For the October Blog, I chose the extended book review option. The book I chose is called “Hand Of Fate” by the author Lis Wiehl published by Thomas Nelson. This novel is based on suspense elements, follows a murderous plot and intrigues readers on the mystery at hand. The main subject of the book is radio talk show host Jim Fate. Jim Fate is a man who tells it straight. He is known for being very blunt and making many of his listeners upset by his controversial topics. In the novel produced by Wiehl, we are also introduced to additional characters. The people that now are working the case, like Officer Nicole Hedges After Jim’s sudden death, other characters Jim kept close to him in his personal life also appear. Characters like Allison Pierce and Victoria Hanawa. Although this novel mainly revolves around murder and a questionable legacy left behind by the main character, questions of a hidden romance and other mysteries began to unfold. Why tensions grew to be so high around the main character and who may be guilty of the crime committed, are the main questions the detectives have trouble solving.
During the entirety of the novel, readers are left on the edge of their seats, waiting for the police to arrive at a conclusion for the case. Wiehl uses descriptive imagery, detailed emotions and changing personalities of characters to shape the novel into the captivating read it becomes. Main themes found in this novel are murder mystery, power and corruption and even revenge. Revenge can be a theme of this novel most especially because as a well known figure in his community, our main character was very much hated for the things he said on air, making him an easy target for murder. Being hated both in the public realms of his life and in the personal realm of his life, only makes for a broader spectrum in trying to find the person- or people- guilty for Fate’s death.
In this novel readers are constantly turned around. Things are constantly changing whether it be a central idea the chapter focuses on, testimonies given by characters or emotions both the characters and readers come across. This novel is a mysterious ride that will leave you with even more mysterious questions that may be left unanswered. Anger, fear, confusion and everything in between will become present when the case begins to unfold. Overall for someone like me, who enjoys a murder-mystery, “Hand Of Fate”, is the way to go. Many things about this novel make it intriguing and a great novel to read; however the ability to really be convinced at what the story is portraying, is what really ties the story together. Many times books we read, whether they be fiction, non-fiction, murder mystery or different genres, they all can become too much of a fantasy for readers. Making it very hard to find interest in. “Hand Of Fate”, is a good read because it gives a real-life situation with deep detail that makes you want to follow along. The main conflict pulls you in further and further until you invest yourself so deeply into it, you too like the characters- are dying for the end of the book, when the Juror gives their ruling on the case.
The story had multiple themes, characters and twist-turns in its plot, however, the last point of focus to mention is the settings. Briefly talked about in the lines above, “Hand Of Fate” takes place in the city of Portland, in its downtown district. Jim’s apartment and studio are the main sights for detectives to gather evidence for the murder. However, other homes such as Victoria’s house are also occupied as the author builds a connection to her being the possible guilty party. In the settings we go from house to house, from apartment to apartment, all the way down to the inner city. The setting panel is very large, complementing the large ideas of Jim Fate’s case. One main setting can be Jim’s apartment where he once lived and his studio. These would be the main settings since they are the ones that are most heavily being investigated. However, it is wise to note that other characters' residence, other places Jim liked to go in his city and the people he met within the city, are also big parts in the equation of solving this case.
The main plot in this book, if not obvious yet, is the detectives' case on the murder of Jim Fate. Unfortunately, this case is not a simple one to solve because as detectives soon find out, Jim was a target for many people and listeners on air. The main plot also brings big questions to the story like Who, When, Where, and Why would someone have enough hate for Jim, to kill him? Could it have been someone he never knew? Could it have been someone close to him? All these questions tie into the main plot of the novel. Last but not least, the message of the book, the topic tying the piece together, is the impotence of uncovering the truth and the complexity life can sometimes give us. In the novel the complexity of life is explored by the many different stories. Examples of the complexities include: the many different stories we hear about Jim Fate versus who he really was, the different testimonies given in court versus the true testimony that is found in the end, last of all complexity of life is portrayed in the novel through Jim himself and his character. What about Jim made him want to be so hateful, could he have been a “villain” of his own story? Many complexities create the message of this novel, therefore, this novel could be said to simply be “complexed”. A particular word that may not always attract readers, but always one that holds readers interest.
“Hand of Fate” is a novel I personally love, thus why I did my overview on it. If you are interested in novels, mainly ones that take you to the edge of your seat and have you on your toes constantly, Wiehl’s “Hand Of Fate”, is the way to go. I hope this was an enjoyable overview, possibly sparking your interest in reading the real novel, thank you for your feedback.
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