A Paranormal Superhero Novella By Joseph Roy Wright
Jonathan Robinson died at birth but was quickly resurrected, which left him with a superpower he doesn’t quite know how to handle: the power to freeze time. Having tried to control his urge to take advantage of this “gift” when his parents were still alive (they died in a violent car accident he blames himself for), things change when Jonathan turns 19 and starts using his powers to steal from people and get rich. A mysterious figure has been watching his every move very closely though and wants to convince him to freeze time for the greater good. Meet ‘The Living Nightmare’, aka Richard Bailey, a man with the most terrifying skillset: planting evil thoughts and petrifying fears into people’s minds. The two engage in a battle for control over one another, one that Richard seems to be winning when Jonathan’s closest bonds are put at risk but… help is underway, in the shape of an equally mysterious group of men in black suits with unclear intentions… until the explosive end. Will Jonathan finally get to grips with the huge social responsibility his powers entail, or will he succumb to the will of others?
The ability with which Joseph Roy Wright manages to pack loads of action in his relatively short books never ceases to amaze me: his stories always proceed briskly and there’s never a dull moment. In this particular case, the first-person point of view, intertwined with the main character’s constant interior monologue add an interesting layer of complexity to the narrative, as Jonathan is torn between egoistic personal gain and becoming a decent human by harnessing his gift to help others.
In line with Wright’s signature storytelling style, the book does contain scenes of violence and violent deaths that might not sit well with everyone. However, these are not written with the intention to upset readers but just to add a little more colour to the story – they actually reminded me of good old-fashioned splatter movies. If I was to find fault with anything within the book, it would probably be the odd typo, something I wouldn’t expect from a writer as experienced as Joseph Roy Wright.
I do recommend his books if you are a fan of the supernatural, the unexplained and the slightly disturbing or simply if you are after a quick and quirky read. And if you do like Wright’s writing, there’s plenty more to keep you entertained… you can have a look at his bibliography here.
