Title: Shadow Game
Author: Darryl Sollerh
Publisher: Del Oro Company
ISBN: 978-0-9887254-1-6
Pages: 94, Kindle
Genre: Fiction
Reviewed by: S. Marie Vernon, Pacific Book Review
Book Review
Shadow Game is a riveting and action packed short story about Jarrett, a professional assassin who never misses his mark. He’s seen so many hotel rooms in so many cities; he’s in Paris or Berlin one day and back home to Los Angeles the next. It’s the only life he knows. At fifty-something, Jarrett would like to retire except there’s one last hit he’s agreed to do for Helen, a friend in the business. Written in third person narrative with plenty of first person dialogue this tantalizing novella, written by author Darryl Sollerh, is intended for mature audiences.In a strange twist of fate, Jarrett gets a bump on the head and starts to see colors around people. He’s seeing their auric field but thinks he’s got a concussion. This could be a problem for a man who counts on precision when he aims his gun. It concerns him, yet he prepares diligently for his last mission. Helen informs him there will be a delay. Jarrett doesn’t like delays and unplanned days, but there’s nothing he can do about the change of schedule. He’s in Indonesia so he heads out into the old Byzantine streets and the bustling marketplace. He sees many faces and colors around them. He attends a puppet show and becomes mesmerized by a young woman. He’s drawn to her like nothing in his life before. Lia and her father called, The Delang, befriend him and take him to a Buddhist temple where they try to explain that he has healing powers, as indicated by the colors he sees, that are far more remarkable than his abilities with a sniper’s riffle.
Caught in the cross-fires of some very dirty politics, Jarrett realizes, in a couple of days, he will kill, Bahru, the political figure that may be the only hope for Lia and the people of her country. They need Bahru to take office so they can escape the propaganda and the evil of current ruler, General Matak. Jarrett never gets involved in the politics surrounding his work. He just does his job and moves on. Conversely, he wants to protect Lia and her father, but soon realizes he’s being followed himself. Whatever he must do, he still wants to save Lia; she represents all that is good and wonderful in his life. Jarrett will pay a heavy price for his choices, but he’s ready for whatever that may be.
In his story, Shadow Game, author Darryl Sollerh has created a dramatic fiction about violence, betrayal and life lived as a shadow. We see a killer who has a soft spot where the light has entered. This light allows a trained assassin to leave a legacy of good as his karmic wheel must have turned for him. In my opinion, it takes some brilliance in writing for an author to bring together these two worlds: so vastly different, Jarrett’s and Lia’s, and make them work in a way that offers up a Buddhist lesson on the soul of a man. This author does it well. If you like your fiction, fast and furious, filled with mystery and adventure this novella will be a good read for you. You don’t want to put it down!
