Review of McDowell
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Bradley Shelvie
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Review of McDowell
[Following is a volunteer review of "McDowell" by William H. Coles.]
Hiram McDowell had reached the peak of his career. He was already a respected top surgeon, and he had recently been elected to the board of directors of the International College of Surgeons as a regent. Being elected as the college's president was the icing on the cake. However, he didn't earn the position honorably. He had tricked Michael O’Leary into swaying the votes in his favor by promising to promote him to the executive director if he secured the position. Unfortunately, Michael was shamefully passed over by Hiram, and the position was given to Dr. Tom Gardner instead. Such a betrayal left Michael thirsting for revenge.
Meanwhile, Hiram's marriage of convenience to Carole didn't bother him as much as other people's feelings did. He frequently cheated on her despite her complaints. Unusually, Carole went completely silent after threatening to divorce him, but Hiram didn't care. Amidst all of this, his stepdaughter, Tasha, and his son, Billie, were secretly having an affair. Heaven knows what would happen if they were caught, especially by Hiram himself. But that wasn't as bad as the plans his enemies had for him in William H. Coles' McDowell.
I've never read such a suspenseful and intense book as this. Hiram McDowell is such a perverted sociopath who doesn't care for anything or anyone but his interests. His indifference sometimes pushed him over the edge, and he sometimes brushed shoulders with those he shouldn't have. Take his wife, Carole. No matter how much she persevered, Hiram threw it all away. Carole no longer cared, and he would likely have no one to turn to if he found himself in trouble. His unappreciative attitude caused him to double-cross Michael and so many others in his path. The fact that the main character was also the villain in a way made the book unique and set it apart from others I've read.
It would be a cliché to say how good the other aspects of the book were, but they are still worth mentioning. The characters were well-rounded, and it was easy to understand their motivations, except for McDowell, who seemed to be driven by nothing other than his own interests. The suspense was on point and well-sustained throughout the book. I can't think of any negative aspects of the book.
I award this book 5 out of 5 stars. Since I found no negative aspects, I don't see why I should deduct any stars. If you enjoy intense novels with betrayal and distrust centered around a perverted psychopathic character, this book is a perfect choice.
******
McDowell
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on Smashwords
Hiram McDowell had reached the peak of his career. He was already a respected top surgeon, and he had recently been elected to the board of directors of the International College of Surgeons as a regent. Being elected as the college's president was the icing on the cake. However, he didn't earn the position honorably. He had tricked Michael O’Leary into swaying the votes in his favor by promising to promote him to the executive director if he secured the position. Unfortunately, Michael was shamefully passed over by Hiram, and the position was given to Dr. Tom Gardner instead. Such a betrayal left Michael thirsting for revenge.
Meanwhile, Hiram's marriage of convenience to Carole didn't bother him as much as other people's feelings did. He frequently cheated on her despite her complaints. Unusually, Carole went completely silent after threatening to divorce him, but Hiram didn't care. Amidst all of this, his stepdaughter, Tasha, and his son, Billie, were secretly having an affair. Heaven knows what would happen if they were caught, especially by Hiram himself. But that wasn't as bad as the plans his enemies had for him in William H. Coles' McDowell.
I've never read such a suspenseful and intense book as this. Hiram McDowell is such a perverted sociopath who doesn't care for anything or anyone but his interests. His indifference sometimes pushed him over the edge, and he sometimes brushed shoulders with those he shouldn't have. Take his wife, Carole. No matter how much she persevered, Hiram threw it all away. Carole no longer cared, and he would likely have no one to turn to if he found himself in trouble. His unappreciative attitude caused him to double-cross Michael and so many others in his path. The fact that the main character was also the villain in a way made the book unique and set it apart from others I've read.
It would be a cliché to say how good the other aspects of the book were, but they are still worth mentioning. The characters were well-rounded, and it was easy to understand their motivations, except for McDowell, who seemed to be driven by nothing other than his own interests. The suspense was on point and well-sustained throughout the book. I can't think of any negative aspects of the book.
I award this book 5 out of 5 stars. Since I found no negative aspects, I don't see why I should deduct any stars. If you enjoy intense novels with betrayal and distrust centered around a perverted psychopathic character, this book is a perfect choice.
******
McDowell
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on Smashwords
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Latest Review: Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas
