THE LAST CHILD

By John Hart

Johnny Merrimon  is living a life that could be described as ideal.  His family is happy and the childhood of he and his twin sister Alyssa is typical until the fateful day when Alyssa is kidnapped.  That one, catastrophic event changed everything.

Certain his sister is still alive, Johnny, a thirteen-year-old boy, takes matters into his own hands and begins searching the North Carolina county where he lives to find his sister.  During his quest he uncovers the terrifying secrets of  other people in his town. 

Johnny finds two unlikely allies.  One is Detective Clyde Hunt.  Hunt is more than a little infatuated with Johnny's ethereally beautiful mother and finding out what happened to Alyssa.  His marriage is destroyed, his job jeopardized, and his relationship with his own son is damaged beyond repair.  Levi Freemantle also comes to Johnny's aid.  Levi is a mysterious giant of a man with his own strange secret.

The loss of and search for Alyssa sets off a chain of events that bring interesting characters together.  Johnny, Hunt, Johnny's friend Jack, and Levi each have painful discoveries along the way.  Each of them is on their own redemptive journey.

This is a mystery/thriller with a Southern Gothic feel.  It is a dark novel to be sure.  Comparing this work to the great Harper Lee novel, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, would not be out of place.  The characters are memorable.  What do you think? 

THE KING OF NOD:  Some Things Never Die

By Scott Fad

This is a chilling novel set on  Sweetpatch Island in the Carolina low country.  The novel is not only a Gothic ghost story, but also handles several complex themes such as integration in the early days, bigotry, violence, friendship, murder and even love.  It has a complex plot, but is a fascinating read.

Boo Taylor, the main character, seems to be haunted all his life.  He witnesses the brutal death of one of his friends at the tender age of 13 and is drawn into the mystery of Joker Tribbit and his famous Gullah witch wife, Bathsheba.  The legend of Tribbit has haunted the island's children for centuries.  He was lynched and legend has it that his ghost takes the form of a savage Beast that returns generation after generation to seek vengeance for his murder.  

Boo is the adopted son of the island's only white physician.  He has an interesting protector, his black nannie and surrogate mother, Laylee Colebriar.  Laylee is a particularly interesting character.  The author based her on a real person who influenced his life.  She is part healer and magician. 

Boo leaves the island as a college student and does not return for twenty years.  When his father dies a strange death, and he finds he must return.  He is now a grown man who has been out in the world.  Coming back to Sweetpatch Island, he must confront friends and enemies from his childhood as well as his long-lost love.

The novel is compelling.  It's visual nature make a perfect choice for a film.  You will find yourself more than a little scared and may hear "bumps in the night!"  I know I did!  What do you think?  

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