provide several hours of both entertaining and attentive reading; it is a novel which could certainly provoke serious discussion. Brown has stated that she writes about life and not lifestyles. This novel creates a portrait of people in crisis, of people with real hopes and aspirations, and of people who want to do the right thing even at the expense of others. Isn’t that what life really is? |