Mamma's review "Morning Wood" by JP Bederwehl

I'm embarking on yet another web task, and hopefully I'll keep up with this one. I'm sure if I don't the Benevolent one will crack the whip and put me back on track.

In my admin duties at http://www.themasque.net/, I have the opportunity to read so many fabulous stories by authors who are really way too good for the likes of us. However, they grace us with their words, inspire us with their plots, tease us with their creativity.

I had the opportunity tonight to be the first one to read "Morning Wood" by JP Bederwehl. A short erotic crime story on TM.

For those who have not read anything by JP, or even if you're familiar with his work, you're in for a real treat. The story takes place in Miami, with a hero that could literally be the 'boy next door', Dave Brown. This young man heads to Florida from Michigan for a summer of work, frolic, and mystery.

Seems Dave lands himself a job at an apartment complex, that lives up to its name. There's a whole lotta wood happening and it's far from simple. During that summer of enlightenment, there's a murder onsite, is the murderer one of the residents? The cops seem to think so, but not everyone there is as confident.

What makes this story such a pleasure to read, is JP's ability to weave metaphors and similes into the tale, giving it a Mickey Spillane type aura, without all the cheesy monologue. With lines like-"His bulging biceps stretching his powder blue polo shirt beyond the legal limits of fabric safety." woven deftly into paragraphs, you can't help but love the main character and his thought process.

JP has the ability to take a simple character and give them depth and understanding- complexity. He's careful of how much he exposes the reader to, he let's them in just-so-much so the reader doesn't get too comfortable or make the story predictable. There's also sex in the story, but it's not pages and pages of full sex scenes. He writes just enough to let the reader conjure up his or her own images.

The only disappointment was the anti climactic events after the murder was discovered. I would have prefered a long drawn out process of catching the killer, but putting my selfishness aside, he did a wonderful job summing up all the events so the reader can end the story happily, and not try and fit together any missing pieces.

Do yourself a favor and check out JP Bederwehl's "Morning Wood" on http://www.themasque.net/. You need to register to read, but it will be worth the few minutes it takes to register.