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Review by Emma Patel

The new novel, The Magic and the Mayhem, explores an age old problem that threatens to disintegrate the core of what gives us strength. When fathers are not present in the lives of their children those very children are left with a void that reverberates throughout their lives. In this story John Drake, the main character, believes he is God’s gift to women. He’s presented as a meticulous womanizer who vainly plays games with their feelings, expectations, and ultimately the most vulnerable product of many of his fly-by-night unions. He finds out as the story unwinds that the game he’s been playing can’t be won. He’s forced to play a different game, one that jolts him into realty, and forward to what may be his greatest success.

An interesting point made by this author is what happens to men when they don’t grow up to face the reality of fatherhood. Her story suggests that their growth is somehow stunted just as the child’s is when they don’t step up to do the right thing. Her writing is crisp and seamless and puts you right in the middle of the action. There are some very funny moments and if you’re a parent you’ll remember when you were where he is. For a first try, it’s brilliant. I look forward to future works by the author.