Into the Fire

The sophomore novel, as the second books from authors are called, can be a killer “they” say, especially if the debut novel was a smashing success or even remotely successful. Shawn Grady’s first novel Through the Fire drew much favor and established his notable voice. Since Shawn is a firefighter and an EMT, the authenticity in both novels rings true and with amped up tension and enough technical-speak to include readers in the process of each emergency without talking down to them. Let me say this before I get to my review of Tomorrow We Die (published by Bethany House) for the CFBA Tour: I love Shawn’s voice.

Embittered by tragedy and resentful of his alcoholic dad, Jonathan Trestle wants to be a doctor more than anything else in life. Employed as an EMT by Aprisa Ambulance in Reno, Nevada, he strives to save each individual he and his partner “Bones” encounter in their life and death travels. When Jonathan is handed a piece of paper from a man in cardiac arrest with instructions to give it to Martin, his curiosity is piqued. When Jonathan discovers the man has checked himself out of the hospital, he tries to locate him to get a read on whether or not the man is a lunatic and to understand the confusing transcribed message on the piece of paper. Jonathan finds the man dead in front of his seedy motel apartment and his frustration at his feelings of obligation to the dead man concerning the mysterious Martin and the note compel him to carry on the dead man’s assignment to him.

This venture sets off an investigation which pulls in Jonathan’s old love interest—his only love interest—his good friend and colleague Dr. Eli Petrov who is the coroner, and of course his comrade Bones who helps him find information about the strange writings on the note.

The demands of estimated arrival times for the ambulances are a constant source of stress for Bones and Jonathan because of their impossible distances to cover from dispatch. Knowing they’re almost behind before they start from their posts, the breakneck speed required to meet the set times to get on scene is hindered by the governors on their ambulances and the unpredictable traffic. The tension keeps their minds scrambling on the number of seconds it takes before bodies shut down and refuse to live.

Okay. There’s a lot of techno-speak early in this novel which is fine with me, interesting even. Some might not think so. Lately, I’ve read too many novels that wait to clue the reader in to the reasons for disgruntled, embittered, faithless protagonists of both sexes. We guess, much of the time correctly, what the tragic event was through the course of usually over half the book until it’s spelled out for us. In my opinion this only serves as an irritation and a ploy for sympathy for the protagonist—usually as justification for his lousy behavior. I’m tired of the well-worn “attitude” or the bitterness or the resentment by the time the unveiling of the reason for it surfaces. It’s not that I don’t care about the hurt or the pain, it’s that I’m sick of having it interjected or hinted at without full disclosure. Perhaps you don’t mind this approach, but I’m not much on gimmicks in writing, and this feels like that to me.

Plot-wise this story ambled until Jonathan’s old “friend” Naomi comes on scene and Jonathan and Bones discover the message Martin was supposed to receive. Combined with a troubling discovery by Eli the coroner, the story is off and running with an amateur investigation underway which proves to be bigger and more complicated than the group can handle.

Agents, editors, and publishers give multiple reasons for “the sophomore slump”. The most consistent excuse I’ve heard is now that the author is under a deadline, he/she must manufacture the time to write, no longer having the luxury of fine tuning their story and/or their craft over however long it takes. I found Tomorrow We Die had a bit of trouble establishing its course. Was it a mystery, a romantic suspense, or a thriller that started casually? It’s not a bad story—please don’t get me wrong. I just don’t think it’s as good as Shawn’s first book, and I’m sure his future novels will be better. The ending should have been an Epilogue, felt too rushed, and the last line didn’t work for me as a conclusion to the final scene.

The story entertains, and I’m quite sure others will pass right over what I considered minor flaws. Shawn’s voice is good—I love it as I said. And this little novel won’t keep me from reading future efforts from him.

http://http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/076420596X

Father, you know the challenges Shawn faces in his work and therefore in his writing. I pray your blessing upon his life and writing—that you’d continue to keep him safe from all harm and fill him up with stories to tell. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.