News: A story of too much information and a girl – by Simon Yeso – ISBN: 978-0-9914480-7-4. Published by Mossik Press (December 21, 2016). ($7.99 USD Amazon Paperback) The reviewer received the author’s book as a trade paperback.
Review by Chris Phillips
There’s the classic Who, What, When, Where and Why in this comedic thriller.
The cast of characters is adjusting to their new situations. They think that not much should happen to turn that world upside down, but they are shockingly wrong.
This story of innuendo, gossip, lies, diversions, and intrigue is authentically presented as a comedy of errors and disinformation. The premise is simple and subtle enough to provide a good foundation.
Ma Foster provides accommodation for her “girls”, Bella, Chloe and Kitty. All three residents are currently missing. Mom makes a big fuss about it. She even goes to the local newspaper when the local police fail to act on her fears. She catches the eye of the out-of-work detective, the new editor of the local newspaper, and last but not least, the town itself.
The central character is Henrietta, who is named after the town in question, Henryetta, Oklahoma. Henrietta has a lot going for her these days, she moved to the big city, OKC, OK and got a job at the local TV station. Although this does not help her journalistic career, it puts her in the middle of the news and events of the day. Regular actors in Henryetta are Wynona Sue, Henrietta’s hairdresser mother stars in a “reality show”, see below. Her husband, Professor LeHough, a local insect expert, is bald from a surprise shave. Rodney, Henrietta’s boyfriend, cameraman, and her best friend in general, is pushed and pulled by Henrietta and her immediate boss, Miss Peg. Harold Mixon, owner and editor emeritus of the local weekly, recently brought online, is trying to have a nice, quiet Labor Day weekend with his friends at the International Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF).
The other main characters are Gigi Carpenter, a feminist reporter turned editor of the local newspaper. Max (Maximo) Morgan, a rubber-shoe aspiring private eye with a penchant for old-fashioned murder mysteries, especially Dashiel Hammet’s “Fat Man” tales. Next, Deano DeBoffo as the reality show director trying to shoot a pilot for a new show. Finally, Shatner Lapp, as a journalist, editor, and good old man, comes to town to help out with his friend’s Princeton newspaper problems.
Once these people get involved with the gossip-laden townspeople, misinformation flies. With more rumors than the facts probably warrant, the three missing girls become increasingly the subject of speculation and intrigue while very little factual information is provided. The rumors start out light as only Mom and Máximo are looking for the missing girls.
These rumors and gossip eventually lead to a major “reporter’s war” between Shat and Gigi. The misinformation here becomes the avalanche that falls on the news and then on the townspeople.
So are the missing women found? Who ends up running the newspaper? What about the hopes and dreams of a reality show? Where does each of these people end up? These and other questions have a comedic answer in Plaster’s latest effort.
For a fun read, this is the book. For those who follow Yeso, this is a must read. And for anyone looking for something to do on a lazy afternoon, this is a definite read.
4 stars