title: Book 9, Chasing After Time
author: Jan, Richard
description: Death. Life. Love. The meaning of each and all three interrelated. These frame the engaging and dramatic plot for Richard Jan's ninth novel, CHASING AFTER TIME, in his very intriguing series, DYING TO SUCCEED. This plot is played out with real people, characters who struggle to find meaning, to cope with the realities of death, who face the harsh challenges of powerlessness, and who seek to answer the big questions---where is God, is there a god, how could god allow such pain and suffering, and what happens to our souls? Once again, the author successfully pulls us into the struggles of these people, whom we grow to know, care about, and have real empathy. Mainly set in a resort area of Lake Michigan, an area the author knows intimately, this novel has suspense, drama, and credible situations. We feel the pain, experience the loss, and struggle with finding meaning. Jan has an excellent skill at crafting believable people, weaving a very engaging story, and giving us detailed descriptions that come alive and are real. There is pathos woven through the fabric of this novel. Time is a potent force over which the characters have no control. Novel nine continues the journey of Richard. Taking this journey through all of the novels is well worth it. I'm told the author is working on novel ten. I await it with eager anticipation. The novels in this series are relevant, real, and very well conceived. Robert J. Van Dellen, Ph.D.