Review of McDowell
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Danielle Briggs
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Review of McDowell
[Following is a volunteer review of "McDowell" by William H. Coles.]
McDowell by William H. Coles delves into the rise and fall of successful surgeon Hiram McDowell, as well as the lives of those around him. The book is split into two parts. The first half shows McDowell, at the height of his success as a surgeon, achieving everything he could want with no care for who he had to hurt in the process. He regularly travels, most often to Nepal, where he has established a medical foundation to help locals and also serves as an excuse for him to climb the mountains there. He is at the peak of his success when a horrific event occurs that leads to his downfall and imprisonment. The second half of the book follows Hiram after he escapes prison and is on the run. He meets a handful of kind characters who unknowingly help him stay two steps ahead of the law.
Alongside McDowell’s story, we also follow the lives of his family and those with a connection to him, all with issues of their own. Sophie, one of his daughters, is trying to make a name for herself in the world of photography, while Ann, his other daughter, feels like she is drowning while trying to raise two children in a loveless marriage. We also meet Paige, a middle-aged reporter who is still trying to stay relevant and who puts her focus on McDowell throughout the story.
William H. Coles provides such a crazy yet believable story. Hiram McDowell is such a complex character who we love to hate, especially at the start of his story. Many events that happen are so surprising yet fit right into Hiram McDowell’s life. We are able to see things that are a direct result of McDowell’s actions as well as things that are just bad luck. The characters’ emotions were so descriptive and raw that it was hard not to feel things with them. Throughout the story, I enjoyed the variety of characters, each with their own problems and moral quandaries, as well as the emotional rollercoaster they provided.
The story makes us think about how far a person would go to maintain their successful image and status. A lot of events also made me think about my life and what my reaction would be if they were happening to me. Would I react the same way? Would I be better or worse than the characters? Nothing in this story was predictable, making it very enjoyable to read.
I would rate this a 4 out of 4. I found nothing negative to say about the story and enjoyed every second of it. The book was well-edited with no errors found. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys stories that keep you on your toes.
******
McDowell
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes | on Smashwords
McDowell by William H. Coles delves into the rise and fall of successful surgeon Hiram McDowell, as well as the lives of those around him. The book is split into two parts. The first half shows McDowell, at the height of his success as a surgeon, achieving everything he could want with no care for who he had to hurt in the process. He regularly travels, most often to Nepal, where he has established a medical foundation to help locals and also serves as an excuse for him to climb the mountains there. He is at the peak of his success when a horrific event occurs that leads to his downfall and imprisonment. The second half of the book follows Hiram after he escapes prison and is on the run. He meets a handful of kind characters who unknowingly help him stay two steps ahead of the law.
Alongside McDowell’s story, we also follow the lives of his family and those with a connection to him, all with issues of their own. Sophie, one of his daughters, is trying to make a name for herself in the world of photography, while Ann, his other daughter, feels like she is drowning while trying to raise two children in a loveless marriage. We also meet Paige, a middle-aged reporter who is still trying to stay relevant and who puts her focus on McDowell throughout the story.
William H. Coles provides such a crazy yet believable story. Hiram McDowell is such a complex character who we love to hate, especially at the start of his story. Many events that happen are so surprising yet fit right into Hiram McDowell’s life. We are able to see things that are a direct result of McDowell’s actions as well as things that are just bad luck. The characters’ emotions were so descriptive and raw that it was hard not to feel things with them. Throughout the story, I enjoyed the variety of characters, each with their own problems and moral quandaries, as well as the emotional rollercoaster they provided.
The story makes us think about how far a person would go to maintain their successful image and status. A lot of events also made me think about my life and what my reaction would be if they were happening to me. Would I react the same way? Would I be better or worse than the characters? Nothing in this story was predictable, making it very enjoyable to read.
I would rate this a 4 out of 4. I found nothing negative to say about the story and enjoyed every second of it. The book was well-edited with no errors found. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys stories that keep you on your toes.
******
McDowell
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes | on Smashwords
Latest Review: Moonlit Nights by Jacob Parr
