Book Review - Headlong

Headlong

By: Ron MacLean
Publisher: Last Light Studio
Publication Date: October 2013
ISBN: 978-1-938692-98-7
Reviewed by: Diane Lunsford
Review Date: November 27, 2013

Ron MacLean serves up a delicious and interesting plot in his latest novel, Headlong.

Much to his chagrin, Nick Young returns to his Boston roots to address the realities of caring for his dying father. What he doesn’t know, however, is that soon after his return; the dormant reporter within him is about to resurface. It seems there is an unsolved mystery that involves a labor strike, an Occupy-style movement and a murder that possibly involves his best friend’s son.

Nick Young is a has-been journalist. Reality hit hard that his Los Angeles life had come to a close. He is forced to trade his LA palm trees and an ex-wife (an aging actress reduced to bit parts in B-rated scream films) and return to the relentless humidity of a Boston summer. Granted, his motivation in returning entails taking care of his stroke-stricken father Thomas, but it’s not like there was endless love between the two. To temper his Boston return, Nick joins forces with his best friend's son, high school senior Bo who happens to have a posse of believers who are equipped to change the world...or so they think. Most of Nick’s nights are spent hitting the club scenes with his new buddies to partake in Boston’s eclectic music scene. It doesn’t matter if the majority of Nick’s new friends are twenty plus years his junior, it’s the music that keeps him from falling into the abyss of hopelessness.

When Nick is exposed to his friends’ civil demonstrations and their recent cause in support of the Janitor’s Union, it doesn’t take long for matters to progress from civil disobedience to violence. It is when Nick is approached by colleagues from his past to cover the story that he is forced to resurrect his dormant journalist from within. Nick struggles to balance the mounting financial medical disaster of his father’s demise as he dons his reporter’s cap. This is not what he envisioned when he arrived at the second half of his life. It’s not easy being forty-something and realizing life is about to take a sudden and sharp left turn.

Ron MacLean has done an admirable job of laying out duel plots in this body of work. While the main focus of his story is devoted to the younger generations’ perception of blatant greed and corporate capitalism, he strikes a beautiful balance with the back story of an adult child forced to deal with an aging and dying father—both topics very real in today’s world. I give Mr. MacLean big props for not only demonstrating patience in laying out his story, but tying both concepts together as though they were tailor-made for each other in one book. MacLean’s writing style is comfortable in that there is a natural flow and cadence that keeps the reader engaged. The author made my reading of his story a pleasant experience as I read page upon page of believable dialogue. Well done Mr. MacLean. I thoroughly enjoyed Headlong and look forward to reading your next body of work.

Quill says: Headlong may be a work of fiction, but the premise provides a hefty dose of reality and an ample serving of food for thought.

For more information on Headlong, please visit the book's website at: headlongbook.net

Books in for Review

Here's a peek at some of the books that have just come in for review.  Check them out and then stop by in a few weeks to read the reviews.  Enjoy!

Headlong by Ron MacLean It's a hot Boston summer, and Nick Young, a washed-up journalist back in town to care for his dying father, is feeling the heat. Using his old skills to solve a mystery before the police do: to connect the dots between a major labor strike, a violent Occupy-style movement, and a murder that may involve his best friend's teen son. HEADLONG is a literary thriller about fathers, sons, eco-terrorism, murder, immaturity, anarchism, marriage, friendship and failure.

John Smith: Last Known Survivor of the Microsoft Wars What if the Mayans got the start of the end correct because they had survived it once before? What if our written history was just as accurate as the old tale about three blind men describing an elephant? What if classic science fiction writing and television shows each got a piece of it correct, would you know which ones? If your eyes can only see a tiny portion of a collage do you know it is a collage?

Little Star by Anthony DeStefano Tonight a king will be born, and all the stars in heaven are competing to see who can shine the brightest for him. But when the stars see the poor family huddling in the shabby stable, they begin to think that this baby couldn't be a king after all! That is, all the stars except the smallest, loneliest star in the sky, Little Star. He recognizes the baby Jesus as the King of kings and understands His special message of love. Read on to discover the extraordinary way Little Star serves his King on that cold, dark night.

Light Riders and the Missouri Mud Murder by Ann Goldfarb Sixteen-year-old Ryn and his younger sister, Aeden, hadn't planned on using their knowledge of time travel to solve any more murders. But when the body of their friend's great-grandfather turns up encased in mud, they decide to tackle one more mystery. Unaware that solar flares would interfere with the time-space continuum, the siblings find themselves caught in a time loop between 1952 and the Ice Age and are forced to use survival skills they never thought they had. But worst of all, someone has traveled back in time with them, posing a greater threat than any of the prehistoric animals they face. "Light Riders" Ryn and Aeden must work frantically to unlock the clues, because the next jolt through time could be their last. And this time, Snell's Law of Refraction won't save them.

Behind the Smile: Sex, Humor, and Terror During the Glamour Years of Aviation by Bobbi Phelps Wolverton A memoir about international flying in the glamour years of aviation (1965-1973). Bobbi, a young adventurous woman, joins the airline industry and shares fascinating true tales, illustrating life behind the scenes while flying through bullets into Vietnam, having babies born in flight, sexual escapades, and harassment from violent passengers.

Swimming to the Moon: A Collection of Rhymes Without Reason by Jeff McMahonWords of wisdom, whimsy and wonder fill this collection of tall tales and silly stories. As you wander through the pages you just may come across a rare Giraffapotamus, or meet The Remarkable Hector McTwee, and maybe even take a ride on a Unicornicycle. There are Cannonballs and Cartwheelers, Tree Climbers and Trampolinists, Moon Swimmers and Moose Riders, and an amazing assortment of funny, strange, and unforgettable rhymes that will have you wondering just what's coming next. A timeless collection of poems and art keeping the tradition of hardcover books and bedtime reading alive. This is the first in a projected trilogy which will include the sequel Running To The Sun, to be followed by Sailing To The Stars.

Gourmet French Macarons: Over 75 Unique Flavors and Festive Shapes (CD Included) by Mindy Cone French macarons with a unique twist of color and shapes! Go beyond circles and basic flavors and give the popular classic a modern and whimsical makeover. Gourmet French Macarons is filled with tried and tested recipes, techniques, styling ideas, templates, and decorating tips. Impress everyone with over 75 flavors and shapes to fit each season, holiday, or life celebration.

Cherished Memories by Sylvia Rouss When nine-year-old Amy offers to help her grandmother recover her worn and stained dining room chairs, she is surprised to learn that her grandmother likes them just the way they are. Grandma's loving explanation is an amusing and delightful tapestry of Cherished Memories.