Review of McDowell

[Terry Kimble]

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

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5 out of 5 stars

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Share This Review

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Hiram McDowell, the protagonist in McDowell by William H. Coles, is a man you can love to hate! Or hate to love? He gets under the reader's skin as he egocentrically worms his way through the minds and hearts of everyone he encounters. It is a profound, thought-provoking novel that captivates from beginning to end!

Hiram, a prominent surgeon, skilled mountain climber, endowing philanthropist, father, and husband, appears to have everything one could hope for. But there is one problem—he is an absolute scoundrel!

Early in the story, Hiram confiscates a struggling hiking partner’s oxygen tank and leaves him alone to perish on a mountainside. Soon after, he takes a woman—not his wife—for dinner on his wife’s birthday! He promises a colleague the appointment as “Executive Director” in exchange for his vote to ensure he is elected president of the International College of Surgeons. Then, he reneges on the promise once he’s elected. He is soon accused of misappropriating charity fund revenues. These and other guileful actions reveal Hiram McDowell’s complete and utter self-absorption.

As I journeyed along with Hiram, witnessing his lack of empathy and mistreatment of people, I soon began to loathe his character. But then he comforts Sophie, his heartbroken photographer daughter, and financially helps out his other children, showing that perhaps he cares—at least for them. However, the story takes many twists and turns, and shocking events cause Hiram to be accused of the unthinkable!

The characters in McDowell are well-developed, so the reader gets a good sense of how and why they, directly and indirectly, impact Hiram’s life and choices.

In this compelling story, the author delves deeply into the characters' psyches, exposing the raw human emotions, behaviors, and motivations that can change a person into a villain—or a hero. The story illuminates humans' complexities, capabilities, and projected judgments (that regularly need readjustment).

McDowell left me wanting to know more about how some incidents happened in the story. Giving examples, though, would spoil the plot. But a horrific family tragedy causes Hiram’s life to unravel instantly. From this point on, the reader begins to witness him grow in self-awareness as his inner and outer lives pivot from a path of progression to a path of regression. I found this aspect of the book to be the most satisfying because it beckons the reader to examine their own intentions toward others and sort out which are genuinely selfless and which are solely selfish motives.

I was struck by how some adult women in this story were portrayed, engaging in frivolous behaviors to get men's attention. I could never imagine a middle-aged woman doing those things in reality! You will have to read the book to see if you agree. The author's bombshell ending dropped my jaw!

I disliked nothing about McDowell. Its ability to make the reader think about what is truly important, along with its absorbing, smooth-flowing narrative and superb editing, merits 5-out-of-5 stars!

The book contains adult content, adult language, and the topic of mass shootings. It is appropriate for adult readers only.

******
McDowell
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on Smashwords

[Claudia Angelucci]

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

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5 out of 5 stars

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Share This Review

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Hiram McDowell, the protagonist in McDowell by William H. Coles, is a man you can love to hate! Or hate to love? He gets under the reader's skin as he egocentrically worms his way through the minds and hearts of everyone he encounters. It is a profound, thought-provoking novel that captivates from beginning to end!

Hiram, a prominent surgeon, skilled mountain climber, endowing philanthropist, father, and husband, appears to have everything one could hope for. But there is one problem—he is an absolute scoundrel!

Early in the story, Hiram confiscates a struggling hiking partner’s oxygen tank and leaves him alone to perish on a mountainside. Soon after, he takes a woman—not his wife—for dinner on his wife’s birthday! He promises a colleague the appointment as “Executive Director” in exchange for his vote to ensure he is elected president of the International College of Surgeons. Then, he reneges on the promise once he’s elected. He is soon accused of misappropriating charity fund revenues. These and other guileful actions reveal Hiram McDowell’s complete and utter self-absorption.

As I journeyed along with Hiram, witnessing his lack of empathy and mistreatment of people, I soon began to loathe his character. But then he comforts Sophie, his heartbroken photographer daughter, and financially helps out his other children, showing that perhaps he cares—at least for them. However, the story takes many twists and turns, and shocking events cause Hiram to be accused of the unthinkable!

The characters in McDowell are well-developed, so the reader gets a good sense of how and why they, directly and indirectly, impact Hiram’s life and choices.

In this compelling story, the author delves deeply into the characters' psyches, exposing the raw human emotions, behaviors, and motivations that can change a person into a villain—or a hero. The story illuminates humans' complexities, capabilities, and projected judgments (that regularly need readjustment).

McDowell left me wanting to know more about how some incidents happened in the story. Giving examples, though, would spoil the plot. But a horrific family tragedy causes Hiram’s life to unravel instantly. From this point on, the reader begins to witness him grow in self-awareness as his inner and outer lives pivot from a path of progression to a path of regression. I found this aspect of the book to be the most satisfying because it beckons the reader to examine their own intentions toward others and sort out which are genuinely selfless and which are solely selfish motives.

I was struck by how some adult women in this story were portrayed, engaging in frivolous behaviors to get men's attention. I could never imagine a middle-aged woman doing those things in reality! You will have to read the book to see if you agree. The author's bombshell ending dropped my jaw!

I disliked nothing about McDowell. Its ability to make the reader think about what is truly important, along with its absorbing, smooth-flowing narrative and superb editing, merits 5-out-of-5 stars!

The book contains adult content, adult language, and the topic of mass shootings. It is appropriate for adult readers only.

******
McDowell
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on Smashwords

This sounds like a very interesting read. I am intrigued by the missing spoilers in your review! I am curious about the story of these middle-aged women engaging in frivolous behaviors to get men's attention Thank you, Terry; this was a great review. It was a pleasure reading it, and I look forward to reading this book too! All the best!

[Mari Thompson]

If that is McDowell on the book cover I can already picture the scoundrel, lol 🫣 I can also picture him doing all the selfish things mentioned in the review while being a selfless father. Sounds like a television soap opera turned into a book. Thanks for the excellent review and recommendation.

[Terry Kimble]

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

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5 out of 5 stars

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Share This Review

---

Hiram McDowell, the protagonist in McDowell by William H. Coles, is a man you can love to hate! Or hate to love? He gets under the reader's skin as he egocentrically worms his way through the minds and hearts of everyone he encounters. It is a profound, thought-provoking novel that captivates from beginning to end!

Hiram, a prominent surgeon, skilled mountain climber, endowing philanthropist, father, and husband, appears to have everything one could hope for. But there is one problem—he is an absolute scoundrel!

Early in the story, Hiram confiscates a struggling hiking partner’s oxygen tank and leaves him alone to perish on a mountainside. Soon after, he takes a woman—not his wife—for dinner on his wife’s birthday! He promises a colleague the appointment as “Executive Director” in exchange for his vote to ensure he is elected president of the International College of Surgeons. Then, he reneges on the promise once he’s elected. He is soon accused of misappropriating charity fund revenues. These and other guileful actions reveal Hiram McDowell’s complete and utter self-absorption.

As I journeyed along with Hiram, witnessing his lack of empathy and mistreatment of people, I soon began to loathe his character. But then he comforts Sophie, his heartbroken photographer daughter, and financially helps out his other children, showing that perhaps he cares—at least for them. However, the story takes many twists and turns, and shocking events cause Hiram to be accused of the unthinkable!

The characters in McDowell are well-developed, so the reader gets a good sense of how and why they, directly and indirectly, impact Hiram’s life and choices.

In this compelling story, the author delves deeply into the characters' psyches, exposing the raw human emotions, behaviors, and motivations that can change a person into a villain—or a hero. The story illuminates humans' complexities, capabilities, and projected judgments (that regularly need readjustment).

McDowell left me wanting to know more about how some incidents happened in the story. Giving examples, though, would spoil the plot. But a horrific family tragedy causes Hiram’s life to unravel instantly. From this point on, the reader begins to witness him grow in self-awareness as his inner and outer lives pivot from a path of progression to a path of regression. I found this aspect of the book to be the most satisfying because it beckons the reader to examine their own intentions toward others and sort out which are genuinely selfless and which are solely selfish motives.

I was struck by how some adult women in this story were portrayed, engaging in frivolous behaviors to get men's attention. I could never imagine a middle-aged woman doing those things in reality! You will have to read the book to see if you agree. The author's bombshell ending dropped my jaw!

I disliked nothing about McDowell. Its ability to make the reader think about what is truly important, along with its absorbing, smooth-flowing narrative and superb editing, merits 5-out-of-5 stars!

The book contains adult content, adult language, and the topic of mass shootings. It is appropriate for adult readers only.

******
McDowell
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on Smashwords

This sounds like a very interesting read. I am intrigued by the missing spoilers in your review! I am curious about the story of these middle-aged women engaging in frivolous behaviors to get men's attention Thank you, Terry; this was a great review. It was a pleasure reading it, and I look forward to reading this book too! All the best!

Hi Claudia. I found it to be interesting There was "something" that happened in the story that was never explained as far as to how it happened, and that is what I was referring to. If you get a chance to read it you will see what I mean. I hope you enjoy it! Thank you for checking out the review! Have a splendid reading day!

[Terry Kimble]

If that is McDowell on the book cover I can already picture the scoundrel, lol 🫣 I can also picture him doing all the selfish things mentioned in the review while being a selfless father. Sounds like a television soap opera turned into a book. Thanks for the excellent review and recommendation.

Mari, hahaha--he is a complicated man. By the time he got to looking like that picture on the cover, I no longer despised him! If you read the book you will see why! Thank you for coming by and leaving your thoughts. Have a wonderful reading day!

[Renee S]

Terry, I can't help but agree with the above comments. The book sounds interesting, and the protagonist seems to have a complex personality that can evoke a spectrum of emotions. I'm intrigued to learn about the twists and turns in the plot. Perhaps I will pick it up if I get to review it. Thanks for your detailed, well-written review!

[Cara Wilding]

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

Hiram McDowell, the protagonist in McDowell by William H. Coles, is a man you can love to hate! Or hate to love? He gets under the reader's skin as he egocentrically worms his way through the minds and hearts of everyone he encounters. It is a profound, thought-provoking novel that captivates from beginning to end!

Early in the story, Hiram confiscates a struggling hiking partner’s oxygen tank and leaves him alone to perish on a mountainside. Soon after, he takes a woman—not his wife—for dinner on his wife’s birthday! He promises a colleague the appointment as “Executive Director” in exchange for his vote to ensure he is elected president of the International College of Surgeons. Then, he reneges on the promise once he’s elected. He is soon accused of misappropriating charity fund revenues. These and other guileful actions reveal Hiram McDowell’s complete and utter self-absorption.

In this compelling story, the author delves deeply into the characters' psyches, exposing the raw human emotions, behaviors, and motivations that can change a person into a villain—or a hero. The story illuminates humans' complexities, capabilities, and projected judgments (that regularly need readjustment).

Terry, this book has been sitting on my TBR list for quite a while! I do love a character you can hate but then love again Ok, the oxygen tank is a maybe in a survival situation; the other woman on his wife's birthday—nope; and the broken promise—come on! The author portrays Hiram well. I love the idea of exploring the inner lives of multiple characters and the outcomes. Oh, a bombshell ending...perhaps I should dust this off and give it a go! Your review was very enjoyable to read; thanks for sharing your thoughts on this book with us! Until next time...

[Sarah Zain]

In the presence of this amount of contradiction within the character of the protagonist, you love him and then see actions that make you sympathize with him.
Developing the characters well is also a point in favor of the story, which appears from your review to have a surprising ending.I loved reading your review; it is refreshing and full of details, and at the same time, it gave me a sense of excitement to read the book. Outstanding work, Terry!

[Terry Kimble]

Terry, I can't help but agree with the above comments. The book sounds interesting, and the protagonist seems to have a complex personality that can evoke a spectrum of emotions. I'm intrigued to learn about the twists and turns in the plot. Perhaps I will pick it up if I get to review it. Thanks for your detailed, well-written review!

Thank you, Renee. Yes, the protagonist is definitely complex and interesting. There are other interesting characters in this story as well I appreciate you reading the review and leaving your thoughts!

[Stephen Christopher 1]

Ohhhh, Terry, I'm adding this to my must-read list right now. McDowell sounds like an awful person, and sometimes I love a good scoundrel, so I'm very keen to see if he gets his comeuppance or if he does change for the better. Thanks, as always, for such a thorough review.

[Terry Kimble]

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

Hiram McDowell, the protagonist in McDowell by William H. Coles, is a man you can love to hate! Or hate to love? He gets under the reader's skin as he egocentrically worms his way through the minds and hearts of everyone he encounters. It is a profound, thought-provoking novel that captivates from beginning to end!

Early in the story, Hiram confiscates a struggling hiking partner’s oxygen tank and leaves him alone to perish on a mountainside. Soon after, he takes a woman—not his wife—for dinner on his wife’s birthday! He promises a colleague the appointment as “Executive Director” in exchange for his vote to ensure he is elected president of the International College of Surgeons. Then, he reneges on the promise once he’s elected. He is soon accused of misappropriating charity fund revenues. These and other guileful actions reveal Hiram McDowell’s complete and utter self-absorption.

In this compelling story, the author delves deeply into the characters' psyches, exposing the raw human emotions, behaviors, and motivations that can change a person into a villain—or a hero. The story illuminates humans' complexities, capabilities, and projected judgments (that regularly need readjustment).

Terry, this book has been sitting on my TBR list for quite a while! I do love a character you can hate but then love again Ok, the oxygen tank is a maybe in a survival situation; the other woman on his wife's birthday—nope; and the broken promise—come on! The author portrays Hiram well. I love the idea of exploring the inner lives of multiple characters and the outcomes. Oh, a bombshell ending...perhaps I should dust this off and give it a go! Your review was very enjoyable to read; thanks for sharing your thoughts on this book with us! Until next time...

Thank you, as always, for your input, Cara! This is one of those books that I found mixed reviews on, but decided to check it out for myself and discovered that I enjoyed the layers this book offers if one is willing to 'peel the onion' and look deeper!

[Terry Kimble]

Ohhhh, Terry, I'm adding this to my must-read list right now. McDowell sounds like an awful person, and sometimes I love a good scoundrel, so I'm very keen to see if he gets his comeuppance or if he does change for the better. Thanks, as always, for such a thorough review.

Hi Stephen! I hope you read it-- I can't wait to see what you think!

[Terry Kimble]

In the presence of this amount of contradiction within the character of the protagonist, you love him and then see actions that make you sympathize with him.
Developing the characters well is also a point in favor of the story, which appears from your review to have a surprising ending.I loved reading your review; it is refreshing and full of details, and at the same time, it gave me a sense of excitement to read the book. Outstanding work, Terry!

Hi Sarah, I agree; good character development makes a story come to life! If you read it, I hope you enjoy it, and I look forward to reading your review on this. I find it interesting that ten people can read a book with ten differing opinions! Thank you for your thoughts, and have a great reading day!

[Bettny Andrade]

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

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5 out of 5 stars

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Share This Review

---

Hiram McDowell, the protagonist in McDowell by William H. Coles, is a man you can love to hate! Or hate to love? He gets under the reader's skin as he egocentrically worms his way through the minds and hearts of everyone he encounters. It is a profound, thought-provoking novel that captivates from beginning to end!

Hiram, a prominent surgeon, skilled mountain climber, endowing philanthropist, father, and husband, appears to have everything one could hope for. But there is one problem—he is an absolute scoundrel!

Early in the story, Hiram confiscates a struggling hiking partner’s oxygen tank and leaves him alone to perish on a mountainside. Soon after, he takes a woman—not his wife—for dinner on his wife’s birthday! He promises a colleague the appointment as “Executive Director” in exchange for his vote to ensure he is elected president of the International College of Surgeons. Then, he reneges on the promise once he’s elected. He is soon accused of misappropriating charity fund revenues. These and other guileful actions reveal Hiram McDowell’s complete and utter self-absorption.

As I journeyed along with Hiram, witnessing his lack of empathy and mistreatment of people, I soon began to loathe his character. But then he comforts Sophie, his heartbroken photographer daughter, and financially helps out his other children, showing that perhaps he cares—at least for them. However, the story takes many twists and turns, and shocking events cause Hiram to be accused of the unthinkable!

The characters in McDowell are well-developed, so the reader gets a good sense of how and why they, directly and indirectly, impact Hiram’s life and choices.

In this compelling story, the author delves deeply into the characters' psyches, exposing the raw human emotions, behaviors, and motivations that can change a person into a villain—or a hero. The story illuminates humans' complexities, capabilities, and projected judgments (that regularly need readjustment).

McDowell left me wanting to know more about how some incidents happened in the story. Giving examples, though, would spoil the plot. But a horrific family tragedy causes Hiram’s life to unravel instantly. From this point on, the reader begins to witness him grow in self-awareness as his inner and outer lives pivot from a path of progression to a path of regression. I found this aspect of the book to be the most satisfying because it beckons the reader to examine their own intentions toward others and sort out which are genuinely selfless and which are solely selfish motives.

I was struck by how some adult women in this story were portrayed, engaging in frivolous behaviors to get men's attention. I could never imagine a middle-aged woman doing those things in reality! You will have to read the book to see if you agree. The author's bombshell ending dropped my jaw!

I disliked nothing about McDowell. Its ability to make the reader think about what is truly important, along with its absorbing, smooth-flowing narrative and superb editing, merits 5-out-of-5 stars!

The book contains adult content, adult language, and the topic of mass shootings. It is appropriate for adult readers only.

******
McDowell
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on Smashwords

Completely shameless! hahaha wow! According to what I have read in your review, I find it somewhat funny, because there really are people like this character. I'm definitely intrigued by this book. I will keep it in mind for a next reading. Thanks for reviewing it!

[Runan]

I guess I would love to hate Hiram. If the author could make me remain neutral or like this character at the end, that would be a sign of his amazing storytelling ability. For now, from your review, I will stick to not liking this character, even though you have mentioned that he undergoes a positive change. I guess I have to travel with the story for it to have an impact on my emotions. Your review was fun to read. It was shocking at first to learn about the protagonist’s character, but I felt relieved knowing there’s some hope left for him.