Pelikan

by David Lozell Martin

The journey begins when Charlie Curtis travels to New Orleans on a deathbed assignment from his father. The mission? To find his father's half brother, James Joseph Pelikan, a criminal ringleader of the French Quarter from midnight until dawn in places where tourists seldom venture. Barely off the train, Charlie witnesses the murder of one of Pelikan's cronies at the hand of a woman whose only adornment is a fishhook through her lower lip. And so begins acclaimed thriller writer David Lozell Martin's carnival ride to enlightenment, the ensuing caper revealing just how far a man will go to find redemption.

342 pages, Paperback

First published November 12, 1999

About the author

David Martin is the author of ten novels that range from the international bestselling thriller Lie To Me to the acclaimed love story, The Crying Heart Tattoo.

Reviews

[Paul McBride · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining book, though the story isn’t much, the writing is enjoyable.

[Leti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Often times one can pick up the vibes, tones and direction of a book. I don't mean it's predictable, but I thought I had a sense of what I was in for. Fortunately I was wrong.

I've never been to New Orleans, but Martin certainly illustrated it though the eyes of the countless characters. With the various personas--which I'm astonished at the many he introduced and could involved actively throughout--I found it to be a bubble-like, fairytale setting, where anything can happen. Well, I guess in this plot, anything did. Considering the choice of person (being 1st person) I was thoroughly impressed with his ability to switch POVs, deliver an equal amount of internal dialogue during the changes of character focus, and still keep clear in mind that Charlie is the protagonist. The POV allowed Martin to switch between characters smoothly, yet also maintain the vagueness and distance between the character and reader. I found this to have added character to pessimistic Charlie.

I do agree with some of the reviews that the plot development was slow. Towards the end I realised there wasn't much to the narrative arc itself. However, I would rather categorise (if I may) this book to be one that revolves around characters. If you can appreciate diversity in character (not as a literary term, but as in personas, characters, personalities), you'll love the quirkiness and uniqueness delivered in them. I definitely did.

Furthermore, his proses incredible. The way he can mention something so absurd but let it slide as mediocre and vauge (but hinted enough) allows a reader to guess closely. Then later rewarding our imagintion with written affirmation one way or another.

Overall, it's a sweet treat. Incredibly engaging with gruesome details, but some also pausible for laughter. It was also simultaneously in depth with internal logic and characterisation. It's astonishing how I found myself emotionally connected to so many characters towards the end.

[Carol Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since I'm now a member of the The John Updike Society and Kurt Vonnegut Letters, it appears I'm reading seriously and not straight pleasure at age sixty-six, which is fine, as we are to continually improve with our lives. I was already a fan of the beautiful/what? "Crying Heart Tattoo," yet read a D.L. Martin book several years ago that didn't go well with my milk and muffin, yet it may have been a literary gem. As I read "Pelikan," he remained resourceful and consistent with his unforgettable characters. I'm now a disciple. Mystery is not my genre, but author Julie Smith presented an excellent angle of this unique city several years ago with "New Orleans Mourning," (Skip Langdon Series) and I read that for a college literature class. Following books, not so strong, but merely an opinion. Martin adds themes that are gifts to the reader, to know the city we visit, yet, do not know unless we live or were born in the near vicinity. Now I feel, send in the clowns! Insofar as it is an area that has endless stories worth igniting on paper, this was not with a Suthin' writers overtone.

Did I laugh? No. Did I smile once or twice, yes. Did I want the protagonist to finally, finally quit being a Connecticut yuppie and maybe apologize or thank his uncle for something? I'll leave my answer blank so it's not a spoiler. An author has a vision and they are cognizant of knowing they must switch emotion on at least one character by the end of the book, and this, with the clue-cluttered puzzle, he delivered a glacial stasis of action.

I've sent "Pelikan," to some Goodreads friends, suggesting they jump into the imagery and word alignment. Thank you David Lozell Martin for your work and strategizing the emotion needed to bring nuns, clowns, and a cast of snapshots into our thoughts and sometimes . . . our cheering-them-on heart. Deserving.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlie Curtis accepts his father's deathbed request to visit his uncle in New Orleans' French Quarter. The uncle, James Joseph Pelikan, is a promoter who associates with various Bourbon Street denizens and is planning a big art theft caper.

[Hapzydeco · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sophomoric - off color. Plot develops too slowly. Multitude of characters can tend to confuse the narrative.