One False Step

by Mark SaFranko

"One of the most talented writers out there in today's world of books." - Sam Millar Mark SaFranko Clay's wandering eye has finally landed him in trouble. After a devastating accident that leaves him confined to a wheelchair, his many conquests are all he has left. He's spent his life cheating on his wife, and now when he needs her most, will their relationship remain as is? In this gritty and darkly humorous novel, Mark SaFranko upends a power dynamic of a marriage, delving into themes of dominance and retribution. With his trademark biting wit and edgy New York style, SaFranko delivers a shocking and unforgettable tale that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.

142 pages, Paperback

Published May 24, 2023

About the author

Mark SaFranko’s novels and stories have garnered rave reviews and a cult following, mainly in Europe. Hating Olivia was recently nominated for the Prix Littéraire Rive Gauche à Paris. In 2018 he was named the first Author in International Residence at the University of Lorraine in Nancy, France. His paintings have been exhibited in Europe, and he is also a musician. He divides his time between the United States and France.

Reviews

[Keijo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The latest from Mark SaFranko is a psychodrama with a noir tinge. A minimalist and taut novel, it revolves mostly around the psychological tension between a husband and wife, whose marriage after a tragic accident takes an irrevocable tumble towards the abyss.

As with all of SaFranko's work, it is expertly written, with a brisk pace that never becomes boring. As I've said before, Mark SaFranko is not in the habit of wasting words. Which is not something that can be said of most authors that I know of.

And though I may personally prefer his more autobiographical work, I couldn't help but strongly sympathize with the blight the protagonist Clay is put in, constantly thinking of how I would behave were I in his (paralytic) shoes... It certainly made the ole mirror neurons start firin', which is what a good novel is supposed to do. I even drew some disturbing parallels from my own relationship problems here and there.

Although Clay is ultimately an antihero, it becomes almost impossible not to feel sorry for him. In this, I was reminded of some of the better Hollywood neo noirs from the 80s and 90s such as Body Heat and The Last Seduction which tended to have similar morally ambiguous themes.

Indeed, whether intentional or not, the book features several archetypal noir themes, such as a tragic event that makes everything spiral out of control, a doomed antihero as the protagonist, and even, albeit in a somewhat atypical way, a femme fatale. Moreover, there is a constant sense of creeping tension that keeps rising throughout the novel until it finally reaches boiling point, ending in a surprise finish. And if that ain't noir, I don't know what is.

Which isn't to say that the plot isn't realistic or believable, which, like all other SaFranko books, it certainly is. This, indeed, has been a big factor on my enjoyment of them.

I thereby highly recommend One False Step to all SaFranko fans, as well as fans of realistic noir, as well as to anybody who has toyed with the idea of infidelity, as it may just make you reconsider... unless you want to end up as a doomed protagonist yourself.