Review: "A Look Into A Dark Time"
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 5, 2013
"Noir" is what many of us have seen in black and white Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations.  Right now as I finish reading this book it is darkening outside, with rain pounding on my window, and a coolness in the air requiring me to wrap in a blanket.  This book is just like I'm watching an old movie such as 1940's "Stranger on the Third Floor."  Laura tells her story revealing that she and Sam are avid lovers of the old black and white mystery murders.  After a little love shared, she asks Sam, "Will you kill my husband tonight?"  Well, Laura is not married, only parroting perhaps one of the movie's character.  She and Sam have lived together for a long time, and are devoted to each other.  Or so you think.  The era is 1986, and Laura is a newspaper journalist in southern Florida. A co-worker, Dominic, has the police beat, and crime is high because of the influx of immigrants coming to Florida from South America and the islands.  A friend Laura went to school with in NYC refers an inquirer to her who is looking for two of his friends from El Salvador.  They had received death threats before leaving the country because of their union activities.  It was a time of chaos for many immigrants in Florida.  Thus, Miguel shows up at her office seeking her help to find his friends.  The author may have well written the script for an outstanding Noir movie, because it was like I was watching (reading) it in black and white.  There are dark overtones in this short story, which is very compelling.  I think readers will really feel the darkness of this story, if read at night.  Highly recommend.