Review of JTs World
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Susan Gibbs
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Review of JTs World
[Following is a volunteer review of "JTs World" by E. Alan Fleischauer.]
JT’s World by E. Alan Fleischauer is a western consisting of 474 pages and 36 chapters. John Thurgood Thomas is the hero. He is handsome, generous, kind, decent, honourable, and wealthy. JT owns a detective agency and is also working on his latest project, JT’s World. It has a hotel, a tavern, a theatre, shops, a doctor’s office, carousels, and a Ferris wheel. The story opens with a murder in the bowling alley. Marcus Payne was married to Annabelle, the woman JT wanted to marry. Marcus killed Annabelle and planned to kill her daughter (Madeline, who is now JT’s ward) and JT and inherit their assets. He mistook Mika (one of JT’s employees) for Madeline and killed her in error. An alert observer killed Marcus before he could cause further devastation. After this drama, JT joins his ranch foreman (Buck) and other cowhands on a mission to pick up cattle for his ranch. While on this journey, JT is in a saloon and 4 outlaws enter. They are Trevor Russel, Duke Barney, and the identical twin brothers, James and June Gibbons. Bounty hunter, Chip Heller is on their trail. A gunfight ensues and the first 2 outlaws are killed. Before one of the twins can shoot Chip, JT shouts out and takes the bullet meant for Chip. The twins escape. JT and Chip pursue them. The twins eventually stop at a town and force the doctor (an attractive woman named Jessica) to assist June, who was injured in the gunfight. JT and Chip follow the twins to the doctor’s office. June is now in a coma and James is in a rage. James is arrested. Aamon Zamora (an unscrupulous attorney) is hired to represent the twins. He devises an ingenious strategy to defend them. Zamora intends to marry Jessica. He notices that JT and Jessica are becoming close. Jessica confides that her son, Theo was kidnapped by his nanny. It later transpires that Zamora arranged the kidnapping to force Jessica to marry him. JT vows to find the boy. Will JT find Theo? Will Zamora win the court case? Does Zamora take revenge on JT and ruin JT and Jessica’s future?
Fleischauer is a wonderful storyteller. His style is entertaining. His descriptions are amusing and imaginative. Some of my favourites include: “the sun was a cruel mistress”, a man who “fell out of the ugly tree at birth and hit every branch on the way down”, “bulbous nose”, “eyebrows like tumbleweeds”, “bald as a cucumber”, and a “muzzle sprouting smoke, fire, and death.”
The story has many facets to hold the reader’s attention. It has all the elements you expect a western to have. There are saloons, “soiled doves”/prostitutes, handsome heroes, bounty hunters, ranches, attractive heroines, evil gunslingers, Indians, trains, and horses. There is a court case where the lawyer has devised an exceptionally clever strategy to defend his clients. The characters are likable and three-dimensional. They have strengths and weaknesses. There is a good balance of misfortune and good fortune for many of the characters. Fleischauer has woven a compelling story that has an energy and life of its own. One can imagine the characters coming alive when you close the book. It would make an enjoyable movie.
I have two observations to balance my otherwise positive impressions. The author sometimes digresses into detail with background stories in the middle of the action. Examples are the information we are given on Chip, the Gibbons twins, and their attorney. The information is useful. It shows their character development and explains their motives. However, I feel that this detracts slightly from the action at crucial times. I don’t have an alternative suggestion as to how else this information could be introduced. Delaying the action could add to the suspense.
Secondly, a lot happens in the book. It is quite a long, complicated story. Some of the events and interactions between characters don’t appear to add much value to the story. An example is JT meeting other beautiful women like Maria and Annie. These women might be introduced to show that he is not yet ready to move on from Annabelle until he meets Jessica.
The book appears to have been professionally edited. I only noticed 3 small errors which did not detract from my enjoyment. There is much to analyze and enjoy within this interesting story with its varied characters. The book delivered on all of my expectations. I feel this book deserves a rating of 4 out of 4 stars.
I highly recommend the book to readers who enjoy westerns, historical novels, adventure stories, cowboy romances, and criminal trials.
******
JTs World
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
JT’s World by E. Alan Fleischauer is a western consisting of 474 pages and 36 chapters. John Thurgood Thomas is the hero. He is handsome, generous, kind, decent, honourable, and wealthy. JT owns a detective agency and is also working on his latest project, JT’s World. It has a hotel, a tavern, a theatre, shops, a doctor’s office, carousels, and a Ferris wheel. The story opens with a murder in the bowling alley. Marcus Payne was married to Annabelle, the woman JT wanted to marry. Marcus killed Annabelle and planned to kill her daughter (Madeline, who is now JT’s ward) and JT and inherit their assets. He mistook Mika (one of JT’s employees) for Madeline and killed her in error. An alert observer killed Marcus before he could cause further devastation. After this drama, JT joins his ranch foreman (Buck) and other cowhands on a mission to pick up cattle for his ranch. While on this journey, JT is in a saloon and 4 outlaws enter. They are Trevor Russel, Duke Barney, and the identical twin brothers, James and June Gibbons. Bounty hunter, Chip Heller is on their trail. A gunfight ensues and the first 2 outlaws are killed. Before one of the twins can shoot Chip, JT shouts out and takes the bullet meant for Chip. The twins escape. JT and Chip pursue them. The twins eventually stop at a town and force the doctor (an attractive woman named Jessica) to assist June, who was injured in the gunfight. JT and Chip follow the twins to the doctor’s office. June is now in a coma and James is in a rage. James is arrested. Aamon Zamora (an unscrupulous attorney) is hired to represent the twins. He devises an ingenious strategy to defend them. Zamora intends to marry Jessica. He notices that JT and Jessica are becoming close. Jessica confides that her son, Theo was kidnapped by his nanny. It later transpires that Zamora arranged the kidnapping to force Jessica to marry him. JT vows to find the boy. Will JT find Theo? Will Zamora win the court case? Does Zamora take revenge on JT and ruin JT and Jessica’s future?
Fleischauer is a wonderful storyteller. His style is entertaining. His descriptions are amusing and imaginative. Some of my favourites include: “the sun was a cruel mistress”, a man who “fell out of the ugly tree at birth and hit every branch on the way down”, “bulbous nose”, “eyebrows like tumbleweeds”, “bald as a cucumber”, and a “muzzle sprouting smoke, fire, and death.”
The story has many facets to hold the reader’s attention. It has all the elements you expect a western to have. There are saloons, “soiled doves”/prostitutes, handsome heroes, bounty hunters, ranches, attractive heroines, evil gunslingers, Indians, trains, and horses. There is a court case where the lawyer has devised an exceptionally clever strategy to defend his clients. The characters are likable and three-dimensional. They have strengths and weaknesses. There is a good balance of misfortune and good fortune for many of the characters. Fleischauer has woven a compelling story that has an energy and life of its own. One can imagine the characters coming alive when you close the book. It would make an enjoyable movie.
I have two observations to balance my otherwise positive impressions. The author sometimes digresses into detail with background stories in the middle of the action. Examples are the information we are given on Chip, the Gibbons twins, and their attorney. The information is useful. It shows their character development and explains their motives. However, I feel that this detracts slightly from the action at crucial times. I don’t have an alternative suggestion as to how else this information could be introduced. Delaying the action could add to the suspense.
Secondly, a lot happens in the book. It is quite a long, complicated story. Some of the events and interactions between characters don’t appear to add much value to the story. An example is JT meeting other beautiful women like Maria and Annie. These women might be introduced to show that he is not yet ready to move on from Annabelle until he meets Jessica.
The book appears to have been professionally edited. I only noticed 3 small errors which did not detract from my enjoyment. There is much to analyze and enjoy within this interesting story with its varied characters. The book delivered on all of my expectations. I feel this book deserves a rating of 4 out of 4 stars.
I highly recommend the book to readers who enjoy westerns, historical novels, adventure stories, cowboy romances, and criminal trials.
******
JTs World
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Wisdom by Arun mago
