Review: In An Evil Time

Jack Hollis has a problem. A serious problem. Jack Hollis is a regular, middle aged law-abiding Californian, with a good job, a nice house, a loving wife, a son in college and a married daughter named Angela. Angela’s second husband is the problem.

His name is David Rakubian. He’s an out-of-control, sadistic, control freak. Rakubian believes totally in that line in the wedding vows, the one that says ‘til death do us part. And he’s prepared to demonstrate his commitment by killing pretty much anybody who gets between him and what he sees as his absolute and total right to Angela’s body and soul. As a result of the beatings and verbal abuse, Angela and her son by her first marriage, have left Rakubian and obtained a temporary restraining order to keep him away. Threats and confrontations result.

Pushed to the law-abiding limit, as Angela prepares to go into the underground network that protects and supports abused women and their children, Hollis decides his only recourse is to murder Rakubian. This is not something he decides lightly and part of the author’s high quality is his illuminating exploration of the agony that besets Hollis while he secretly plans an act so foreign to his being, without stealing interest in the story.

Eventually, after we are treated to an excellent interweaving of characters in his family, his colleagues and his close friends, Hollis sets out to track down Rakubian and kill him. But when he finds the man, Rakubian is already dead and this sets up a turbulent, excruciating effort on Hollis’ part to figure out who did murder Rakubian, and to protect that person.

It is at this juncture in the novel we are able to see the genius of the author. There are any number of plausible suspects, from members of Hollis family to his colleagues. Hollis is beset by fear it was someone close and frustration that he wasn’t able to protect everyone around him by killing Rakubian first. There are many surprises in this novel and its multiple layers of psychological stress are carefully explored. IN AN EVIL TIME is a novel to be savored. It is a compelling examination of spousal abuse and society’s impotence when trying to protect individuals against such horrific pressures. This theme plays against the stresses and strains of communication between husband and wife and between parents and their adult children.

This is a real story about real people, brought to vibrant life by a master story teller. It is fast-paced, cleanly organized and very well-written. Walker is to be congratulated for publishing this novel and for the handsome design as well

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Carl Brookins - RAM

Book Review: In An Evil Time