RUNNING THROUGH A KOGA FIELD by Jerry Lee David
Jerry Lee Davis is an excellent writer, but that does not necessarily mean he is a very commercial one. His new book RUNNING THROUGH A KOGA FIELD is full of vivid characters and fascinating scenes but it takes a long time to reach the narrative payoff for the story.. Still if you like learning characters who speak to you and introduce themselves fully then this is a book that will give you many hours of reading enjoyment.
Stroud McKay is the central character of the story. He is twenty-eight years old and lives in Atlanta where he works as an accountant, while moonlighting at night as a singer songwriter. He shares his life with his live in girlfriend Doll. She is his lover and his nurturer.
Stroud suffers from nightmares which involve an Indian boy named Clay Bird. Stroud doesn’t know who this boy is or anything about him other than what he sees in his dreams. He does feel a sense of danger for him and this is what makes the dreams so haunting.
Meanwhile Stroud has been assigned a new client at his accounting office. The business is Raines Beverage and they are opening a new plant in Blue Mountain, Georgia. As Stroud gets to know the officers of Raines Beverage he begins to think there is something a little suspicious going on. Then when deaths begin occurring among the workers for the company Stroud becomes really concerned.
Everything leads to a final climax in Blue Mountain. That is where Stroud will find the identity of Clay Bird and all the other pieces of the puzzle will fit together. Doll, Stroud’s co-worker Natasha, and even Stroud’s singing partner Clint will all have a role in this final outcome.
Davis knows the city of Atlanta like the back of his hand and brings alive the streets, businesses and clubs of the city.. Atlanta becomes as much of a character in the story as Stroud or Doll. For fans of this city, such as I, this is a real bonus.
The weakness of the story is the pacing. It just takes too long to get the intensity going. Along the way we get fascinating insight into the lives of the characters as well as their traits and ticks; but a more direct track to the solving of the crimes would have been more appealing.
Still the paramount impression of the book lies in the awareness of Davis’ writing skills. He knows his characters and brings them to life. He knows his setting and brings that to life also. He knows how to write dialogue that is informative, witty, and human. These are all plusses.
So if you are willing to devote your time to a book that doesn’t race to the finish line then pick up RUNNING THORUGH A KOGA FIELD. It is a unique story by a unique author.
RUNNING THROUGH A KOGA FIELD is published by Aberdeen Bay. It contains 344 pages and sells for $15.95.