Author: M. L. Rudolph
Published By: M L Rudolph
Age Recommend: Adult
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Raven Rating: 5
Blog Review For: Great Minds Think Aloud
Review:

Facing the Son, A Novel of Africa" by M L Rudoph was really a suspenseful and wonderful read. I really enjoyed being able to feel like I was traveling in Africa along as I was reading....and what a ride! This was definitely one travelers worst nightmares and one I couldn't put down until I had finished with ...'Facing the Son.' This was basically a story of a father seeking redemption...looking for his estranged son to deliver a letter from his dying mother.

The ex wife (Melanie) of Matt Reiser had stage four lung cancer and her one wish was to have their son, Karl, come to her before she dies....and that meant Matt would have to travel to The Ivory Coast in Africa. Matt Reiser was on a mission in Africa in search for his son...he finds himself in a horrible situation where he is beaten and robbed of everything...down to his passport and even his shoes his was a dropped in a slum....what a horrendous ride....definitely you can see how things did go wrong in this third world country...Africa. Now, how Matt gets out of this mess is really a mystery and lots of suspenseful settings. Reiser is found to be running from not only thugs but government officials...in this urban and rural Africa. There are so many twist that come along in the read. Just who could be trusted? You will just have to pick up this wonderful read to find out how this all turns out.

The author did a wonderful job keeping you on a roller coaster ride until the end. "Facing the Son, A Novel of Africa" was truly a wonderful novel that is well written... with good plots ...and a heart stopper ending! If you are in for some my.stery, suspense, drama and adventure then I would recommend "Facing the Son, A Novel of Africa" as a excellent read. ( )

I was engrossed in this story from beginning to end. The plot is multi-layered, with mystery, suspense, drama and adventure. The characters are unique and have many dimensions. They made me care and I wanted to crawl inside the story with them. The dialogue is realistic. The ease of the descriptions immersed me in African countries and cultures. I did not simply read this story. I experienced it. ( )

This was a great book. From the very beginning the reader is grabbed and held in suspense. Matt Reiser has been sent on a mission to Africa to find a son who obviously doesn’t want to be found. It has been three years since Karl last communicated with his parents. His mother’s dying wish is to see her son before the cancer takes her life. When she contacts Matt, her ex-husband, and asks him to fly to Africa and track him down, he doesn’t want to. Matt and Karl have not had the best relationship for several years.

Matt steps off of the plane and into a corrupt world unlike anything he has ever seen. He is mugged, robbed of his money, passport, and the letter his ex-wife sent for their son. They even took his shoes. He doesn’t know who to trust. Then he meets Jean-Louis, the concierge at the hotel. What starts out seeming like help drives him deeper into the corrupt world around him.

This book is so much more than just a good read. In this book you are transported to places you may never see. You are thrown into a world we have only heard exists. You have to ask yourself if you would survive the ordeals the protagonist goes through. You will end up taking a look at all you hold dear, all you value and asking yourself if you have done all that you can for the people you love. You must read this book to see if he finds his son. You must read this book to take a look at the corruptness of a country we know so little about. You must read this book to find yourself.
I will most definitely recommend this book. I was unable to put it down from the minute I started it. It is not a really long book. However, it will grab you and hold you from the first pages. I had not heard of this author but I will most definitely look for more from him. ( )