Review: Captivating novella with mystery, great character development, and which is ultimately well-written.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 9, 2014
Gone TomorrowBy Stephen R. CampbellA Book Review by Ginger Dawn HarmanI purchased Gone Tomorrow by Stephen Campbell after reading a post on his Facebook page. I follow his radio show in which he interviews authors and I was rather intrigued to read the he has published his first short story. It takes a huge amount of bravery and what may be a triumphed sense of accomplishment when having your first work go public. Therefore, to establish one's reading audience is critical. Stephen Campbell writes a captivating novella with mystery, great character development, and which is ultimately well-written.The Novella begins with Jack and Jessica Stillwell of Naples, Florida who have just discovered the body of neighbor Carmine Santori after returning from an early morning beach run. The reader is immediately engrossed into the plot as Carmine, a son of Italian immigrants, who earned a PhD in engineering from Stanford University and gone to work for Intel has been murdered. With accusations of adultery, questionable business relationships, and financial power the reader will not be disappointed. Gone Tomorrow is written in the third person omniscient point of view. The major themes are power and money. Stephen Campbell uses the interpersonal relationships and character actions to revealed and develop these themes. Character delineations are well developed over time as the story unfolds. I was particularly fond of the relationship between Jack and Jessica. For example, "Jack knew he'd hit the marriage lottery with Jessica." This emotional element not only creates an endearing quality toward Jack but will have most female readers falling in love with him. Furthermore, one becomes instantly connected with the wry wit of Jessica as she confronts Mrs. Santori by stating, "I can assure you, if your husband were having sex with me he would have neither the need, nor the desire for other women."With a PG-13 sexual rating, Gone Tomorrow gives just enough detail to the reader without making the novella distasteful. Stephen Campbell uses "emotional qualities" for his writing style. The use of humor, wit, and satire will satisfy readers from late teen to older adults. The tone and setting do not impinge on the characters or plot but rather enhance the experience for the reader. One of the many virtuous attributes of the novel, is the warm and tender friendship Jack and Jessica establish with detective Sampson which remains intact even after they go their separate ways. In addition, I was rather pleased with the book cover. The red fingerprint silhouette of the gun underneath the Florida image evokes mystery and yellow lettering delivers a cautious feeling. Campbell has created a witty, quick read, well-suited to those who enjoy an entertaining, well-managed mystery. I highly recommend Gone Tomorrow by Stephen Campbell.