Leap into Darkness Part 1: Not my Best Birthday
 | Average Customer Rating: Recommend A young American and his girlfriend, on the run from vengeful mobsters and the numbers–hunting FBI, flee to St. Margaret's, an out of the way island in the Caribbean. Instead of refuge, however, they find a place fighting for its life against Communist guerrillas and themselves the target of the mysterious organization, Caribbean Horizons Ltd. The young man is immediately impressed into the island's pathetic Air Militia, coming under enemy… Product details and pricing info |
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3 Customer Reviews Posted
- Atlantic City Boardwalk. Irish Monopoly. On the run adventure. Island sultry. Military Machinations.
- As I've read Cassell's novels, I've continued wondering why his clear descriptions of depression, intense difficulty, and pain provide good (enthralling) reading for me, whereas some of the classics or overdone genres of horror, adventure, etc., are just not my cup of tea; I'm never in the mood to be depressed, and usually I'm not drawn into pure adventure stories.
What I saw again with "Leap into Darkness, Part 1: Not my Best Birthday" (which is chapter 2 in Cassell's novel UNCERTAIN PARADISE: 1973 [PART ONE] (n/a)) is that most classics deal with depression in a much different way from Cassell. Take for example John's detailing of his birthday, walking on the boardwalk and vividly bringing to life the depressed state of Atlantic City reflecting his frame of mind.
In many of the classics I've tried to read, there is no ambition and no hope for escaping drudgery, horror, or depression.
Yes, in Cassell's stories the reader is side-by-side with the protagonist (who is based on the author and using his name), and absolutely feeling the feelings, not running from them. Yet, the author (as a character, and with the reader) is constantly questioning, working toward valid or useful reasons for the deadly issues and situations; or the author is working toward a release, either partial or complete (the John Cassell character takes either with glee). And, when something good comes along, John doesn't allow a grudge from a past difficulty or depression to spoil any incoming fun, at least never for long.
That is one of the special qualities which run through Cassell's books. Somehow, in his characterization of himself, there's always an underlying feeling of hope, and an ultimate belief in some type of Higher Good, even when there is no hope in the moment, even during those times when Cassell is forced to lay down.
Cassell writes incredibly well, too, with setting, mood, action. The details of the fight with Sean Kelly were amazing (I enjoyed the later discussions with Joe about the "Mick" value in a good fight), as are the dialogue connections between a variety of characters. I noticed that John was sporting a topcoat there, replacing the field jacket made famous in Crossroads: 1969 (N/A) and Odyssey: 1970.
I loved the way these Irish guys come through in their vivid personalities, and Joe takes the cake of vulnerability and endearment. All those exchanges were awesome, every bit as rich as Robert B. Parker's characterizations and male bonding scenes.
I noticed lots of passages I could quote here, too many, in fact! I had difficulty deciding where to begin and end the quotes without typing the whole chapter. Lots of great setting description, dialogue, mannerisms and movement, sound, too, especially the Boardwalk's types of silence alternating with its unique noises.
"The Birthday" was heartwarming with plotting, too, hiring Sean and Joe, and getting Joe (starving but proud) to accept and relish a steak, with John's steak resting nearly complete in the doggie bag (John was hiding the fact that he had just had lunch with another birthday basher). Cassell does a fantastic job of getting not only the reader's mind engaged in his setting, story, and characters; he gets the reader's heart, sometimes soul into his world and situations.
It still amazes me that I'm so able to get into even the parts of Cassell's plots which most people would see as pure adventure, maybe appealing mostly to male readers, or females whose tastes run there. It's his just right sensitivity which does the job for a less gritty gal like me.
Linda Shelnutt
Shelnutt is the author of a collection of Amazon Shorts, and novels on Kindle, including:
Morning Comes: the Pre Dawn Blues - Part 1
Full Moon Rising (The Books of Gem)
Myrtle's Ultimate Mystery - 2008-02-24, 15 of 15 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- Fantastic
- John W. Cassell has done it again, as with all his stories. He is a master story teller from the word go. Never am I disappointed with his work. Never. Leap into Darkness Part I is an excellent read...brilliant. As always, he puts you, the reader, in the middle of the story, wondering what is going to happen next, and the tension builds, as it is always paced just right. Now...on to Part II. Superb! Again, five stars!
- 2007-08-16, 14 of 14 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- Excellent!
- First, let me say, this just isn't my normal kind of read. I'm a romance author--I read romance.
That said, let me just say "Wow!"
Mr. Cassell writes a tale that will engage the reader from the very first line.
The tension builds, the plot unfolds, and we learn the back story all without realizing we're being 'given' back story.
For those that aren't authors, one of the hardest things to do in a story is let the reader know what they need to know--show not tell. Mr. Cassell has mastered this technique to a fine art.
I'm not going to ruin the story by telling what happens--I hate reviews where I'm given the entire story.
Let me just say--I'm off to buy the next part.
The story is written with a talent that is hard to not find impressive. The protagonists are likable and the reader will emphasize with them.
I've found a new author to add to my 'keeper' pile. - 2007-07-27, 13 of 13 people found this review helpful, Rated:
