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BLACK FLOWERS
by E. F. Watkins
Amber Quill Press, December 2004
278 pages
$17.00
ISBN: 1592798101


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

Allison McKenna Constantine thought that she was living an idyllic life. However, after a series of unusual incidents, she can't help but wonder if she is actually living a lie.

She gave up her life as a graphic artist and designer in order to get married and start a family. She is married to David Constantine, founder and chief executive officer at the biotech firm Genesis. She lives in an exclusive and rich neighborhood reserved exclusively for Genesis employees, has two children she loves to death and she is about to debut as an artist during a showing at a New York art gallery.

For her things could not get any better until one morning when a Genesis janitor dies under mysterious circumstances in her front lawn blaming her husband for what is happening. Her husband has been acting strange lately, but Allie had not given it much thought. Now she will delve into her husband's affairs and realize that no one is safe, not even her. The scientists at Genesis are creating something evil and she may be the only one who can stop it.

During the first two-thirds of the novel, EF Watkins spends too much time exposing David Constantine's lies as Allie begins to do research on her husband's biotech company and reflects on what's been going on during the past few weeks. Many people are afraid of her husband and she does not know why, but intends to find out.

The problem here is that Allie is involved in too many things at once that leaves one wondering if she is going to stop and at least grab a breath. It gets to the point that you don't want to continue reading, but that would be a mistake.

The one thing that did impress me as a reader is the book's final section. The last third of the book packs a jolt with lots of action, suspense, and nail-biting moments, something lacking at the start of the book. The novel's conclusion was surprising and the epilogue comes straight out of a John Saul novel. I'm a bit ambivalent regarding this book. There were things that were good, as well as the flipside of the equation. I just wish I could be a bit more enthusiastic in recommending this book.

Reviewed by Angel L. Soto, April 2005

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


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