Review of The Dark Side of Carmel

[Kibet Hillary]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Dark Side of Carmel" by Wendell Vanderbilt Fountain.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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Shankforth hires Jeff Eubanks, a private investigator, to look into the conduct of his wife, as he believes she might be having an affair. A simple investigation, stemming from jealousy, shines light in the dark, unveiling the unbelievable evils perpetrated by some famous residents of Carmel. For the first time, a safe, peaceful haven has become a home to underground criminals who operate in the dark. They are composed of the wealthy, having connections with those in power, and drug cartels. The Carmel Police Department is understaffed, and Chief Walt asks Lennie Mason, a retired police chief, to come on board as a special investigator. How will the investigation affect Lennie’s family? Who is the mastermind behind the criminal network? Will the perpetrators be brought to justice when it appears they have connections?

The Dark Side of Carmel by Wendell Vanderbilt Fountain was published by AuthorHouse in 2022 and comprises 19 captivating chapters. The action-packed scenes will result in some characters having a close call with the Grim Reaper, others will die, and others will resign. In the fullness of time, the idyllic city of Carmel will not remain the same. They will be shaken to the core. Fortunately or unfortunately, only a few know what is going on, which is a shocking realization.

The first thing that catches one by surprise is that much is going on in a quiet town, unbeknownst. It seems all that one needed to do was turn the wood lying on the ground to discover the worms wreaking havoc beneath it. It is not crime alone that hides in the shadows; even wounds from traumas from the past have not healed. Consequently, as I read the book, emotions were evoked, and several thoughts bombarded my mind; none surpassed the fact that I empathized with the victims, celebrated the courageous people who stood to fight for justice, and loathed the culprits. By employing dramatic irony, flashbacks, and many more literary devices, the author ensured I was captivated from the first page. In the introductory chapters, you are not sure whether a heinous crime will be committed, and after knowing it, the questions shift to the identity of the criminals and if they will be arrested.

One of the downsides, though, is that Lennie, Walt, and various other characters are passionate rightists; now and then, the reader will come across anti-leftist sentiments that may sound offensive. Moreover, there is an emphasis on COVID-19 being referred to as the Chinese Virus and biological warfare. I firmly believe that neither the liberals nor the conservatives are absolutely right, but one thing that I liked about the characters despite their political inclinations was their commitment and dogged determination. Apart from their patriotic nature, one could also rest assured that their political beliefs were almost written on stone tablets.

I enjoyed reading the book, as the author left no details out. The twists and turns, family dynamics, realistic portrayal of crime, excellent characterization, and weaving of mundane activities throughout the investigation made the book absorbing, leaving one with much to think about. On the other hand, I rate the book three out of four stars because of the number of errors I encountered. Some remarks were off-putting, but that is probably due to my beliefs. I recommend the book to ardent fans of crime thrillers. There are no extreme gory scenes, but one will not miss a few cuss words in the book.

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The Dark Side of Carmel
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[Pauls_]

One thing leads to another. I can imagine the surprise on the part of those who do not realize what is happening. Suspense upon suspense. I would love to know what went down during the investigation.

[Mathurambiga Maniom]

The title of the book itself drives me insane to dive deep into the book! The review portrays that the story contains countless suspense and thriller, to keep the readers focused and questioning themselves on what is going to happen next. Well written!

[Mbenma Esther 080]

I love crime thrillers and for the fact that this one comes with less gory sconces, I would love to read it. Thanks for the review

[Amy Luman]

There is no way of getting around the fact that having a lot of money enables you to get away with a lot. It’s too bad, but maybe in this case Lennie and Walt can discover what’s going on.

[Blessing Odii]

Great review. I enjoy reading crime scenes novels.

[Aisha Yakub]

When we decide to investigate things, we find other details we may or may not have been searching for. Thank you for the review.

[NetMassimo]

Some bits are puzzling but overall this seems like an engaging crime thriller, so I hope the author does another round of proofreading. Thank you for your great review!