Tuesday, May 29, 2012

KIRKUS REVIEWS Speaks Out on Atticus For The Undead!

Without further ado, I post their review here, in full.

"In this novella, a young attorney risks his career and life to bring justice to his wrongfully accused clients—zombies, vampires and other arcane species shunned by society.

In this action-packed novel full of ironic, esoteric characters, Abramowitz spins a tale full of twists, turns and danger. Reversing the roles of so-called threats to society and defenders of public safety, Abramowitz creates a world where it is the inhuman creatures who must be protected from power-hungry district attorneys and supremacy groups that target innocent victims under the mask of heroism and protection. The novel touches on high concepts as Hunter Gamble, the book’s lead, works against the social biases and stereotypes that ultimately keep the justice system unjust. Not only does Gamble face the standard difficulties of trying to persuade a jury, police and court officials, but he must also build trust
with his arcane clients who, in the beginning, place him in the group of lawyers who “wore suits and had sticks up [their] asses.” Abramowitz uses this complex dynamic to develop characters, their fears and ultimately their ambitions. Gamble’s ambition is large—he won’t stop until he saves an innocent client—but the goal is complicated when his young assistant, with whom he has a growing mutual endearment, is threatened and attacked by the Salvation Alliance, a group of vigilantes who use moblike tactics to target innocent creatures. Once his assistant and young client are attacked, Gamble knows his fight for justice will be larger than saving a few clients: He’s now up against the constructs that allow social inequality. Abramowitz writes with punchy dialogue, sonic action and vivid description. His characters sing, bellow, shout and stumble; one even flies through a public bathroom into a fancy gala, shattering the door behind her. There’s never a dull moment as Abramowitz earns his high-concept theme with tight dialogue and full characters who often display as many human vulnerabilities as they do supernatural abilities. Danger shadows each chapter and the courtroom battles will have the reader flipping pages in anticipation. Fortunately, the characters’ witty exchanges and Gamble’s inner monologue provide a measure of levity to the more intense scenes.

A surprisingly fresh, funny and fiery mystery that envelopes the reader in a uniquely colorful world."

No comments:

Post a Comment