Rating: 3 stars out of 5
Colin Page, eighteen-year-old community college student, apple polisher and all-around goody-goody, has a secret. He sees things that aren’t there. Unfortunately, the Doc Martens on the floor of the mail vestibule in his apartment building really are there and attached to a dead body. Hunkered over the body is someone Colin had barely noticed before, Private Investigator Al Green. Most people scare Colin, but for some reason, Al doesn’t, even after he reveals that he knows about the hidden reality of their world.
Alonzo Green, despite his low-power mind, is determined to help right the wrongs he unknowingly contributed to. He’s also hopelessly smitten. He knows it’s wrong—probably even dangerous—to enlist Colin’s help with the investigation. And that’s before considering all Al has to fear from Colin’s fiercely protective and powerful mother.
Colin and Al put some of the pieces together, but as soon as one thing becomes clear, the picture changes. The search for the Big Bad takes them from Portland to Tacoma and Seattle, and eventually to San Francisco, but their journey into each other’s arms is much shorter.
The Visionary is a different type of paranormal story. We get to read about a world in which colors and energy take central stage. Other elements were added as the story developed, creating a complex system of interrelated events happening even before the main characters met. There are several supporting characters who allowed the MCs to get together in the end.
The story is divided into three parts; starting with Colin’s POV, then Alonzo’s, and lastly the two of them. They meet as soon as the story starts and become inseparable from that moment on. The more time they spend together the more twists and turns the story got. The mystery is hard to follow because the characters keep their cards close and the reader can’t guess a possible outcome.
The book is complex, which had me stopping and re-reading several paragraphs more than ones. There are jumps in time and events that caused some confusion and several scenes seem there only to be referenced further down the story. I think those missing time frames were necessary to make the story flow smoothly.
If you’re a fan of innovative story lines, this one is definitely one. The visionary concept was interesting, but not explained completely. It’s not a book to read in one sitting, but the more you read the more used you will get with the book’s style. Overall, a good story, just not for me.
The cover by Natasha Snow matches the story well. It’s a bit too dark, but it works with the essence of the story.
Sale Links: NineStar | Amazon | Nook
ebook, 156 pages
Published: January 30, 2017, NineStar Press
ISBN: 9781945952395
Edition Language: English
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 