Blood and Circumstance

This book keeps you on edge from start to finish. It's a masterful story that even manages to hook readers into empathizing with the murderer. Joel's character is a great mystery we spend the whole book trying to figure out - and through a series of interesting twists we are led to an excellent ending, where we may get a chance to finally discover what's REALLY going on. It's a short read, too. You'll get through it in a handful of sessions. Of course, once you get to the climax, you'll want to read it through again - plan accordingly! One note: Hollon takes a bit of a risk here. Since most of the book is a conversation between two people, the author uses two slightly different fonts to differentiate between who is talking. While it frees the text from a constant stream of "N said" phrases, this can be distracting at first. Readers should quickly adapt to it, though.

This short title (almost a novella really) is a series of prison interview sessions conducted between Joel Stabler, 29, and world-weary Dr. Ellis Andrews. Joel is accused of having killed his younger brother Danny. Joel's defense lawyer has called in psychologist Dr. Andrews to evaluate and report on Joel's dubious mental state. The Q & A sessions between Joel and Dr. Andrews are far-ranging, low-keyed, and multi-layered. Joel comes across articulate, well-read (he quotes lines from Walker Percy's THE LAST GENTLEMAN), and intelligent. Dr. Andrews feels increasing sympathy for Joel's plight, though the reader may suspend any pity. We meet Joel's mother and a younger sister Lisa is mentioned. One fascination with this edgy, somewhat bleak crime novel is its probe of mental illness, crime, and indvidual culpability. I read this one in a couple of hours, squeezed into the middle of a Sunday's hectic schedule. Recommended.

Quietly, Frank Turner Hollon has been building a body of quality work in the suspense genre, stretching and modifying the form of the novel not merely for experimental purposes but as a vehicle to further enhance the telling of the story. Hollon continues this practice in BLOOD AND CIRCUMSTANCE, arguably his darkest and most disturbing tale to date. Almost the entirety of BLOOD AND CIRCUMSTANCE consists of a dialogue between Joel Stabler and Dr. Ellis Andrews. The context of their relationship is unfortunate and horrific. Stabler is incarcerated following the murder of his brother Danny in what appears to be a mercy killing occasioned by Danny's severe mental illness. Seeking a friendly, professional opinion, Stabler's attorneys retain Andrews for the purpose of performing a psychological evaluation to determine if Stabler is competent to stand trial. Stabler presents as a near-genius, one who is observant, canny and well-read; he's also, if he is to be believed, the product of a household where he and his family were subjected to unthinkable physical and mental abuse. The transcript of the clinical interview between Stabler and Andrews reveals not only the depth and breadth of Stabler's intellect --- his IQ is off the charts and he quotes Walker Percy and Ralph Waldo Emerson at will --- but also a disturbed (and disturbing) view of the world. Meanwhile, Andrews finds himself slowly losing control of the interview. Though the reader's perspective of Andrews is acquired almost entirely through this transcript and Stabler's own wry mental observations of him, the picture that is presented is of a man who has issues of his own. Andrews's point of view is not revealed until the novel's conclusion --- and even then, when Andrews learns the (possible) truth about his subject, more questions are raised than are ultimately answered. What is fascinating about BLOOD AND CIRCUMSTANCE is that, in order to fully appreciate what has occurred between the covers of this disturbing tale, the reader should immediately re-read the entire novel in light of the revelations set forth in the conclusion. This is not an onerous task by any means, given the length of the book (178 pages). The brevity, however, belies the complexity and richness of the narrative, the depth of the enigma and the mystery it presents. BLOOD AND CIRCUMSTANCE raises questions about divinity, morality, sanity and reality. There are no easy answers, but they will keep you awake long after you finish this memorable, disturbing work. If you're looking for a selection for your book club, make it this one. Highly recommended. --- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

Hollon writes his novel on parallel tracks, seducing the reader with a tale that is heartbreaking, a young man raised in abuse who kills his younger brother to save him from the cycling ravages of mental illness. Joel Stabler is clear about his motives, uncharacteristically honest with the appointed forensic psychologist, Dr. Ellis Andrews. Through the course of the interview process, Joel explores the family that has formed him, a crazy abusive father, the brother, Danny, deteriorating rapidly, the youngest sister, Lisa, an innocent vessel of the family's hope. As Joel unravels the violence of his tragic childhood, he appeals to Dr. Ellis for some recognition of his long struggle, the sense of purpose he feels before the act of fratricide. Joel has a clear-eyed manner of addressing the hypocrisy of the human condition, never flinching from direct conflict or hiding behind facile answers: "You have to find the courage to explore the darkness in your heart." Speaking succinctly, Joel peels away the layers of his persona, from frightened child terrorized by an out-of-control parent to a man who accepts the responsibility for putting an end to his brother's suffering. For his part, Ellis listens carefully, remaining objective in the face of a dialog that questions the most basic belief systems, the existence or non-existence of God, man's personal responsibility in the greater scheme of things and nature vs. nurture. Joel becomes an ever more sympathetic character, a product of an environment that has shaped his future, Ellis his only link to understanding. Cutting into the heart of the novel, the author delivers a staggering revelation, altering perceptions in a brilliantly crafted psychological thriller. The lines between truth and fiction are so smoothly blended, it is impossible to distinguish one from another. An incisive mind tunneling deeply into the dynamics of his skillfully constructed characters, this author proves once more to be a writer of substance, a thrilling manipulator of the human psyche. Luan Gaines/ 2007.