Scott Carter

So, I met Scott Carter here on Goodreads in the group "I Love Canadian Authors", and so glad I did. Blind Luck is Scott's first novel and I must say I had my usual reservations about first novels. I worried that it would be so boring or perhaps riddled with errors that I'd struggle with my review...what a relief.

Blind Luck is a suspense-filled read that keeps you biting your nails from start to finish. I had trouble putting it down. His characterization is amazing, the protagonist, David Bolden is so likable and relatable, I didn't want to say goodbye at the end of the book. I love when that happens. I posted a full review here: http://www.examiner.com/publishing-in-toronto/spotlight-on-canadian-authors-revi...

If you care to take a gander at all of my thoughts on this book. I recommend picking up Blind Luck. Great read.… (mehr)

Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes.

When I read Scott Carter’s first novel, BLIND LUCK, I fell in love with his masterful plotting and fantastic dialogue, but I didn’t think I’d be sucked in quite as fully again, because gone is that pleasant surprise one experiences when discovering a favorite author for the first time.

BARRETT FULLER’S SECRET is a vastly different experience than Carter's debut novel, and I've added brilliant characterization to the things I love about his writing. At first I was more than intrigued by the premise behind this book. In “real life” when authors use pen names or aliases, it’s usually to hide “unsavory” content from folks they know. It’s all about keeping our real world reputation squeaky clean. Porn authors, for example, often use pen names because for most people, finding out your child’s teacher or your doctor wrote something that forced you into a cold shower would result in some shit-losing. This book’s protagonist, bestselling children’s author, Barrett Fuller, is the opposite of the typical author. He uses a pen name to hide the fact that his personal life is unsavory. If anyone knew who he really was, they’d never buy a single book, no matter how well-written. Kind of a sad statement on the reality that readers too often judge books by the author, rather than the writing, but it is what it is.

I knew from the first pages that this would be a fun ride. The character is instantly an asshole and I do love assholes. They have so much potential. The reader is fully drawn in (if you aren’t already) when an anonymous extortionist catches on to Barrett’s secret, and threatens to ruin everything. The “opportunities” Barrett is given to redeem himself begin easily enough. He’s asked to do things like donate money to charity and attend sensitivity training. Then the demands, and their consequences, become more serious. For example, his blackmailer knows that he slept with an underage girl, and warns that if he does not do what is asked to make amends for the crime, the girl will come forward and he faces criminal charges. Later, the demands made by Barrett’s blackmailer force him to look at his life and what he’s made of it. This is pretty tough, considering Barrett has committed all the sins; sex, booze, drugs, deceit and more. I won’t give more detail because I’d be giving away the juicy bits. I’ll just say that Carter doesn’t shy away from making this character unlikeable, but most impressive is that I was engaged and guessing until the “big reveal” of the blackmailer. Also impressive is how Carter wrings every ounce of gut-wrenching tension and heartbreak from the reveal that could possibly be wrung without making it feel hokey.

Now that I’m done rambling, I suppose you’ve guessed I highly recommend reading this book, but if you read BLIND LUCK, don’t expect the same experience. While Carter’s easy voice and style are definitely there, where BLIND LUCK was written with smooth prose that lulled you gently along, BARRETT FULLER’S SECRET is gritty, jolting, and the most fun I’ve had reading a novel in a while.
… (mehr)