Review by Abacus -- McDowell by William H. Coles

[Abacus]

[Following is a volunteer review of "McDowell" by William H. Coles.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Hiram McDowell, wealthy, prosperous, ambitious, arrogant more than content, selfish more than happy, concerned for his children but not his ex-wives; what makes this man tick? If others fulfill his needs, he can be reasonable and generous; if they do not, he is uncaring and ruthless. What happens to Hiram to alter him? Life happens, people hold grudges, unethical research comes back to haunt him. McDowell is Hiram's poignant story; judge for yourselves.

During his political maneuvering, Hiram gains an implacable enemy in Michael O’Leary to whom he makes promises but does not keep them. Hiram has five children, Ann from his first marriage, Billie and Sophie with Carol, Candice, and Tasha from Carol’s previous marriage. Tasha seduces Billie, and they fall in love. Sophie becomes a renowned photographer focusing on the plight of women. Paige, a TV producer, obtains the job of writing a TV special about Hiram McDowell. The world wants to know about Hiram as he is to become a presidential advisor on healthcare. Paige is ethical and believes in truth in journalism; she would be a stand-out in today's media madness. She is determined to write an accurate, warts and all piece about Hiram.

William H. Coles provides good characterization; we know Hiram, his wives and children exceptionally well. We can follow their thought processes and understand their motivations. Hiram is not loved, but his money and prestige are respected; when his children suffer setbacks, he props them up and directs them on their way.

The story is effectively portrayed; the reader wants to experience what is coming next. There is no lack of plot. The author capitalizes on a terrible life-changing tragedy to transform McDowell’s circumstances utterly. The second part of the story explores how McDowell's changed circumstances impinge on McDowell, the man; he is angry, and he needs to record his daily life to relieve tension and he wants to write his memoirs to one day proves his innocence. Hiram meets his equal in stubbornness and intransigence. Does Hiram desire redemption?

McDowell is quite a page-turner; the story has life, good characterization. It asks questions about morality, ethics, immigration, journalism, fund-raising, family relationships, and politics. I enjoyed it very much. I rate it 4 out of 4 stars for its in-depth study of the characters; it’s a comprehensive and well-rounded story and its an excellent survey of life in the wilderness. I do not rate it 3 out of 4 stars because it is professionally edited, and I detected no errors. I recommend it to people who enjoy travel, politics, profound questions of the human soul, mountaineering, and exploring the wild. I do not recommend it to people who enjoy romance or light reading.

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McDowell
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