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Mystery of a Dromedary
On the night before his wedding, Vernon Rivers is told the date of his his first anniversary. Faced with a situation that parallels that of Victor Frankenstein, Vernon must navigate his final year balancing his needs with the needs of those who depend on him, all while none of them know the reality of his dilemma.
In this homage to Mary Shelley's classic story, Vernon shares the spotlight with Autumn, his optimistic and practical wife who is fighting an uphill battle with her community; Miles, the hesitant teacher who is searching for any sign of success; Eudora, the cunning principal who finds herself at a crossroads in her career; Ernie, a soul trapped in the American South who has nothing left to lose; and Janecia and Ambrose, two students whose stories are just beginning to be told.
These characters are woven into a tale that pits time against memory, greatness against mediocrity, and supernatural elements against the familiar and disenchanting burdens the setting presents.
I think Mr. Mahoney has tapped into a nuanced narrative position that echoes David Foster Wallace's fiction. Salute.
--John Mauk
In this homage to Mary Shelley's classic story, Vernon shares the spotlight with Autumn, his optimistic and practical wife who is fighting an uphill battle with her community; Miles, the hesitant teacher who is searching for any sign of success; Eudora, the cunning principal who finds herself at a crossroads in her career; Ernie, a soul trapped in the American South who has nothing left to lose; and Janecia and Ambrose, two students whose stories are just beginning to be told.
These characters are woven into a tale that pits time against memory, greatness against mediocrity, and supernatural elements against the familiar and disenchanting burdens the setting presents.
I think Mr. Mahoney has tapped into a nuanced narrative position that echoes David Foster Wallace's fiction. Salute.
--John Mauk
318 pages, Paperback
Published July 2, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 29, 2025
3.5
This book piqued my interest instantly so I was super excited to pick it up! How would you cope if you were told the date you would die? How would you live out your final days? Mystery of a Dromedary pays homage to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (which I haven’t read since I was in school!) and it has such a fascinating premise. On the night of his wedding, Vernon is told he will die on his first anniversary and he must navigate his final year of life, with no one knowing the reality of his dilemma.
The author’s writing is excellent and I got on so well with it right from the start, but there were parts of the plot that felt a little disjointed, and some parts that felt underdeveloped. There is a second book in this series coming soon which I am keen to get my hands on, and I’m hoping things become a little clearer in my mind as things progress. The main characters were excellent and I loved Vernon in particular, as well as Ernie, his alter ego, a dangerous and more rebellious version of himself. I really wanted more air time for Ernie, so I hoped we’d get that in book two! But there were many other characters that I didn’t particularly care for… maybe I was just too engrossed in Vernon’s life!
The author is certainly a brilliant storyteller though, with descriptions so vivid, whatever the scene. And he always managed to keep me reading! Intriguing, original and witty.
This book piqued my interest instantly so I was super excited to pick it up! How would you cope if you were told the date you would die? How would you live out your final days? Mystery of a Dromedary pays homage to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (which I haven’t read since I was in school!) and it has such a fascinating premise. On the night of his wedding, Vernon is told he will die on his first anniversary and he must navigate his final year of life, with no one knowing the reality of his dilemma.
The author’s writing is excellent and I got on so well with it right from the start, but there were parts of the plot that felt a little disjointed, and some parts that felt underdeveloped. There is a second book in this series coming soon which I am keen to get my hands on, and I’m hoping things become a little clearer in my mind as things progress. The main characters were excellent and I loved Vernon in particular, as well as Ernie, his alter ego, a dangerous and more rebellious version of himself. I really wanted more air time for Ernie, so I hoped we’d get that in book two! But there were many other characters that I didn’t particularly care for… maybe I was just too engrossed in Vernon’s life!
The author is certainly a brilliant storyteller though, with descriptions so vivid, whatever the scene. And he always managed to keep me reading! Intriguing, original and witty.
November 3, 2024
In the scads of adaptations, parodies, and responses to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, I cannot recall one that focuses on the revenge arc of Frankenstein’s creation or Victor’s troubled suspense and silenced dilemma. Mystery of a Dromedary uses these elements for a fresh angle on the sci-fi classic, infusing it with all the charm and chagrin of a rural Delta town to bring us a modern Southern Gothic.
Anyone who’s lived in a small Southern town will easily recognize the dynamics Jason Mahoney thoughtfully portrays through his ensemble of students, adults, outsiders, locals, bigots, and idealists. Mahoney is clever in constructing this plurality of perspectives, patching into his novel different texts/genres to fully capture the voices and views of his characters: there are chain emails, text exchanges, journal entries, newspaper columns, and multiple narrators. It would be easy to take the Mark Twain approach with this strategy, using vernacular and characterization for hyperbole and humor – making caricatures of hormonal teens or juke joint madams – but that would also remove the reality of the setting. This study of Arkansas & Mississippi Delta towns is a loving homage to the real deals, mixed with just a little magic and mystery.
As an educator, I definitely felt a deep connection with the portrayals related to the school – the relationships, the politics, the scenes, the ecosystem, its opportunities for exhaustion and reward – all of it gives readers a good window into that environment.
Although the ending moves many pieces of the plot toward resolution, it taunts readers with a final twist – one that must be picked up in a sequel! This debut is impressive in its complexity, and I can tell that Mahoney has more to unleash on readers…he’s just biding his time, watching grains of sand fall through the hourglass until the right moment occurs.
Anyone who’s lived in a small Southern town will easily recognize the dynamics Jason Mahoney thoughtfully portrays through his ensemble of students, adults, outsiders, locals, bigots, and idealists. Mahoney is clever in constructing this plurality of perspectives, patching into his novel different texts/genres to fully capture the voices and views of his characters: there are chain emails, text exchanges, journal entries, newspaper columns, and multiple narrators. It would be easy to take the Mark Twain approach with this strategy, using vernacular and characterization for hyperbole and humor – making caricatures of hormonal teens or juke joint madams – but that would also remove the reality of the setting. This study of Arkansas & Mississippi Delta towns is a loving homage to the real deals, mixed with just a little magic and mystery.
As an educator, I definitely felt a deep connection with the portrayals related to the school – the relationships, the politics, the scenes, the ecosystem, its opportunities for exhaustion and reward – all of it gives readers a good window into that environment.
Although the ending moves many pieces of the plot toward resolution, it taunts readers with a final twist – one that must be picked up in a sequel! This debut is impressive in its complexity, and I can tell that Mahoney has more to unleash on readers…he’s just biding his time, watching grains of sand fall through the hourglass until the right moment occurs.
July 26, 2024
This fantastical, yet down to earth exploration of middle America, made me laugh, weep, smile, and contemplate the nature of the human spirit. Each character had their place in the story creating an interweaving tapestry of captivating story lines. The overall motif and visual placemaking the author instills truly made me feel like I was in one of the lesser known parts of the US... Arkansas. This novel was an absolute page turner and I quickly finished it in no time.
This is a must read for anyone in search of a good mystery!
This is a must read for anyone in search of a good mystery!
March 25, 2026
The tapestry of characters and themes that Mahoney wove through this tale was a pleasure to experience and explore. The stories of the humdrum of navigating exhausting work situations, handling conflicting opinions on change, and negotiating between a rock and a hard place all felt relatable and honest. This combined with a supernatural twist added another dimension. Throughout I had some hearty chuckles combined with moments of pensiveness and introspection. At times this felt cinematic. I really enjoyed this unique storytelling, and am looking forward to the sequel!
November 26, 2024
This is a fantastic read. Vernon’s character development, along with his evolving relationships with the supporting cast, kept me engaged from start to finish. Mr. Mahoney also does a remarkable job of exploring the complex dynamics between teachers, administrators, their school district, and their impact on the community. I felt transported to a foreign yet strangely familiar version of Arkansas, rich with local flavor and atmosphere. A truly immersive experience. Hoping for a sequel.
September 22, 2024
The prose of this book as awesome. The use and placement of sentiment was spot on. Having grown up with a mother that was a teacher, Mr. Mahoney really captured the reality of a school's microcosm and how it fits into our entire world.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews