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October 11, 2008
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 | Two Wrongs by Morgan Mandel | Reviewed by Katherine Maria Scott |  | Publisher: Hard Shell Word Factory
http://www.hardshell.com
ISBN: e-book 0759940622 trade paperback 0759940657
Genre: Fiction
Subgenre: Melodrama
Release date: Feb 2006
Format: e-book and trade paperback
Pages: ebook-209 trade paperbook-208
Price: $6.00 e-book $10.95 trade paperback
| Two Wrongs,as in “two wrongs don’t make a right”, by Morgan Mandel is a superb title for this inspiring novel. The book’s tale is seen through the eyes of two young men, Danny Callaway, the 16-year-old boy doomed to find the body of his brutally raped and murdered older sister, Mary Alice, and Kevin Green, the man tried and convicted of the atrocities against Mary Alice. Despite Kevin’s conviction and sentence, he maintains his innocence, though he eventually admits lying about his alibi because he was afraid no one would believe the truth. Ironically, it was the testimony of Danny’s interpretation of an argument between Kevin and Mary Alice earlier that day and the prosecution’s ability to prove Kevin’s alibi as false that led to a conviction.
Neither Danny nor Kevin is satisfied with the verdict. Danny believes Kevin should die for what he did to his sister and swears that if and when Kevin makes parole, he will be there to enact a final act of justice on behalf of his sister. Unfortunately, as good a man as Danny becomes, a great basketball player in high school, college, then a pro basketball role model, he never lets go of this promise to his dead sister. His vigilante plotting hampers his ability to create normal social relationships, particularly with the woman, Cathy, who was determined to become his wife. Selfishness won’t allow him to walk away from her at first; and when he finally does realize he may lose her forever, he is forced to choose between his love for Cathy and a future life as a pro-basketball player or life as an embittered younger brother just waiting for a chance to kill the man who murdered his sister.
Then there is Kevin, who may not have had an angel when he arrived at prison but insisted he hadn't killed Mary Alice, though something happened that night that made him lie about his alibi. Nevertheless, as far as he was concerned, Danny put him in prison; and Danny and the people he loved would pay the price. Kevin was a great student and prison was a perfect place to learn to become a ruthless criminal. Vengeance would be sweet, or so Kevin believed.
Morgan Mandel allows the reader to glimpse into the hearts of two young men who believe each is right. In each instance, each character acknowledges that something he's seen, interpreted, or done was wrong; and despite the actions of others, their own actions could have turned this tale into a completely different story. Each character, however, reacts to truth differently and accepts or refuses to take responsibility for his actions. Hardships and triumphs are felt on both sides of a difficult situation; but in the end, the moral truth, “Two Wrongs don’t make a right”, rings true. I truly enjoyed the novel and found that I could not put it down once I started reading. I cannot wait to read Ms. Mandel’s next novel. | | |
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