Into the Fire

For those who have truly loved and lost, either by the end of a romance or the dissolution of a marriage or in catastrophic circumstances: the death of a loved one, there can remain a fear. The hurt is so intense we never want to experience it again. It’s crushing and stifling. Sets our emotional state back to zero and sometimes staggers our spiritual state of faith. Some blame the Almighty, accusing Him of not caring, of being cruel, of hating us enough to bring this sorrow which amplifies rather than ebbs for several long . . . well, times.

Enter Ty Buchanan, ex-high powered attorney who now practices out of his “residence” and at a coffee shop. I sincerely urge you to read this series from the beginning even though James Scott Bell has somehow managed to make each book a story all its own. It’s just that to effectively know and appreciate Ty, one must savor each stage of his character development, and the best way to do this is to start with Try Dying and to follow up with Try Darkness before stepping into Try Fear. Nevertheless, Try Fear gives us the ever witty, clever, caustic, courageous, and, yes, in his own way fearful Tyler Buchanan: at his best when he serves someone he believes in or someone who will be railroaded by the system of “justice” without his help.

However, it’s best not to cross Mr. Buchanan because he does not take kindly to being used. Especially when those who use his genius in court affect the life of someone decent, respectable, and loving.

Sister Mary Veritas who serves at St. Monica’s Benedictine Community in the Santa Susana Mountains where Ty stays in a small trailer since exiting his high-falutin’ days in a respected law firm, is receiving pornographic emails from a cyber stalker. Ty fights to ignore his attraction to the Sister who has yet to decide whether or not to become a full-fledged nun and who for whatever reason—most likely her association with Ty—is on the head nun’s “bad list”. Sister Mary wears a habit when she isn’t in sweats jabbing elbows at Ty in a game of one-on-one basketball on the small court outside Ty’s trailer. Her normal dress proves quite useful when Ty takes her along to investigate the particulars of whatever case he’s working. He’s discovered she has great skills in asking questions, getting answers, and finding unique facts pertaining to his investigation.

Ty uses an entrepreneurial inventor to assist him with magic gadgets in extreme situations, and he enlists the help of the man known as B2 to find the person sending vulgar threatening emails to Sister Mary.

When Ty is able to get a client off on a technicality for driving drunk, he clashes with the talented and beautiful assistant prosecuting attorney who decides she fancies him. Ty toys with the possibility of her charm and elegance, considering how life-changing a law partnership with her might be.

When that client is found dead in his apartment, his brother is accused of murdering him. The mother of the two men reminds Ty of his own mother, and he wants to do right by her.

Try Fear captures LA and Hollywood in all their glory, buffoonery, flash, and crash aspects. Pop culture mixed with savvy lawyering and crazy characters plus a skilled and beautiful attorney, a caring and lovely Sister, Father Bob who always tries to keep the peace in Ty’s reluctant soul by offering morsels of wisdom, and underneath it all the fear of investing oneself into something real and true . . .

You do not want to miss this series. You just do not. This is smack talk, haunting and insightful writing at its best. You will love these novels. You will laugh out loud. You will weep in brief places. I have loved each book. The ending to Try Fear is as noble and heroic as the best Hollywood has to offer. James Scott Bell was born to write this series. If you can, buy all three. If Try Fear sells well, there will be another one. If not . . . a terrible loss to readers.

Father, thank you for the stunning abilities of James Scott Bell. You use his talents in multiple ways. Please watch over Jim, bless his writing with your continued insights to the fearful souls of the lost. May he always glorify you in all he does. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.