The Man in Forest Hills Review by Alex Owumi - A Novel of Unexpected Twists and Turns

The book is a surprising read. It may have used clichés and a common plot, but overall, the author has beautifully woven a story of love, loss, revenge, and redemption. Is Alex already a master storyteller? I must say that this novel proves that he is still a work in progress but a gemstone in the making.

The main character Tomas Kent, in the early chapters of the novel, seems to be a cookie-cutter definition of a good man driven by pain to seek revenge. It reeks of cliché that I thought the novel is going to be boring and predictable. I had my doubts about the character development because he is first written as a one-dimensional character which makes him bland and a letdown. At first, I find it unbelievable that a man that upholds his integrity intact will just act out and seek revenge overnight after his wife and son are killed. I expected that Tomas would somehow wrestle between seeking revenge and upholding his principles. I think the plot would be more interesting if Alex portrays the struggles in more painful details.

The monologues in the novel also feel forced and there are a lot of those in this novel. If Alex did away with those cheesy monologues and replaced them with pained internal thoughts, the novel is going to be more realistic and more believable. Every time each character busts out a monologue, I imagine them as kids badly acting in a school play.

As the novel progresses, the plot becomes more interesting as the characters’ developments become more complex. Alex’s revelation of other major characters – Darren Harper, Jake Marven, Mark Craven, Carl Maddox, Captain Leonard, and Cecil Chambers makes them real and believable as human beings. They all have layered motivations. Alex is able to create convincing characters. Even the most villainous character, Cecil Chambers is depicted with vulnerabilities. I must say that the most interesting and well-written character in the novel is Cecil Chambers. For a drug kingpin, he has the intelligence, charisma, and elegance which is a nod to the likes of 1920’s mobsters like Al Capone and Charles Luciano. Alex realistically portrayed Cecil Chambers as a genius who uses his charm to lure people to execute his evil plans. The weakest character is Mary Ansley. She is just written to serve as a tool for Tomas. Her back story and her presence in Tomas’ life is too weak that the novel would not lose its impact even if she is not in the narrative. If there is one thing that I find problematic in this novel, is that female characters are not given much depth. They are just written to serve as turning points for the life of Tomas Kent.

Alex is able to effectively utilize the combination of flashbacks and present narration as the story moves forward. The two narrative techniques work like a beautiful ribbon which cohesively ties the story as a pleasant surprise. Just when you thought you know who the bad guys are, Alex shakes the narrative upside down that the true villain is not revealed until the very end. Alex’s narrative style in the middle part of the novel is its saving grace. He is able to utilize the concept of red herring and revelation effectively which makes the novel a satisfying read.

The ending is dramatic but is not completely forced or cheesy at all. It is heartbreaking, but the beauty of Tomas Kent’s desires tug at the heartstrings. There is nowhere else for him to go and nothing else to do, but surrender to his fate. And that what makes this book a memorable read for me.