Kaleidoscope

by: Darryl Wimberley

Published by: The Toby Press

Reviewed by Julie Failla Earhart

Already a best-selling title in France and an award-winning screenplay currently under option, Darryl Wimberley’s latest novel, Kaleidoscope, was finally released in the U. S. in September 2008. I’m not sure when it was released in France, but the wait for the U.S. version was worth it.

In this stand-alone, Jack Romaine has a problem. He loves the speakeasies and cards. He loves them so much that he has overextended his line of credit and now owes more than six big ones to a variety of unsavory characters, including Al Capone.

Jack lives with mother-in-law and son in a shanty part of Cincinnati. His large debts lead him to the door of Oliver Bladehorn, a Cincinnati gangster who was cheated out of a small fortune by his not-so-faithful wife. Unfortunately, the late Mrs. Bladehorn died at sea and took the secret of the stash’s hiding place with her.

Bladehorn sends Jack south to Kaleidoscope, Florida, the winter home of many carnival’s freak shows. Jack is oddly out of place with his blonde hair and marquee good looks. Conspicuous to Kaleidoscope’s oddities, Jack must locate the missing money for Bladehorn or the gangster will have his minions take care of Jack’s family.

Jack makes many friends in the riverside town: Luna, their blue-skinned leader; Tommy the not-so-nice dwarf; the Giant; Flambe, the elephant trainer and flame thrower; sets of Siamese twins; a whole cast of characters including Princess Peewee the Fat Lady and her best friend, Ambassador the elephant; and HighWire and HalfTrack, whom I couldn’t keep straight, but Wimberley does it for me.

Jack is hot on the money’s trail when he learns that Arno Becker, a monster in his own way, has followed him. Jack and Arno crossed paths once before. Jack has seen Arno’s handiwork and it isn’t pretty. When Arno and Jack tangle, Jack’s Hollywood looks are no more.

Kaleidoscope is a fascinating look at carnival folk, especially those who make up the freak show. It has all the elements to make an outstanding crime noir novel, with writing of a literary value.

Armchair Interviews says: Wimberley scores again with another knockout novel.

Author’s Web site: http://www.DarrylWimberley.com