Wrath and Remembrance (Dark Retribution Quarter) [Kindle Edition]

Wrath and Remembrance is an impressive, well-written book. The story is told entirely in the first person by the protagonist, a working class Britain from the Newcastle upon Tyne in northeastern England, and it took this American reader a chapter or two to become accustomed to the British working class idioms of the narrator. Suffice it to say that the writing becomes so fluid and natural that one ceases to notice its excellence. The characters, particularly the protagonist, are well developed and interesting. He is kind, caring and generous, but he has serious problems with honesty, impulse control and anger management.

I'm not sure what the author's intention is with regard to this book or the quartet of which this is the first book. It becomes clear quite quickly that this is a serious work, a literary fiction. The author's own description led me to expect a mystery, and there is some of that. Other reviewers have described the book as a thriller, and it has some aspects of that genre. Initially, I thought it was a coming of age story and then a life story, but then there were hints of the supernatural. Very late in this long book a major character (not the protagonist) states an unequivocal and explicit theological position that the protagonist is asked to embrace, and it became clear that the work is religious fiction. This explained several serious incidents ("accidents") that otherwise looked a bit contrived to serve the plot. Given the theological point of view, they are necessary and not at all contrived. This is a big plus from a literary standpoint.

I don't know whether author Walker shares the theological position of his character(s?). I have occasionally given theological positions to characters in my own books, but they have never been at the core of those novels as in Wrath and Remembrance. Serious books are always about the human condition, and this is a serious book, I think. What part the supernatural plays in the human condition is a matter for the spiritual views of the individual. Introducing it is certainly legitimate, but may not be for all readers. If you like religious fiction and aren't put off by determinism (bad things that happen are in accordance with God's plan despite a profession of a belief in free will), you should like this book very much.

When I sit down to read a book, I want to be able to read the words in front of me and see what the author is telling me. I want to be looking through a two way mirror into the author's mind and see it all happen the way they wished it to be seen, hear the words said the way they wished for them to be heard. I don't want to have to make up pictures for anything in my mind. I want the writer to use such depth that it gives me everything. Reading Wrath and Remembrance by John Walker did just that.

Starting with the title of this book the word "Wrath" means; strong, vengeful, anger and "Remembrance"; the act of recalling to mind. When you put these two words together it explains the entire concept of this book. The lead character Jack Parrish is just that, recalling from mind the vengeful anger of his past. How does he deal with it?

During this book you go through a series of years with Jack, from the age of 9 into his early adulthood. From the start of this book, you begin to see the anger and pain in Jack and how he goes about dealing with it. Each year detailed out by the most pressing events of his life, making it feel like he is sitting in front of you telling you his own personal story. You feel the whirlwind of emotions that Jack does. You will feel the anger, the fear, the pain and the loss, but you will also find yourself smiling and laughing along with the antics that Jack and his best friend Tony get into.

As each year of Jack's life passes, he will take you on a short history lesson. At first I found this quite odd, but as the story progressed, I quickly found myself looking forward to his year in review as he recounted top news stories from around the world, his favorite movies and the music from that year that had touched him the most. This run down of each year only made me feel closer to Jack as I too remembered those moments, music and movies. This made Jack Parrish move from a 2D character on a piece of paper to a 3D character full of life in my mind.

The writing style of Mr. Walker is relaxed and creative. He has the ability to explain things in detail without over explaining them, giving you just the right amount of information at every turn. I cannot recall a moment in the book when I thought to myself, "wait... you didn't explain that or I don't understand". Although there might have been a word of two from the British language that trumped me as an American reader, I was usually able to figure it out though. Mr. Walker was able to move me smoothly through the story, carrying me along all the way.

I am impressed by Mr. Walker's style. While I have read dramatic thriller mystery types before, this book seemed to be of a different caliber. Not only did it give you the mystery and action, but it applied a small bit of paranormal fantasy to it that gave it that extra spark of life.

I highly enjoyed Wrath and Remembrance and I look forward to reading Comparing Scars the second book in the Dark Retribution quartet.

This book distinguishes an author who is ingeniously creative with character development and storytelling, taking the reader to another facet completely. Jack Parrish comes to life, bringing a character that one can completely relate to. One will easily associate the ups and downs of Jack's life.

It is best put from another reviewer that mentions the storyline as "being like a fly on the wall".

You'll come to love Jack and discern him as though he were a brother--a pal. You'll become intimate with his friends and even know how Jack thinks. His likes and dislikes keep him close to your bosom while an ever-changing tale unfolds before your eyes. The complex level of Jack's personality also sucks one into another realm while embodying the reader with Jack's inner soul. You'll begin to live as Jack. That's true writing.

The author eloquently writes with a soft, calming voice that tells of Jack, his good friends and everyone that touches Jack's life in someway or another, and for very good reason. It makes Jack who he is and who he inevitably becomes.

I have to admit that I was mortified when Jack had lost everything near and dear to him, especially after overcoming so much up to that point. But through it all, I witnessed Jack find truth, contentment and love.

If you wish to take a lifetime journey with a good friend, however narrow and twisting that path traveled becomes, I recommend `Wrath and Remembrance'...but then again after reading it, I believe that journey is only the beginning...