Smorgasbord Book Reviews Rewind – #1960s #Thriller – Paris Escapade by Ted Myers

I am sharing my reviews from the first few months of 2021. The focus tends to be on new releases but good books deserve to be in the spotlight too on a regular basis.

This is my from February 2021 review this week is for the1960s thriller – Paris Escapade by Ted Myers.

About the Book

In the summer of 1963, seventeen-year-old Eddie Strull goes off to Europe with a supervised camp group of New York Jewish kids. But Eddie, ever the rebel, has other plans. Eddie wants to live as an adult. A writer. Right now. When they arrive in Paris, the last stop before heading home, Eddie sneaks out of the youth hostel and disappears into the bohemian labyrinth of the Left Bank. There he encounters a colorful array of artists, writers, actors, and one extraordinary prostitute, who draws him into a risky adventure. Ultimately, he becomes a wanted man. Instant adulthood turns out to be much more than Eddie bargained for.

My review for the book February 6th 2021

A fast paced, adventure filled thriller set against the backdrop of 1960s Europe, and in particular the avant-garde culture of Paris at that time.

First impressions of seventeen-year-old Eddie Strull, offered in his own words, are of a rather entitled, over confident and dismissive teenager whose goal is to escape from under his boring parent’s oversight. To this end he plans his escape under the noses of the guardians of the tour of Europe he is signed up for.

In the first part of the book we are treated to a whistle stop tour of the highlights of the European major capitals, with the author paying great attention to detail on the tourist trail of that time. Paris is depicted in all its glory, and it is easy to feel drawn into the ambience of the free- thinking and inclusive culture offered to emigres and foreign creative talent. This is the place that Eddie feels is his destiny, with the intention of becoming a world renowned author worthy of his literary idols.

He is certainly going to need some bravado to survive his adventure once he cuts loose from the tour group, including navigating the egos and self-interests of the resident literary crowd and other artists who are reluctant to cede any of their attention to others. There are those with honest intentions, but Eddie finds them few and far between, and in the main he falls in with those who are living life on the edge, or deep in criminal activities. Passions run hot, a murderer is stalking the streets and Eddie makes some decisions that put his life in danger.

The author has created a complex character in Eddie and we get to know him in more depth through the first person narrative, including the side he might not show to those he connects with, which is a vulnerability and need for his own identity. The events of the next two years certainly test his resolve as he finds love, experiences loss and faces difficult choices to achieve his dream.

The story has flow and the references to events, music and prominent artists and writers of that time provides plenty of nostalgia for readers who remember the 1960s fondly. It would be interesting to see where the story of Eddie Strull goes next.

Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK

Also by Ted Myers

Read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Follow Ted Myers: Goodreads – Blog: Ted Myers WordPress – Twitter: @TedMyersAuthor – Facebook: Ted Myers

About Ted Myers

After twenty years trembling on the brink of rock stardom and fifteen years working at record companies, Ted Myers left the music business–or perhaps it was the other way around–and took a job as a copywriter at an advertising agency. This cemented his determination to make his mark as an author. His nonfiction has appeared in Working Musicians (Harper Collins), By the Time We Got to Woodstock: The Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Revolution of 1969 (Backbeat Books), and Popular Music and Society.

His short stories have appeared online at Literally Stories and in print in the To Hull & Back Short Story Anthology 2016. His epic and amusing memoir, Making It: Music, Sex & Drugs in the Golden Age of Rock was published by Calumet Editions in 2017 and more short stories appeared in Iconoclast magazine, The Mystic Blue Review, Centum Press’ 100 Voices Anthology, and Culture Cult Magazine.

In 2018, his work appeared in The Ink Stains Anthology, and Bewildering Stories. His first novel, Fluffy’s Revolution, was published by Black Rose Writing in 2019. His second novel, Paris Escapade, was published by Black Rose Writing in December 2020.

 

Thanks for visiting today and hope you have enjoyed my review for Ted’s book and will check it out for yourself.. Sally.