Book Review: The Captain

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Captain     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Seymour Shubin
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Classic
Creative Arts, Aug 2000, $12.95, 202 pp.

At seventy-six, former Captain of Detectives Walter Hughes is shipped to the home by his children, who complain he is too depressing and too confused. THE CAPTAIN hates his new residence, but none of his children will take him back into their home.

Over time, THE CAPTAIN begins to loathe staff members who mistreat and abuse the elderly patients. He manages to obtain his gun and decides to take an active role as an avenging angel. His first victim is Nurse Kay Latimer, who he feels is nasty and malignant. He next kills landlord Leonard and his spouse for cruelly evicting senior citizens. The police and the media search for a serial killer, but no one would suspect the helpless Captain.

THE CAPTAIN is a reprinting of a classic who-done-it that centers on elder care, a very pertinent issue for baby boomers. The story line is crisp and exciting as THE CAPTAIN takes things into his own hands to revenge abuse and neglect even as no one suspects he is capable of being the killer. Seymour Shubin’s story still sends shock waves up and down the reader’s spine as it retains, perhaps even more so, its freshness.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner