Library Limelights 307

 

Eriq LaSalle. Laws of Depravity. 2012. Ebook downloaded from TPL. USA: Sourcebooks, 2022.

This is not a review. The book's cover blurb (seen post-facto): "A gritty crime thriller, spiritual quest, and love story all woven into one compelling tale". The blurb I had seen beforehand, said priests were being murdered by a serial killer, which led me to think retribution for child abuse.

I was not prepared for graphic, grotesque deaths. I stopped at page 38 after three of them were portrayed and that was three too much. Three too much—when a dozen were on the killer's agenda. The victims were chosen for their hypocrisy in secret vices that contradicted their piety. I get that; but who needs to envision exceedingly unnatural "punishments" – gruesome, gratuitous violence. Spiritual, my ass. A few tidbits I'd already noted:

Priests

▪ Whatever was required of him to gain God's favor and protection he didn't question. (12)

▪ He understood more than anyone that the value of his work far outweighed any minor indiscretion that he occasionally allowed himself. (16)

▪ He was regarded as much for his unwavering devoutness as he was for his wit, humor and acts of kindness. (21)

▪ "We can tolerate the injustices of the world if we accept that man is liable to God. Spiritual accountability." (24)

Riley Sager. The House Across the Lake. Ebook download from TPL. USA: Dutton/Penguin

Random House, 2022.

Casey has been a busy actress, especially enjoying stage roles. Not as famous as her acclaimed mother, Lolly Fletcher, the Queen of Broadway musical theatre. Now Casey is a drunk, and she's not role-playing. Sent by her mother to their lakeside summer retreat to keep her away from the public, the paparazzi, and scandal headlines, she nevertheless manages to supply herself with alcohol. It's how she handles her grief over the death of her husband Leonard in that same lake last year. She was fired from the last play she starred in, for drunkenly disrupting it. Alone in the house, boredom quickly sets in. There are only five summer homes on Lake Greene with little sign of life in the off-season. Except for Eli, the old family friend, who lives here year-round. And across the lake from Casey, the modern glass structure recently sold to Tom Royce seems to be occupied. What a good idea—with high-powered binoculars, Casey has some activity to accompany her bourbon, as almost every room in that house is visible, especially when lit up at night.

The novel opens with a state police detective called Wilma Anson questioning Casey in a "Now" section that appears at times. Most of the story is related by Casey in "Before," where the action happens suddenly. She sees a woman in distress in the lake. Jumps into her boat and makes a rescue with great physical effort; the woman looks more dead than alive. But she revives, to introduce herself as Katherine, wife of Tom Royce. Katherine is also a minor celebrity: a beautiful ex-model. A warmth is established between the two women. Another figure emerges—Boone, a very attractive man, is making repairs to the home down the road. He's AA so that promises some tension. Casey is totally drawn into the lives of the Royces as seen from afar, and something seems very wrong about them. Once in a while Casey feels shame or guilt over her secretive spying, but she can't resist.

Sager is a popular mystery writer and he goes full steam into Casey's scenarios when Katherine mysteriously disappears. Other missing local women, poisoning, abduction, serial killers—Casey throws all her theories at a weary Wilma. Or is she misinterpreting certain things in an alcoholic haze? Structurally, the novel has clever juxtapositions pushing the narrative. In my review of the first Sager novel I'd read (Survive the Night, LL268) I expressed disappointment in the last half where events became so predictable. This book surprisingly veers off into science fantasy, and I likely yelled NO out loud. Credibility for me went right down the drain. No more Riley Sager.

Bits

▪ "And have you been drinking?" she asks – the real purpose of her daily phone call. (48)

▪ "The view," he says, gesturing to the binoculars still gripped in my hands. "See anything good?" (Boone 78)

▪ "I'm just not myself lately. I haven't felt right for days." (Katherine 114)

▪ Who spends so much time spying on their neighbors? Losers, that's who. (167)

▪ "I make jokes," I say, "because it's easier to pretend I'm not feeling than to actually feel it." (119)

▪ "He'd kill me before letting me leave." (Katherine 120)

▪ Thanks to that long-ago visit and my recent hours of spying, I'm well acquainted with the layout of the house. (216)

▪ "I'm going to trust you with classified information." (Wilma 239)

▪ Seeing Tom so carefree while his wife remains unaccounted for makes me reach for the rocks glass and empty it. (279)

▪ "Stop talking," Wilma commands. "Stop snooping. Stop everything." (321)

Amina Akhtar. Kismet. USA: Thomas & Mercer, 2022.

Why are my book choices letting me down lately? Here's another that was not what I expected. Akhtar does a real number on the "wellness" business that flourishes in New Age spots, such as Sedona, Arizona, in this case. Ronnie (really Rania) Khan was raised by a cold, abusive Aunt Shameem, treated as her servant, and not allowed any social activities. Inspired by New Age healer Marley Dewhurst, whom she met only through sheer luck, Ronnie sold the east coast house inherited from her parents (the house that her aunt ruled) and said goodbye to auntie and her miserable life. She and Marley took off for a rented house in Arizona: the one to learn self-empowerment, the other to become the best healer ever.

On their third hike for health and spiritual benefit in the gorgeous scenery, they find a decapitated head. We seem to be in deranged serial killer territory. I was willing to see where this would go, and it led to: interesting twins, Star and Brit, who have a shop selling crystals; the Wellness Center founded by New Age grande dame Lorraine; a new friend Caroline who encourages Marley to become the dominant face and voice for community safety; and the gradual termination of Ronnie's inferiority complex. Although Ronnie is not fully embracing the wellness enlightenment, she's still conscious of being the only person of colour amongst them. The relentless killer leaves a few more bodies.

But—mysticism alert! Everywhere are the ravens. They have their own brief chapters. They like few humans, disdaining most of them. They like Ronnie. And they like the killer human who promised them something. I confess: speed reading at times. But Kismet is a thriller. Not without merits. It shines best as a satire of the whole wellness trend (I still don't know what healers do). If you can love dozens, hundreds? of very large, sleek, ominous ravens (and "off of "strewn here and there), go for it.

The Killer

▪ "The universe requires retribution," she'd said. "This will help us heal, to be well." (19)

▪ If Ronnie were evil, she'd find out. That was her job. She was going to clean up Sedona. (53)

▪ She had an order straight from the natural world (142)

▪ And then everyone would know they weren't safe. That she was coming for them. (181)

The Friends

▪ And for a brief moment, Ronnie felt something amazing. She felt like she belonged. (50)

▪ She never wanted to let Marley down. (59)

▪ "No one does that to me and gets away with it. No one. I'll get her. I will." (87)

▪ Ronnie flipped through a magazine. It was some local wellness one, complete with ads for Reiki, mediums, and crystals. All about healthy living if you bought just one more thing. (153)

▪ Someone could get hurt because of her, and Marley didn't even care, so long as people subscribed to her newsletter. (177)

▪ Her empowered friend wanted this town to give in to her. (186)

▪ The twin was getting ready to work with a client, leaving Ronnie in charge of the shop. Something Ronnie loved. They trusted her! (186)

▪ "Never, ever let Caroline give you any drugs. You need to trust me on this." (187)

▪ "That was such a weird bug. I felt drugged. Like I couldn't open my eyes." (256)

▪ On her bed was an eviction notice. Marley was throwing her out. (272)

The Ravens

▪ The ravens kept watch here. Like they were sentinels of nature. (31)

▪ The ravens went back to playing games and tricks on each other after eating. For fun, one of the birds shit on the red car in the driveway. (53)

▪ The ravens, she decided, were friends. They expected nothing from her except a little kindness. (105)

▪ The birds didn't care who died—if they were glowless humans. They simply wanted the humans gone. (128)

▪ She will help us. She doesn't lie. Not to them, at least. (128)

▪ The ravens were fascinated by Ronnie. She'd scared off the javelina. He was a mean son of a bitch too. (164)

▪ The raven didn't like that. How dare she touch their gift to Ronnie? (230)

▪ No one messed with their humans. No one. (230)

Marley's campaign begins

"We deserve to live in peace and security. If the sheriff won't help us, we'll help ourselves. Who is with me?" Tepid applause. "I have sign-up sheets for our patrols. I want you to join us. Because they won't take us down without a fight! Do you know how Fiona Healer died? She was covered in honey so animals would devour her. Is that what you want for your life? No! We want security! Safety! We want our Sedona back! Join me! Together, we can stay safe from the Sedona Slasher!" Caroline had come up with the name for the killer, of course.

Ronnie held up a clipboard, which some people signed and gave their contact info on. Marley was making the rounds, talking to and shaking the hands of every person who had shown up, regardless of whether they were there for her. The news crew followed, ready to interview her. (124-5)