Fiction Review

Seismic
by R. L. Roach
ISBN-10: 0533149673
Review by Heather Froeschl

Bob Hoaglund is a court reporter on a fishing vacation in Bend, Oregon. What he reels in is a lot bigger than the catch of the day. The first episode of tension begins when he finds what appears to be the lower leg portion of a man inside of a boot that is placed in a seemingly ritualistic display. Perhaps he was meant to see it, perhaps not. As he runs to call the police from his cell phone he is shot at with an arrow that comes very close to his head. His phone is gone and his tires slashed, thus leaving him to frantically flag down an oncoming car. Fate answers his call, as Susan Woodson is the driver. This chance meeting is the beginning of something much more than a ride to a phone.

When Bob finally has the attention of a forest ranger they return to the scene only to find it swept clean. Deciphering the layout of what he knew he had seen, Bob takes it upon himself to hunt for more of the same displays. He finds them, and his life is in danger, so too, the life of Susan. Lieutenant Santorini of the local sheriff's office begins investigating the death of his best friend and what evolves into serial murders. Bob and Susan hold some clues to these cases but in fear for their lives they leave town for a while. Will they return to help save the lives of future victims? Will they become suspects themselves? Or victims?

This first novel by R.L. Roach is full of suspense and intrigue, mystery, and a splash of romance. The plot runs well enough, though a sub plot involving seismic activity beneath nearby Mt. Bachelor seems out of place and unnecessary. It could be an analogy for the turmoil that is in Bob's life, or for the almost uncontrollable beast that is the killer. But it doesn't speak clearly enough for this reader to appreciate a connection. I would have rather spent more time discovering why the killer does the things he does. That part of the mystery is never solved.

The characterization is well done and believable, though one has to wonder why Bob and Susan do not go to the authorities right from the beginning. Overall the writing is fine, though it does progress for the better toward the second half of the book. The first half holds numerous incidences where the author jumps from first to third person, sometimes within the same paragraph. This is quite distracting and bothersome.

"Seismic" is a decent read by a first time author. The negative aspects are outweighed by an interesting story with a handful of suspenseful moments.