by Gerard D. Webster
This book takes the reader on both a physical and spiritual journey. Devastated by his father's murder, Ward McNulty is driven to uncover the villains behind the real estate development who took his life. Along the way, he is reunited, then split apart from and finally brought back together with Carrie Hope, his soulmate. Ward has a special gift: he can see people's souls and immediately senses whether they are good or bad despite any superficial indications.
Webster takes the reader from Jacksonville, Florida, the novel's initial setting, to the backwoods of Colombia, and then back to Jacksonville. I can assure you that there is never a dull moment in the entire novel. There are shootouts, high-tech break-ins, explosions, people getting drugged and hints of the supernatural.
I was particularly intrigued by the device that Webster used when he wanted Ward to understand Rosa even though she didn't speak any English and he didn't speak any Spanish. He just automatically understood what she was saying as if she were speaking English when the message was intended for him. Otherwise, he would hear Spanish and not understand.
You should read this book when you're on vacation or commuting between home and work. If you're serious about spelling and style, you will most likely be disappointed as this book is riddled with typos. It is not my job to list to all the mistakes here, but I'll give you a few just so you know what to expect: "base" where it should read "bass", "Carried" instead of "Carrie" and "parent's" instead of "parents'". On the other hand, Webster has a knack for dialogue and similes. He reminds me a little of Nicholas Sparks. At any rate, it's too bad that someone didn't proofread this book thoroughly enough because it takes away his credibility as a serious author.
