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Noble
""Missing children, unexplained deaths, corrupt law enforcement, men in black, alien civilizations--this story had EVERYTHING!"" - Tessa Apa, Author of The Gateway to Celesta
""It's like reading two books in one. Very good reading."" - Martha Cheves, A Book and a Dish
In the Autumn of 1947, Jane Emmett went missing from the small Northeastern town of Ashley Falls. When her hidden journal reveals shocking information, Private Investigator Miller Brinkman is called upon to investigate. The case soon evolves into a sinister puzzle of corruption, government cover-up and an unimaginable conspiracy that extends far beyond the town limits of Ashley Falls. How far will Miller be willing to go to follow the twisted trail of truth behind Jane's disappearance? And will he be prepared for the dangerous answer that he seeks?
""It's like reading two books in one. Very good reading."" - Martha Cheves, A Book and a Dish
In the Autumn of 1947, Jane Emmett went missing from the small Northeastern town of Ashley Falls. When her hidden journal reveals shocking information, Private Investigator Miller Brinkman is called upon to investigate. The case soon evolves into a sinister puzzle of corruption, government cover-up and an unimaginable conspiracy that extends far beyond the town limits of Ashley Falls. How far will Miller be willing to go to follow the twisted trail of truth behind Jane's disappearance? And will he be prepared for the dangerous answer that he seeks?
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 17, 2010
17 people want to read
About the author
David K. Hulegaard
15 books62 followersDavid K. Hulegaard is an American author and paranormal investigator. His Noble trilogy has garnered comparisons to the works of Philip K. Dick and Stephen King. In 2016, he collaborated with best-selling author Tony Healey on the novel Planet of Ice.
David previously worked at BioWare, a premiere video game development studio known for creating the popular Mass Effect and Dragon Age franchises. He now lives in the Victorian seaport town of Port Townsend, Washington with his wife Jennie, and their banana-obsessed Welsh Terrier Tobi. In his spare time, he enjoys video games, professional wrestling, and photography.
David previously worked at BioWare, a premiere video game development studio known for creating the popular Mass Effect and Dragon Age franchises. He now lives in the Victorian seaport town of Port Townsend, Washington with his wife Jennie, and their banana-obsessed Welsh Terrier Tobi. In his spare time, he enjoys video games, professional wrestling, and photography.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 2, 2011
Noble – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat and Think With Your Taste Buds – Desserts
‘Her name was Jane Emmett and she was pretty much just your average seventeen year old girl, or at least that’s what everyone in town thought about her. She had grown up in Ashley Falls and came from one of the most highly respected families in town. When I say highly respected, I’m also saying incredibly wealthy. Her family owned the local newspaper company and their business was booming…Though she lived comfortably, Jane never seemed content with the life that her parent’s money had provided for her. She always appeared to be listless and unhappy on any occasion that we crossed paths, quite frankly. As Jane got older, it became well known around town that she was an emotionally troubled kid, but it wasn’t until she started to put her rebellious nature out on display that it became a concern. I can recall various occasions where Jane had gotten into hot water with the sheriff. It was usually just for petty things like trespassing at first. She’d get into an argument with one of the shop owners and then not leave upon being asked. The sheriff would catch word of the dispute, come down and threaten Jane with the worst belting of her life, and she’d eventually see the error of her ways and leave quietly without causing harm…As always, Mr. Emmett would come along, apologize for the inconvenience, pay for any damages she had caused and promise that she wouldn’t be any further trouble.’
But now – Jane Emmett is missing. At least that’s what a letter received by Miller Brinkman, P.I. from Jane’s best friend Jessie Fryman states. According to Jessie, Jane hasn’t been seen in the last six weeks.
Miller has lived all forty plus years of his life in Ashley Falls. After the death of his parents and the departure of Charissa, the only woman he has ever loved, he found himself with a phobia preventing him from leaving. But as he begins his investigation into the disappearance of Jane, he finds it impossible to ‘safely’ stay in Ashley Falls. Not only is the Sheriff framing him for a murder he didn’t commit, he is also visited by a stranger who appears to be trying to help him find Jane.
Miller’s journey takes him to Washington, DC where he will reconnect with Charissa and on to Norway. With the help of Charissa and his mystery friend, Miller uncovers information that leads him to believe that Jane isn’t the only young person to disappear and it appears that the US government is involved up to their ears in these kidnappings. What could they possibly want with them? All seem to be troubled kids that just don’t fit in with their peers. But why kids? These are just some of the questions I found myself wondering as I read Noble.
Noble is a book that is completely different from any I’ve ever read. It starts out as a mystery ‘who-done-it’ but changed genre about midway making it even more enjoyable! This is a style of writing I’m not accustomed to but really like it. It’s like reading two books in one. Very good reading.
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com Stir, Laugh, Repeat
‘Her name was Jane Emmett and she was pretty much just your average seventeen year old girl, or at least that’s what everyone in town thought about her. She had grown up in Ashley Falls and came from one of the most highly respected families in town. When I say highly respected, I’m also saying incredibly wealthy. Her family owned the local newspaper company and their business was booming…Though she lived comfortably, Jane never seemed content with the life that her parent’s money had provided for her. She always appeared to be listless and unhappy on any occasion that we crossed paths, quite frankly. As Jane got older, it became well known around town that she was an emotionally troubled kid, but it wasn’t until she started to put her rebellious nature out on display that it became a concern. I can recall various occasions where Jane had gotten into hot water with the sheriff. It was usually just for petty things like trespassing at first. She’d get into an argument with one of the shop owners and then not leave upon being asked. The sheriff would catch word of the dispute, come down and threaten Jane with the worst belting of her life, and she’d eventually see the error of her ways and leave quietly without causing harm…As always, Mr. Emmett would come along, apologize for the inconvenience, pay for any damages she had caused and promise that she wouldn’t be any further trouble.’
But now – Jane Emmett is missing. At least that’s what a letter received by Miller Brinkman, P.I. from Jane’s best friend Jessie Fryman states. According to Jessie, Jane hasn’t been seen in the last six weeks.
Miller has lived all forty plus years of his life in Ashley Falls. After the death of his parents and the departure of Charissa, the only woman he has ever loved, he found himself with a phobia preventing him from leaving. But as he begins his investigation into the disappearance of Jane, he finds it impossible to ‘safely’ stay in Ashley Falls. Not only is the Sheriff framing him for a murder he didn’t commit, he is also visited by a stranger who appears to be trying to help him find Jane.
Miller’s journey takes him to Washington, DC where he will reconnect with Charissa and on to Norway. With the help of Charissa and his mystery friend, Miller uncovers information that leads him to believe that Jane isn’t the only young person to disappear and it appears that the US government is involved up to their ears in these kidnappings. What could they possibly want with them? All seem to be troubled kids that just don’t fit in with their peers. But why kids? These are just some of the questions I found myself wondering as I read Noble.
Noble is a book that is completely different from any I’ve ever read. It starts out as a mystery ‘who-done-it’ but changed genre about midway making it even more enjoyable! This is a style of writing I’m not accustomed to but really like it. It’s like reading two books in one. Very good reading.
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com Stir, Laugh, Repeat
January 30, 2012
Noble is an intriguing concept--genre-blending fiction, in this case hard-boiled '40s crime noir with modern-day sci-fi. For a first effort, Hulegaard aims very high, and in a few instances, he does hit his target. More often than not, though, he misses, but you certainly have to give him credit for trying.
Set in a small town in an undisclosed generic location a short time after a "big war" (presumably WWII), the story revolves around a small-time (in more ways than one) private detective who embarks on a quest to find a missing teenager. The catch: the request was not made by the girl's parents, who seem oddly disinterested in her "disappearance," but by the girl's best friend. Also oddly enough, the rest of the town either doesn't notice her missing or doesn't seem to mind. Throw in a corrupt police chief, mysterious G-men, and evidence of a futuristic civilization from the past, and you have a good recipe.
The problem for me was in the baking. The first-person narrator, private detective Miller Brinkman, is a bit too naive and unaware, even by small-town '40s standards. While the plot moves along nicely, there are a few too many unanswered questions and unresolved issues. It also ties up a bit too conveniently.
But my biggest issue is with the opening. Hulegaard presents the transcript of a tape recording which exposed much of what was to happen. There is foreshadowing, and there is transparency. Hulegaard erred on the side of the latter, and it diminished much of the suspense of the story. I would have preferred he interspersed snippets of the transcript throughout the book at appropriate times--although it might be a bit formulaic, the snippets would have made for nice signposts and good incentive to keep this reader going.
Altogether, this was a good first effort. I look forward to seeing where his imagination leads.
Set in a small town in an undisclosed generic location a short time after a "big war" (presumably WWII), the story revolves around a small-time (in more ways than one) private detective who embarks on a quest to find a missing teenager. The catch: the request was not made by the girl's parents, who seem oddly disinterested in her "disappearance," but by the girl's best friend. Also oddly enough, the rest of the town either doesn't notice her missing or doesn't seem to mind. Throw in a corrupt police chief, mysterious G-men, and evidence of a futuristic civilization from the past, and you have a good recipe.
The problem for me was in the baking. The first-person narrator, private detective Miller Brinkman, is a bit too naive and unaware, even by small-town '40s standards. While the plot moves along nicely, there are a few too many unanswered questions and unresolved issues. It also ties up a bit too conveniently.
But my biggest issue is with the opening. Hulegaard presents the transcript of a tape recording which exposed much of what was to happen. There is foreshadowing, and there is transparency. Hulegaard erred on the side of the latter, and it diminished much of the suspense of the story. I would have preferred he interspersed snippets of the transcript throughout the book at appropriate times--although it might be a bit formulaic, the snippets would have made for nice signposts and good incentive to keep this reader going.
Altogether, this was a good first effort. I look forward to seeing where his imagination leads.
August 22, 2011
This is a tough one for me to review. The story is a really good one, but reads like the first Novel that it is. We all know that first novels are rarely the best an author has to offer. This one is very good and I expect to see more and better coming as David hones his skills.
One other issue is editing. I'm an absolute stickler for editing. (Blame it on psychotic English teachers or too many English courses.) There are quite a few spelling errors and awkward phrases that an editor should have caught and persuaded the author to change. I found myself editing in my head as I read. I joked not so long ago that, "Those who can, write. Those who can't edit." Truth is that a good editor can bring a writer from relative obscurity to a bestseller.
All that said, I'm still assigning this piece four stars based on my own rating system. (I dislike playing by someone else's rules.) I think David Hulegaard is one to watch and I'm looking forward to reading his next book, Jumper.
Added 8/22/11--I forgot to mention the most important thing: After reading the first couple of "pages" of Noble, I tweeted David and told him that very rarely does the first page of a novel make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No lie.
One other issue is editing. I'm an absolute stickler for editing. (Blame it on psychotic English teachers or too many English courses.) There are quite a few spelling errors and awkward phrases that an editor should have caught and persuaded the author to change. I found myself editing in my head as I read. I joked not so long ago that, "Those who can, write. Those who can't edit." Truth is that a good editor can bring a writer from relative obscurity to a bestseller.
All that said, I'm still assigning this piece four stars based on my own rating system. (I dislike playing by someone else's rules.) I think David Hulegaard is one to watch and I'm looking forward to reading his next book, Jumper.
Added 8/22/11--I forgot to mention the most important thing: After reading the first couple of "pages" of Noble, I tweeted David and told him that very rarely does the first page of a novel make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No lie.
September 7, 2011
This noir-style mystery, Noble by author David Hulegaard, begins with a recording on a crackling tape player of a female frantically begging for help. She is unable to offer details of her captivity, though her words indicate that she is not alone. "We were brought here ..." Two years later, in 1950, Private Detective Miller Brinkman hears this recorded cry for help and spends the next three years coming to grips with "the dangers that had been lurking beneath...for centuries."
The home town of Miller Brinkman has always been his cocoon. Ashley Falls is a place where people from the city come to purchase fresh produce and "quality hand-made goods," learn the tragic story behind the town's name, and then leave. As a favor to a young girl in the town of Ashley Falls, Miller Brinkman has agreed to investigate the strange disappearance of the girl's best friend, seventeen-year-old Jane Emmett. What Brinkman learns during the course of his investigation causes emotional upheavals that readers will experience along with the small town detective.
The author's ability to create visual images of believable characters in surreal circumstances held me captive through the resolution of each person's life and the final unraveling of the mystery. For this, it earned my 5-star rating.
The home town of Miller Brinkman has always been his cocoon. Ashley Falls is a place where people from the city come to purchase fresh produce and "quality hand-made goods," learn the tragic story behind the town's name, and then leave. As a favor to a young girl in the town of Ashley Falls, Miller Brinkman has agreed to investigate the strange disappearance of the girl's best friend, seventeen-year-old Jane Emmett. What Brinkman learns during the course of his investigation causes emotional upheavals that readers will experience along with the small town detective.
The author's ability to create visual images of believable characters in surreal circumstances held me captive through the resolution of each person's life and the final unraveling of the mystery. For this, it earned my 5-star rating.
January 9, 2012
If it weren’t for the prologue in Noble, you would think it was a relatively straightforward detective novel... until you got past about page 100, that is. That’s the point where it takes on a little bit of a thriller aspect, as “men in black” suddenly show up, though they’ve actually been there all along. Then there is the utopian, rid-the-world-of-the-troublemakers angle as well. And just when you think you’ve got it figured out, well, you don’t. But that’s what makes this novel a good read; the genres have been meshed together so well and you really can’t be sure what might happen next. I could have done without the protagonist’s lost love story. I can understand why it’s there, but it added an unnecessary dimension to the character and didn’t drive the plot at all. Overall, I would recommend this to anyone into mysteries and noir detective stories, or people who like a plot that catches you a little off guard.
(also posted on Amazon.com)
(also posted on Amazon.com)
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews