Death Row

by Christian Sterling

In Greenwood Federal Penitentiary, Charles Colter - a passionate and imaginative artist - laments during his final three days. Wishing more than anything to soak up the world around him, Charles clings to the solitude of his cell, longing to distract himself from the inevitable. Through this heartbreaking novella, we witness the struggle of an artist on death row, surrounded by friends and enemies, affection and violence, all in the plight of a creative mind grappling with the realities of life. Sorrow, redemption, and passion are found within the tale Death Row.

Audible Audio

First published January 4, 2018

Reviews

[Andrea Stoeckel · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The yearn to create ached in his being, hoping the inspiration wouldn’t be long gone upon reaching his paints. Charles found creativity to be a fickle muse, coming and going as it pleased.“

This is the story of Charles. We first meet Charles in what we are informed are his last three days in jail. By this time, he’s going through the motions. His only escape is his art, but even that is fleeting.
He has made acquaintances, one might not think of them as friends as their time together is fleeting.

Life isn’t fleeting if you’re simply calling it in as Charles seems to be doing. He works, he doesn’t. It doesn’t matter where it is. And suddenly a crisis draws him in and reawakens the inspiration of his life, and, his muse goes from fickle to fantastic.

This small book has a punch ten times it’s size. You come in expecting one thing, and exit with the wold as you know on it’s ear. It makes you dizzy enough to read it all over again; amazed that even if you know the outcome, you are still blindsided. Prepare to be amazed. Highly recommended 5/5

[disclaimer: I was gifted a copy of the book and voluntarily reviewed it]

[Carly [A Beauty & Her Books] · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella was exceptional, hands down! Reading it from start to finish in one sitting, it completely captivated me. Although it is a short 100 pages, it moved me, and I will forever be grateful to have read this story.
The descriptive writing paints a clear picture in your mind that pulls you into the story without becoming too much. I found myself emotionally invested in the characters and their outcomes in the novel, whether they be positive or negative, and to see how they change over the course of the book.
Following the life of Charles Colter, he is a character that one can easily relate to, yet still challenges you to consider the different perspective that he is forced to face and struggle with. Complete with a plot twist that took me completely by surprise, it grabs your attention and keeps you wondering as to what will happen at the very end.
Prepared to be amazing with this tiny yet impactful book!

[Melissa Vinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little novella by indie author Christian Sterling is very short at only 102 pages, but it packs a powerful, thought provoking punch. I can’t say too much and still avoid spoilers, but I will say this book was not what I thought it was, going in. This is another book that is outside of my little comfortable zone of reading preferences and genres, but I’m glad I read it because it really made me think about life in general, and more specifically, how we view our lives, how and for whom we live our lives, the choices we make, and the consequences that accompany our choices. The author’s words paint vivid descriptions of the setting and the characters, easily drawing the reader into the story. Be aware that there is use of very strong language in a few places as well as a scene of violence, as this story unfolds in a prison setting. Thank you to Veranda Kuhar Studios for sending this my way!

[Devin · Rating 5 out of 5]

(I received this novella as a gift from the author but I am reviewing this voluntarily)
Charles, to say the least, was an amusing character to read about in this short novella. I was surprised by how short it was, my copy only at 99 pages. I was a bit worried about how he was going to pull off a complex and powerful story but I was pleasantly surprised. Although, this isn't the usual genre I would pick out, I thoroughly enjoyed being inside of Charles head and learning about his story. The plot twist had me fully blindsided, much to my surprise. It is an incredibly hard task to successfully pull off an almost no warning plot twist. I would absolutely recommend to someone who likes a complex and riveting story which packs a major punch!

[Mariela Germann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well praised read.

My friend recommended this boom. However, it is not my cup of tea. With that on mind, I can say that it did not entertain me. Yet, the author really describe in details the characters, their emotions, thoughts, and personality.

The novella is very well praised by others, and it is unique in its genre. The cover is amazing since it personifies the individuality of the main character. I will not spoil this novella to anyone, so please support the author.

[Kristen Barron · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great, easy read! I read this on the plane ride home without putting it down once.

The descriptive writing paints a clear picture in your mind that pulls you into the story without becoming too much. Main character, Charles Colter, is easy to relate to and yet at the same time challenges you to consider a different perspective as he struggles with the emotional toll of his final days at Greenwood Federal Penitentiary. And a plot twist you won't see coming grabs your attention and keeps you wondering what might be next until the very end.