White Darkness

Rating:
Summary: A Caribben Gothic
Review: It is a pleasure to find a book that far exceeds one's expectations for the Thriller Genre. In White Darkness, Salinger has created believable characters moving through a world which might best be called Caribbean Gothic. How else to describe a story that takes the reader from Haiti to Brooklyn, from the utterly evil Colonel Ferray to the good natured jeweler Moe Rosen? Salinger weaves a tale where we meet Miz Ark, Moe's neighbor and owner of the gathering place of Brooklyn's Haitian community, her employee, a goddess-like waitress, Marlene, who proves to be a passionate love interest for Moe, and a truly delightful character, Fabrice, the Haitian house boy , a brilliantly created naif whose Candide-like adventures and misadventures connect the rest of the cast. Salinger's knowledge of Voodoo brings considerable verisimilitude to much of the action. We are led through a world where things aren't what we expect them to be, a world filtered through the perceptions of a community most of know little about. In a curious way, the Voodoo vision adds a reality to the horrors, the escapes, and rescues that punctuate the book. The observant reader will also appreciate Salinger's subversive sense of humor. But to say more would give away too much and spoil some of wild incongruities and sheer delight intersperced in this world of terror and intrigue.

Rating:
Summary: A Very Readable Urban-Caribbean Thriller!
Review: Steven Salinger's second novel, White Darkness, is a very strong follow-up to his highly praised debut book, Behold The Fire. White Darkness is an exciting urban-Caribbean thriller that represents a refreshing and interesting introduction to the genre. It grabs hold of your attention from the first page and doesn't let go until the last page. It's the type of book that you just want to keep reading to see what happens next -- but also one you don't want to see end. White Darkness is more than just a very good thriller with characters you really feel you know, it's a story of the American Dream, the new immigrant experience and an evil that transcends peoples and cultures. I would have, if possible in Amazon's system, rated this book 4 1/2 stars. I didn't rate it 5 stars because some of the plot was too contrived and because Salinger didn't tie together some of the plot twists and relationships tightly enough. Nonetheless, these minor flaws should not deter you from putting White Darkness high up on your To-Be-Read list. Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: A chilling thriller
Review: The Brooklyn jewelry store once was exclusive during his father's ownership, but now after a decade of trying Moe Rosen knows he is nearing financial failure. However, every morning he arrives at his store in the changing neighborhood, but now he mostly sells junk. While unlocking his door, he notices a man coming towards his neighbor Miz Ark, owner of a restaurant he has never visited. The man attacks Miz Ark so Moe, ignoring the voice of his father inside his head, rescues the woman.

Though Miz Ark is injured, Moe is a hero among the Haitian population that frequents her restaurant. They begin showing up at his store making purchases and he starts to go next door to eat. Moe even takes out a waitress (from Queens). Moe is unaware that his action of interceding leads to fulfillment for the first time since he returned home from California, but danger that started in Haiti has flowed into the streets of Brooklyn.

WHITE DARKNESS is an exciting urban thriller that provides readers a glimpse of Haitian beliefs, which still hold sway even in Brooklyn. The story line works because the key cast seem genuine, the romance real, and the voodoo and related beliefs intermingle and propel the plot to a rousing finish. Different and refreshing, Steven D. Salinger provides a thrilling tale that will send readers seeking his previous work, BEHOLD THE FIRE.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: MESMERIZING! SCARY! BELIEVABLE!
Review: WHITE DARKNESS, by Steven D. Salinger, is an up close view of unabashed evil perpetrated by sociopathic mercenaries lacking empathy or compassion for fellow humans. It's about Haitian history, Haitian voodoo and the impact of diverse cultures and adjustments that result as life pursues happiness and the American dream.

WHITE DARKNESS is painlessly education, a college course one can attend in your nightie, snuggled in a sleeping bag munching trail-mix and listening to Buddy Guy at the same time. Upon completion, you can wow your erudite friends by asking them if they're familiar with the 4C's of evaluating the quality of a diamond or the definition of words like "naif," and "zabocah".

My only complaint, I couldn't get this book in large print.

Otherwise, I wish this tale could have continued for at least a thousand pages. WHITE DARKNESS IS A MASTERPIECE!!!

Rating:
Summary: MESMERIZING! SCARY! BELIEVABLE!
Review: WHITE DARKNESS, by Steven D. Salinger, is an up close view of unabashed evil perpetrated by sociopathic mercenaries lacking empathy or compassion for fellow humans. It's about Haitian history, Haitian voodoo and the impact of diverse cultures and adjustments that result as life pursues happiness and the American dream.

WHITE DARKNESS is painlessly education, a college course one can attend in your nightie, snuggled in a sleeping bag munching trail-mix and listening to Buddy Guy at the same time. Upon completion, you can wow your erudite friends by asking them if they're familiar with the 4C's of evaluating the quality of a diamond or the definition of words like "naif," and "zabocah".

My only complaint, I couldn't get this book in large print.

Otherwise, I wish this tale could have continued for at least a thousand pages. WHITE DARKNESS IS A MASTERPIECE!!!