Book Blurb:
Shortly after Ethan Marshall attends the lake-side funeral ceremony for his wife of forty years, he climbs into the car inside his enclosed garage in the suburbs of St. Louis, starts the engine, and waits to die. The toxic fumes were only minutes away from suffocating him when chance circumstance fortuitously saved his life.
Until Sarah’s death, Ethan had lived an idyllic life as a successful criminal defense attorney, a husband, and the father of two children. He had always believed, however, that Sarah was the keystone to his existence, and now that his grown children have fled the nest, he feels his best years are behind him, and he can no longer find a reason to get up in the morning.
Ethan’s path to redemption begins during a visit with his son, Noah, who is wrestling with his own dilemma. While camping with Noah along the Oregon coast, Ethan receives a call from Daryl, a person from his distant past who still haunts his conscience and is now homeless and in dire need of an experienced defense lawyer.
After returning to St. Louis, Ethan assembles a team that includes Noah, Tom, an old law school friend aimlessly living in a small Kansas town, and Owen, a former teacher who may have a vital contribution to offer. Together, this team will not only conduct a valiant effort in a trial to defend Daryl against outrageous charges but will each find a reason to rage against the dying of the light.
My Review:
This book captured my interest quickly with the opening scene that captures the profound loss felt by Ethan Marshall following the funeral for his wife. He is a criminal defense attorney and the father of two children but cannot envision a life with Sarah no longer in it.
It is by pure chance that he is saved by his daughter who promises not to tell her brother. Both are successful and lead busy lives. When Ethan camps with his son, he receives a call from his past who gets his attention and is now seeking help. Ethan can’t deny it—he feels, as he has for a long time—that he owes him.
With Ethan’s long experience, he can assemble a team that will work effectively to defend Daryl from serious charges. There are twists and turns and a solid investigation. The characters are well developed and easy to lend a sympathetic investment. The writing style is unique and I found many quotables:
“…a concept called the ‘over soul’ from Transcendentalism…the idea that all human souls are part of a larger soul.”
“However, despite the adage that ‘justice delayed is justice denied,’ I’ve always believed that ‘justice rushed is justice crushed.’”
I enjoyed the court scenes and the crash course in the truth of the homeless. A real lesson learned and there are religious overtones. On the whole, a remarkable narrative and satisfying conclusion.
I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author and publisher through @NetGalley that in no way influenced this review. These are my honest thoughts.
Rosepoint Rating: Four point Five Stars 
Book Details:
Genre: Metaphysical Fiction, Friendship Fiction, Religious Mysteries
Publisher: Ars Metaphysica
ASIN: B0CQW2R12G
Print Length: 319 pages
Publication Date: December 22, 2023
Source: Publisher and NetGalley
Title Link(s): Dying of the Light [Amazon}
The Author: No apparent bios
©2024 V Williams
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New York City, 1911. Edith Wharton, almost equally famed for her novels and her sharp tongue, is bone-tired of Manhattan. Finding herself at a crossroads with both her marriage and her writing, she makes the decision to leave America, her publisher, and her loveless marriage.
I enjoyed the book but found it aggravating to have to untangle some of the words grouped together in one or two lines of text—a formatting problem. The final conclusion was well thought through and overall all the book was entertaining. Otherwise, an additional editor or two would greatly smooth the narrative as well as increased attention to the formatting problems. 4 stars – CE Williams
Mary Frances Hill was born in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. The daughter of a music professor and an elementary school teacher, Mary obtained a master’s degree in counseling psychology and worked as a therapist before raising two children. Though Mary currently lives in Southern California with her Russian Blue and Scottish Straight cats, her Pyredoodle puppy, her golfer husband, and her adult son and daughter, she spent many happy vacations at her house on Palm Beach Island—the setting of her most recent novel, The Heaven Spot. Mary is an avid dog walker and home renovator and loves binge-watching true crime documentaries and mysteries. Mary’s debut novel, The Worm Man, was published in 2022.
I’ve found Mr. Russo’s writing style to be retro in its’ presentation and mesmerizing once engaged. I recommend his books for light hearted yet suspenseful entertainment. Enjoy! 5 stars – CE Williams
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