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Just Can't Help Believing
John Paul James, author
Elvis Presley longed to learn of God’s plan for him. One night, God finally revealed it. Four decades on, that plan is coming to a bloody end...
Orphaned by an accident he feels responsible for, gossip magazine owner Jimmy O’Neill remains haunted by it in adulthood. Now he’s on the brink of losing the one thing his parents bequeathed him – the family business. To save it, Jimmy faces a race against time to discover the valuable secret his ex-CIA grandad planned to divulge before his untimely death. All he has to go on are two dog-eared books, which he learns belonged to Elvis Presley and have been missing since his death. A death his grandad may just have had a hand in.
From the bright lights of Las Vegas to the relentless rain in the West of Ireland, Jimmy’s quest to dig up the truth for the scoop of the century draws in blackmail, betrayal, and a broad cast of colourful characters, including an Elvis obsessive who dresses as his hero each day (including rhinestone jumpsuits on a Monday), a psychotic gangster who parodies an Italian accent to sound like The Godfather, and the world’s foremost music mogul, whose devilish secrets an avenging angel longs to expose.
Plot/Idea: 8 out of 10
Originality: 8 out of 10
Prose: 8 out of 10
Character/Execution: 8 out of 10
Overall: 8.00 out of 10
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Jimmy needs to raise money to keep his dad's business afloat. His solution? To embark on a quest to learn about his grandfather's relationship with Elvis--a quest that proves highly entertaining and wholly unexpected. While the work falls somewhat short of its ambitions, it's still a fun and gratifying read.
Prose: The prose is clear, clean, and has forward momentum.
Originality: This storyline is highly original; Elvis fans will find much to appreciate.
Character Development/Execution: The most fascinating characters are the Elvis impersonators, especially George. The reader will easily be able to envision the cast of endearing and eccentric individuals.
Date Submitted: July 29, 2022