Daniel Basil Lyle’s novel, while somewhat of a stimulating story, was sometimes a patchwork of confusing chapters. I know Mr. Lyle wasn’t trying to emulate the late Stieg Larsson (Stieg never saw any of his novels published before he passed...so sad) by using a book title similar to Larsson’s, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium Series). The prose was fair enough, but the story was sometimes a little herky-jerky. And, the plot was puzzling and muddled at times. I almost lost interest when two of the main characters (the old oriental man and the girl with the turtle tattoo) kept getting killed and reappearing in the ensuing chapters. Lyle’s novel wasn’t second-rate per se (I know I am being critical) because he did have a unique storyline, and it started to grow on me as I got half way through the novel. Learning how to write a novel is a very difficult task (as is reviewing), and I applaud Mr. Lyle’s effort. Okay, what’s the story about?
Our protagonist is David King, a middle aged research scientist, trying to produce a field of condensed matter known as cold fusion (part time in his garage). King is a professor of physics at a junior college in Edmond, Oklahoma, where he is under fire from the Dean of Science. One day, he is at the grocery store and gets a c-note for change instead of a dollar from a cashier with a turtle tattoo on her wrist. Once he realizes that he got the wrong change, he goes back to the store only to find out from the manager that no such girl works there. What’s going on? And the manager tells King that his hundred dollar bill is play money. King takes his mom to her cancer treatment, and mom tells him that one of the patients said that her daughter has a turtle tattoo on her wrist, but mom can’t remember her name. Dave goes home and dozes off. At 7:45 pm, King gets a call from a unknown who says, “Your life is in danger. Get out of the house. Do it now! “ Once outside, an explosion blows up his garage and bedroom.
David King goes to the college to give his lecture. His class erupts into a fight and King is called into Dean Kelly’s office and is fired. As he is packing his office keepsakes, his friend, Prof. Johnson, tells King that the hundred dollar bill he gave him earlier to examine...is real except for the pictures on the bill! What is going on? FBI agents are waiting for King when he goes home. It seems that Homeland Security checks out all home explosions (was he building a bomb in his garage?). Mom calls and tells King what the girl’s name is and where she works. David King summarizes his day for his mom after she asks him what happened on page 60, “Nothing much, Mom,” he said as he got up from his seat. “Don’t be concerned! My garage burned down, my research is destroyed, I almost got killed, I started a race-riot at work, I got fired from my teaching job, and the FBI almost arrested me-but that’s it! Everything’s fine now! Love you! ‘Bye!” I thought that this particular chapter was well written and funny.
This novel is the first of a series yet to be completely released. By the way, kudos to Daniel Lyle’s mom for painting the picture used on the book’s cover. I loved it! The author’s credentials in life are outstanding, but I have to give the readers my opinion as I review a book. Whereas I stated my problems with the novel in the first paragraph, I, in no way, think that this novel is inferior. Anybody that has written 30 books (as Lyle has) deserves his proper respect. Yes, I would recommend this novel.
RATING: 3 out of 5 stars
Comment: Sometimes I think that I’m a little too rough on a novel. But all my life it seems to me that my “gut feeling” has always been right. Writing a honest review is what I try to do. You will never see me review a novel with the infamous one line, “Great read”, or :)...yes I have seen that symbol for a review many times. My job is to let the author know what I think he/she did right and wrong and at the same time entertain the reader of my reviews.
Is this the girl’s wrist?
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