Into the Fire

First the Dead is Tim Downs’ third novel in the Bug Man series. Although each one in this series is a stand alone story, in order to fully appreciate Dr. Nick Polchak, forensic entomologist known somewhat affectionately as “The Bug Man”, a reader should really start the adventure with Shoofly Pie and continue with Chop Shop before reading this book. One of the reasons for this suggestion is because Nick’s quirky ways cannot be as easily understood or perhaps even tolerated in this novel without sufficient background on this most interesting character. Prior to this book, I thought Nick Polchak was the most unique and fascinating character I’ve encountered in a contemporary novel. In this story he doesn’t seem quite as “endearing”, though certainly as stubborn and impulsive, annoying, and focused.

Taking place primarily in New Orleans in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Nick is his usual rebellious self when he is informed that before the various team members can bring the dead into the DMORT (Disaster Mortuary Response Team) unit, they must first rescue survivors. Since Nick is much more comfortable with the dead than the living, his first attempt at bringing both some living and a corpse back to high ground brings a strong reprimand and the instruction to forget about the dead until the living are all found. Since Nick suspects foul play to the corpse he’s found, he’s not one to give up easily.

Add to the mystery of bodies in too advanced stages of decomposition to be caused by the hurricane, a resilient and spunky 10 year old boy looking for his father, a psychiatrist who’s had her own share of problems with Nick Polchak, a mortician friend named Jerry who becomes Nick’s less than willing accomplice, and a coarse but driven New Orleans policeman who works solo in transporting survivors, and you have a strange journey through the toxic dark waters of a city submerged.

Although Howard Publishing introduced us to Nick Polchak in the first two novels by Tim Downs before they were purchased by Simon & Schuster, this one is published by Thomas Nelson. I’ve said it before, and I reiterate it here, these three novels by Tim Downs have no reason to be classified as Christian novels along with Head Game which was published under the now defunct division of Thomas Nelson known as West Bow. In my opinion, the only Christian novel Tim Downs has written is Plague Maker, also under the West Bow imprint, and he did a fine job with that one. It’s interesting that Mr. Downs has written five novels with CBA publishers and only one of them presents a recognizable and concrete reference to and message about God.

This novel is a classic example of why I don’t read secular fiction anymore. There is no hope offered. Only humans relying on their ingenuity, intelligence, and faulty rationale of survival, life, and death. Good writing. Entertaining story. Nothing more. Empty as the lives depicted, no matter how unique or how compelling the characters and circumstances, the final result lacks depth and substance and ultimately satisfaction.

Although I know writing for the sake of writing impresses a lot of readers, it lacks true inspiration for me. Telling a good story is important, but the real value in “Christian” publishing is story infused with truth, the reality of God, the inherent need for a Savior.

I know all about the mantra which speaks of the roles of “planting, watering, and harvesting” the seed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through story, and there is validity in it of course. However, if you can find even the notion of that seed in the four previously mentioned novels written by Tim Downs, you have a much larger definition of “seed” than I.

From a strictly practical view of events in this novel, considering the nauseating and poisonous descriptions of the condition of these waters filled with human and unknown carrion, the warm temperatures of the waste and toxicity, I find it hard to imagine that the unscheduled and often sustained dips into the inky waters didn’t result in more immediate and severe skin irritations in the characters.

I was also surprised to find some typos in this hardbound edition, and I find that a bit irritating since all we hear as unpublished writers is the need for excellence. How can the professionals in the proofreading, copy-editing, and final editing processes miss more than one error? If you find this nit-picky, I’m sorry, but this book retails for $22.99. Yes, you can pay less for it depending on where you purchase it, but the fact remains when a publisher invests in a first print run of hardbound books, seems like they’re saying this is a primo author we’re featuring here. I think the standard for errors should be next to none.

As you can no doubt tell, this is not my favorite of Tim Downs’ work, although I liked it better than Head Game. He is a truly good writer and storyteller, but in five novels with Christian publishers he has chosen only once to deal with the presence and reality of the Lord. In the other four you’d need Nick Polchak’s glasses to find Him.

Father, I ask your specific blessings, directions, and instructions for Tim Downs. Thank you for his talent and imagination. Please continue to inspire what he does to give honor to you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

*Please continue to pray for Kristy Dykes during this life and death time.*