Title: Carlton: Down Sized
Author: Tawnee Chasny
Publisher: Writers Branding LLC
ISBN: 978-1639450251
Pages: 212
Genre: Mystery Action & Adventure
Reviewed by: Jack Chambers
Pacific Book Review
There are many times in life when a person may find themselves adrift or lost. Whether it is from losing a loved one, experiencing a setback, being let go from a big job, or even struggling internally with something, there are many moments that life brings us which require a moment of reflection and change. Sometimes the only way forward is by taking a new path not open to us before, and no matter how difficult the path may become, the rewards they find may bring people a whole new way of life which makes them whole once more.
In author Tawnee Chasny’s Carlton: Down Sized, the author explores this through protagonist Carlton, who goes on a road trip on his motorcycle after being let go from his job after eleven years due to downsizing. However, despite a fun and exhilarating trip, things take a turn for Carlton when he unexpectedly encounters a group of men who escaped from prison. Wanted for crimes that are truly horrific and led by a madman, the group take Carlton and overpower him, leading to him losing his memory. Unsure of who he is, he turns to people he meets who bring him answers via mysticism, hoping to return his memory to him. Yet the prisoners aren’t finished, for fears of him recovering his memory and turning them in lead to a manhunt that could put Carlton in more danger than he bargained for.
The author did an incredible job of writing a captivating, thrilling novel which keeps the readers on the edge of their seats. Immediately from the book’s opening chapter, readers feel the buildup of tension, the imagery becoming almost cinematic in its delivery as they picture a scene that evokes fears of heights within the reader. From there the action doesn’t slow, but instead works in tandem with the rich narrative as a blend of crime thriller, mystery, and small-town mysticism settle in to create a twisty story which keeps the adrenaline pumping.
This is the perfect read for those who enjoy crime thrillers, especially those that blend mystery, suspense, a slight dose of paranormal or supernatural elements, and rich character dynamics. The way the story starts off from Carlton’s amnesiac state allows his blank canvas to really become the board for which the narrative builds, and seeing his evolution and the layers surrounding his background coming together made this such a compelling story. The small twists in his story which comes from the exploration of the paranormal aspect thanks to the friends he makes in this small town, and the rich scenery the author conjures up through her writing as the Pacific Northwest comes to life on the pages made this a truly one-of-a-kind story.
Thrilling, heart-pounding, and entertaining, author Tawnee Chasny’s Carlton: Down Sized is a must-read crime thriller and mystery novel. The chilling nature of the criminals Carlton comes into contact with are shocking as their crimes are outlined, and the captivating story of Carlton’s background as it comes to light adds a depth of story development which will keep all readers invested as the story progresses.
