Title: Destructive Irony
Author: Tabatha Kohler
Publisher: XlibrisAU
ISBN: 9781543459487
Pages: 314
Genre: Mystery / Crime
Reviewed by: Dave Bishop
Pacific Book Review
This story starts moving quickly and doesn’t let up until the very last page. Written entirely in present tense, its fast-forward pace has the feeling of a runaway locomotive. The prose style is simple and straightforward. No attempt is made at stylistic flourishes or literary pretentiousness. The writer lets the narrative and the characters behavior dictate what happens. Rather than archetypal cliffhangers, chapter changes are ended and begun merely by the progress of the tale itself.
Initially, we are introduced to Eliza, a divorced woman in her late twenties. She lives alone and works as a supermarket cashier. In the course of her duties, she meets Vince, a rugged thirty-something guy who seems to have everything going for him. In addition to being a hunk, he’s also appears to be kind, courteous, just the kind of guy any unattached female would want to run into. We readers however, learn more about him that Eliza does. We find out he’s not only tall, dark, and handsome, but that he’s also dangerous, even deadly. Before you know it, bodies start to pile up almost as fast as Vince and Eliza’s relationship heats up. The author pulls no punches in portraying numerous graphic sexual encounters between the two healthy heterosexuals. Both it seems, appear to be falling head-over-heels in love. A prospect that unnerves Eliza because Vince is so reticent to discuss his background, or even what he does for a living.
Soon, marriage is being proposed, and then all of a sudden the plot takes a twist you won’t see coming. To tell you too much about it would deprive you of some big shocks that are in store. Just be advised that Vince isn’t necessarily the only one who isn’t what he seems. Once that plot detour is negotiated, and you think you may see where the whole thing is headed, another card gets played and the climax jumps this yarn from one genre to another.
Kohler does a good job with character development. Once Eliza and Vince’s personas are set, you can understand their motivations even though you may have a tough time empathizing with them. Specifics of menial day-to-day tasks are a bit overemphasized, and some key transitions feel a bit rushed. Still, Kohler manages to weave a tale of mystery, sex, murder and more, that will leave readers wondering just how it’s all going to turn out. There’s also a very good chance the ending will definitely surprise you. Whether it’s a surprise you’ll find appropriate or not, is a decision you’ll definitely have to make for yourself.
