Stupid Crimes and Krekshuns
By Dennis E. Bolen
by Alexandria Carstens
Akasa Publishing, December, 1999
I laughed, I cried and I beat my head against the wall... repeatedly. It is a very rare occasion when an author can effectively evoke such a latitude of emotions from the reader, and never detract from the tale being spun. Dennis E. Bolen deliciously weaves a tapestry of colourful yet believable characters in these two Barry Delta novels, Stupid Crimes and Krekshuns.
Barry Delta, an astute parole officer in Vancouver, Canada, appears to be an unwitting participant in some contrived cosmic joke, the intentions only known by the gods themselves -- and even then, there is room for uncertainty. Unusual incidences occur around Barry, some with his knowledge and some without, but all playing a very apropos part of that which defines Barry's life as touched by the gods with a wry sense of humour. Unlike some of his peers, Barry actually gives a damn and would be a divine gift to any parolee honestly working to better himself. On the flip side, however, to the parolee who continues to regress into old habits, Barry is nothing short of the devil himself.
The spectrum of ex-convicts Barry must contend with are lavishly painted by Dennis E. Bolen, and remarkably provocative given their inherent nature. The reader is easily plunged deep into the series of events, and mercilessly confronted with a very keen observation of unsavoury characters. Despite Barry Delta's unique and thorough detective skills, the reader is afforded with an opportunity to see so much more and with such passion, the reader is left either dumbfounded or with an intense desire to reach through the pages themselves, shake Barry's person vigorously and point him in a specific direction.
Stupid Crimes and Krekshuns will both satiate and leave the reader hungry for more. Dennis E. Bolen is a wickedly marvelous author, delivering a brutally truthful sermon regarding the ironies of life and death. Touching, witty, sensual, poetic, engrossing and very human -- Dennis E. Bolen's style and script is timeless. I anxiously await the third Barry Delta novel.
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