LocalLit book review: 'Necessary Death' by R. Michael Markley of Joliet

As I said in last week's preview story for "Necessary Death" by R. Michael Markley, I'm unfamiliar with crime genre.

After reading it, I'm probably still not a fan of the genre (I don't watch crime shows, for example) but that's not because of the book.

The book was a well-written, fast-paced novel that combined two completely different - and some may feel opposing - genres, which was very ambitious of this Joliet author.

That is to say, "Necessary Death" is a crime novel with strong Christian themes.

Here is its abridged Amazon description: In the Tradition of The Godfather, "Necessary Death" takes you inside the seedy and gritty world of Michael Marello, a world filled with corruption, blackmail, revenge, loyalty, deceit, and murder.

"Sometimes death is necessary in order for Michael Marello's business to move forward. Titan, Inc., also known as The Marello Empire to local authorities, is where Michael runs his operation...When death touches him personally, things begin to change."

Here are my thoughts on "Necessary Death:"

The story starts with a murder and remains full of action and intrigue until the end. You know the parts that are long, dry and boring (the ones you, like me, tend to skim)? "Necessary Death" has none of those.

Markley tells the story through several different perspectives, weaving in scripture verses and Biblical principals after one of the characters finds God.

Dialogue is tight and believable, especially from the male characters. Just enough description is used to let reader to envision the scenes and not slow down the action. No flowery prose here, just good lean writing.

Scenes involving physical conflict are difficult to pull off well, I think. The challenge is keeping the pace taut while giving the right amount of information. This is another area where "Necessary Death" shines (if you don't believe me, turn to page 48). I almost cheered aloud because it was beautifully done.

I think Christians who are open to other genres will enjoy "Necessary Death."

And for non-Christians who enjoy crime novels, I suggest being open-minded and giving "Necessary Death" a try.

Buy the book and find more information about the author on Amazon.

About LocalLit

Each week LocalLit will deliver an original short and family-friendly story, or a book review, by a local author to the newsletter's subscribers.

Authors with a connection to our readership area may submit. Submission does not guarantee acceptance.

To submit or for more information, contact Denise M. Baran-Unland at 815-280-4122 or dunland@shawmedia.com.