Review: Sunstroke

Jesse Kellerman is the son of the thriller writers Jonathan and Faye Kellerman. In this novel, he shows that he is certainly a chip off the old block. The story begins in California, with thirty-six year old Gloria Mendez. She is full of unrequited love for her boss, Carl Perreira. However, he disappears whilst on holiday on Mexico and Gloria soon learns that he is dead. She begins an amateur investigation into his death, which leads her to a ghost town in Mexico and endangers her life. Can she survive and find out what really happened to Carl?

This is Jesse Kellerman’s first novel, but it feels as though he has been writing for a long time. Interestingly, although this falls squarely into the thriller genre, the majority of the action in this novel is inferred. We see very little real scenes and the main incident that kicks off Gloria’s investigation happens away from the reader, who, like Gloria, only gets to hear a second-hand account of the events. This allows Kellerman to heighten the sense of mystery.

With the action happening offstage, this allows character development to play the central role. Gloria Mendez is a tortured soul, weighed down by the problems of her childhood and failed marriage. As the story progresses, Kellerman delves deeper into her psyche and it makes for interesting reading. Furthermore, he is fully capable of bringing the setting into play. The ghost town of Aguas Vivas is described vividly enough for it to be a character in its own right and its description will fill the reader with a sense of foreboding. Anyone who has ever driven through a tiny village somewhere in the world will identity with the setting and the unease that a deserted area can create.

In addition, it is also interesting to see how Gloria works in Mexico. A fluent Spanish speaker as an American of Mexican parentage, she still feels at sea in this very different world where life is not the same as in California. The clash of cultures between the Mexican and North American worlds also keeps the reader thinking about the current migratory issues affecting the two countries.

For some people, the lack of action (even if there is some towards the end) will mean that the novel is unsatisfying. However, as a cerebral thriller which involves interesting sittings and an intriguing, if somewhat befuddled, chief protagonist, ‘Sunstroke’ works very well indeed. On this basis of this first novel, it would seem that Jesse Kellerman’s career could be equally as bright as that of his illustrious parents.

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Luke Croll - RAM

Book Review: Sunstroke