Death Wins All Wars: Resisting the Draft in the 1960s by Daniel Holland

This review is published on Reedsy/Discovery.

In this memoir, Daniel Holland transports the reader back to a time that will forever be remembered for the war, protests, police brutality, civil unrest, and an empowered generation convinced they had the power to change the world. Times have changed. Maybe not so much.

Holland gives the reader a bird’s-eye view of two combat zones; the one in Vietnam and the one at home in the United States, underpinning the themes of moral conscience, conviction and governmental authority. Each chapter begins with a running tally of deaths as a reminder of the sacrifice made by soldiers who lost their lives and the families who mourned them. Throughout the book are stories of the sacrifices made by protesters, activists and conscientious objectors strategizing how to achieve their overall objective of peace while risking imprisonment.

Holland interjects some levity, like when he describes the legal journey he navigated as a consequence for his acts of opposition to the war. In his initial interaction with the judge who addressed Daniel as “Danny” but objected to being addressed by his own first name, Daniel explained, “Miles, the greatest respect I can pay any man is to treat him as my equal. If you are going to use my first name, especially the familiar form, then it is only respectful I do likewise with you.” They came to terms on addressing each other as “Mister.” The judge confirmed agreement by saying, “Good. I’m glad we got that settled, Danny,” to which Danny responded, “Me too, Miles.”

But for the most part, the book is a serious look back at a tumultuous time in the U.S. and its impact on Holland’s life in particular. The buildup to stories of near-misses with the law and self-proclaimed patriots kept the story moving. One example is when Holland overheard people plotting a violent attack against him. The reader rides the intensity of emotions with him; fear conjoined with resolve. Be forewarned, however, that the book is clearly one-sided. Some readers may have an issue with that.

From a personal perspective, I am close enough in age to the author to remember those times well. But I was looking through the lens of a kid swept away with the landscape. Holland provides a window into what transpired in the inner circles of those who studied, committed to and deeply believed in the cause. His ability to provide that panorama makes this a book worth reading for those who lived through the era and the generations that followed. It serves as an inspiration to question objectionable laws that contradict morality and propagate crimes of humanity, and to stand up and be heard.

The Hidden Agenda by Ajinkya Dharane

This review is published on Reedsy/Discovery.

The story begins in Ottawa, Canada at the home of Dr. Emily Rogers, an epidemiology expert at Health Canada. She learns a secret from a letter written by her father who had passed away a month ago, leaving the reader with a sense of what the secret might be but wanting to know more. Jack Wilson is the next main character introduced, beginning his morning at a police department in Ontario in his role as an inspector with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). As the lives of Emily and Jack intersect, the story moves from Canada to China where they launch a mission to save the world and perhaps themselves.

The story is a fictional mystery against a backdrop of a virus pandemic, told from the third-party perspective. In some instances, the author shared too much from this perspective, stating the obvious. For example, “There were no glass walls or windows open to hallways. Jack believed that the company wants to keep the activities behind the doors private.” The second sentence could have been omitted, left to the reader to make that deduction.

The theme intertwines the global crisis with family ties, justice and power. The story line moves quickly, and the surprise ending wraps it up well. However, I had difficulty relating to any of the characters or feeling empathy for them. I could not get behind the family losses that caused Emily and Jack so much suffering. I did not feel vested in the close-knit bonds between Emily and her father, and between Jack and his grandfather. Likewise, I did not feel their loss. I also found certain characters unbelievable and simplistic. Mr. Lee is the chairman of one of the biggest corporations in Asia, yet his character is unguarded and weak with a dialogue uncharacteristic for someone in that position.

The twists and turns of the story piqued my curiosity, propelling me forward in the book. With some work on helping the reader connect with the characters, the book has the potential to evoke emotions of loss, fear and love as well.

 

Fairly Familiar: A Collection of Short Stories by Dani J. Norwell

This review is published on Reedsy/Discovery.

Each of the eight short stories touch on the complexity of familial relationships. The main characters vary by age, gender and role within the family. The commonality is the emotional roller coaster they work through as they try to reconcile expectations with their own reality.

The third-person perspective challenges the reader to consider conflicts from varying viewpoints. It is an opportunity to hover over each character separately, and develop an understanding of their actions, motives and decisions. In “Missed Moments,” I felt sorry for Clara, a 9-year-old child with a single, hard-working mother, Kim. But my empathy shifted to Kim as I learned more about her.

“Sullen Eyes” was written in the first-person perspective. Karrie is a behavioral analyst, observing a father-daughter relationship, which Karrie interprets as a hindrance to the progress of Margot, a 5-year-old autistic child. For this story, writing in the first person makes sense because Karrie is outside the family, looking in. We want to see the dynamic from her vantage point.

The author has a talent for beginning a story with a captivating statement and then gradually revealing the landscape. “Bad Badhaus” begins with the statement, “Everyone else was grieving but Jeremy couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief.” I immediately wanted to know more. As the drama of each tale unfolded, I was drawn into every word, anticipating which of the potential pathways the characters would choose to embark. The endings surprised me but felt right.

The characters are multidimensional. There are no good guys and bad guys. They are all a product of their experiences. The reader is not served perfectly happy endings but rather food for thought. I enjoyed every one of the stories and highly recommend this book. The narration is relatable and reminds us to reserve judgment as there may be an underlying story yet to be told.

Native Fate by Mark Reps

This review is published on Reedsy/Discovery.

“Native Fate” is book number 10 in the Zeb Hanks series. The book begins with Zeb and Echo on their honeymoon in Paris while back home, in Graham County, the sitting sheriff has met his demise. Bizarre circumstances of Sheriff Black Bear’s death are revealed one strange fact at a time. Throughout the book, Zeb Hanks, along with his bride and inner circle, become embroiled in a series of events that range from enlightenment to danger as the characters struggle to distinguish truth from deceit.

This is a mystery wrapped around a theme of the strong beliefs and ancient rituals inbred in the Native American community. It is written in the third person, which works well as the reader is introduced to stories within stories. The underlying theme of deep friendship is clear from the closeness and longevity of male bonding between Jimmy Song Bird and Jake Dablo, and between Doc Yackley and Dr. Nitis Zata. The author keeps the momentum going as clues to solve the murder engender more questions with still more mysterious answers. The inner stories of relationships between friends and within families add a dimension to the book that makes the reader root for the good guys’ success and grieve for their losses. The story ends with loose ends tied up, almost a little too neatly, but does not delve deeply into the driver of greed that transforms people into monsters. I did find a few typos but no inconsistencies within the story itself.

Shappa is the archenemy of both Zeb and Echo. The mystique surrounding Shappa, which is revealed at the end, extends beyond reality, which would make it difficult for some readers to relate. Additionally, I noticed several redundancies throughout the book. For example, Helen’s relationship to Zeb was clearly stated early in the book. Yet later on, she is introduced again as, “Helen Nazelrod, Zeb’s aunt and his mother’s sister.” I am not sure why the relationship was repeated in this manner. It was as though the author thought perhaps the reader had forgotten the character.

Overall, I enjoyed the layers of mysteries, interesting set of characters and subplots. I would recommend it to fans of mysteries and especially to those who belong to a lineage of ancient rituals and mythology.

 

Code of War by Tom Shepherd

This review is published on Reedsy/Discovery.

Tom Shepherd’s ability to build a crescendo of suspense carried me swiftly from one chapter to the next.

Jen Yates is at the helm of a covert team of highly skilled hackers, Marcus Keen and Harrison Lowe. Work requests are ordered by officials who never meet the cohorts and involve targets only seen virtually. As the story unfolds, the author adeptly alludes to members of the secretive trio carrying personal secrets of their own.

The story line introduces another set of characters with a focus on Gabriela Martinez, a CIA agent. The introduction of her character and connection to the hackers is intertwined effectively. With the author’s ability to pivot back and forth between scenarios, I was able to easily migrate from the viewpoint of one character to another.

Code of War is a techno-thriller that surpassed my expectations. It is written in the third person, which enables the reader to learn the strategic thinking of intense characters. Various themes emerge throughout the book: Power and backlash of technology, loyalty and betrayal, and global repercussion of political decisions and revenge. Shepherd does not allow the story to lose momentum. I was riveted from beginning to end. The story begins with action and ends with a longing to know what happens next.

My curiosity piqued at every hint of what Marcus and Harrison were concealing, and although primary questions were answered, I felt an urge to peel back the layers to learn more of the underlying reasons for their actions. Some of the dialogue struck me as a bit cartoonish. Jen referred to Marcus and Harrison as “boys,” and Marcus addressed Jen as “boss lady.” Overall, it was well-edited, though I did find two spelling errors.

I recommend Code of War to readers fascinated with technology and espionage. Be aware there are some violent scenes of torture, but that underscores the tenacity, perseverance and heroism of the main characters. The book excited me from cover to cover, and I am looking forward to the next adventure that follows this debut thriller.