Outside Child

by Alice Wilson-Fried

Split print run, 2000 hardcover, 1000 trade paperback

305 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Born and raised in New Orleans. Worked in Public Relations at the Delta Queen Steamboat Company before moving to the Bay Area where I remarried. I have two children, three stepchildren and eight grandchildren. I enjoy tennis and reading. My first published title is a nonfiction, entitled, Menopause, Sisterhood and Tennis. Outside Child:A Novel of Murder and New Orleas is my first published work of fiction and is the first of a trilogy set in modern day, pre-Katrina New Orleans. The second takes place during Katrina and third will have my two main characters solving a mystery while adjusting to their hometown post Katrina. Just recieved word that Outiside Child is a semifinalist for the 2008 Independent Publisher Book Award in the South-Best Regional Fiction category."

Reviews

[Wisteria Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outside Child, by Alice Wilson-Fried is a marvelous masterpiece of murder and mayhem on the Mississippi. Ladonis Washington wants nothing more than to climb to the top of her career. She works for the Floating Palace Steamboat Company in public relations. One day her friend and mentor Tim is reported missing, presumed dead. She is put in charge of keeping a lid on publicity. Her assignment quickly places her in the midst of the mysterious investigation into his death. When his body is found it is determined he was murdered. Ladonis spends her time searching for answers to Tim s death, although through it all has an epiphany of her own life. [return][return]This is a debut novel by a storyteller with a natural gift for capturing the southern dialect and conversational speech from both ends of New Orleans society. At times her characters dialogue touches your emotions like a symphonic melody that plays to the depth of your soul. It can be sharp, quick, witty, laughable, attacking and often deadly. The characters are memorable, so much so that it could be a movie mystery. Each character is shaped by their speech and the role they play or the nickname they live by. How can you forget Laundry Man, Preacher Man, HeartTrouble, L il Boy, JockStrap and Big Blake? [return][return]My favorite scene from the book is when Ladonis visits her mother. Her mom is complaining because Ladonis doesn t visit often and says to her, You don t miss the water till the well is dry. Now who can t relate to this remorse ridden remark? The words are priceless. Ladonis on the other hand has three nicknames for her mother s three personalities and decides that today she is Martyr Theresa. On other days she may be Sick Puppy or Pissed Off. This is a mere magical moment between mother and daughter. Yet, it arouses your senses, touches your heart and is just genuine, a glimmer of time that is precious to all women captured so beautifully by the author.[return][return]Wilson-Fried, who grew up in the Magnolia Housing Projects, tackles the racism and social aspects of New Orleans. She shows how the marginal members of society, blacks, women and gays are still the city s outside children. To break into the New Orleans white male dominated business and political arena there are challenges and tough choices needed to succeed with the endurance of a marathon runner. This is a theme that does not overpower the story but is the story. The mystery is a bonus, a wonderful who-done-it. [return][return]Anxiety ridden moments of anticipation will make you read on. You will hang on a limb at the end of each chapter. Don t miss reading this pre-Katrina New Orleans thriller.

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Public relations assistant, Ladonis Washington, can scarcely believe that her colleague and mentor, corporate VP Tim Ganen, is dead. That he died from falling into the paddle wheel of their employer’s steamboat is almost as hard to believe. Worried about bad publicity to the company, the CEO wants Ladonis to stop the story from getting out too quickly. Ladonis agrees, albeit reluctantly. Still, if she comes through for the CEO and also discovers what really happened to Tim (few believe he simply fell into the paddle wheel), she has a good chance of moving up the corporate ladder.

As a black woman coming from a poor part of town in New Orleans, Ladonis knows how tough that climb is, but she’s one determined lady. Complicating her life, however, is her cynical, anti-establishment brother, HeartTrouble, (I love that name) who has his own legal problems.

I liked and disliked several things about this book. First, the good news. This story is set in pre-Katrina New Orleans and author Alice Wilson-Fried, provides a wonderful sense of place and offers a no-holds barred look at race relations from a local’s perspective. The bad news is that I wanted to like Ladonis, but as I got further into the book this became increasingly difficult. The character is driven primarily by ambition, and the frequent mention of her desire to protect the company and executives so she can move up was irritating. Also, Ladonis went so far beyond the law to find answers that the story became implausible in one or two spots, and those answers often came through a tad too many coincidences. Still, for the New Orleans flavor and a glimpse into the culture, the book is a good read.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is a very action oriented murder mystery that takes place in Pre-Katrina New Orleans. The heroine is a ambitious African-American woman whose career aspirations and loyalties are tested to the max. The most interesting part of the book to me was the play of racial and sexual prejudices that each character held. For the whites it was one of continued domination. For the blacks it was a continual assessment of caste based on color, heritage, and aspirations. Written by an African-American woman, it was a marvelous window on the city and the souls of its people.

[Sabrina Laitinen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book to read on a recent trip to New Orleans. The story is set pre Katrina, and involves Ladonis, a young black lady trying to get ahead with her career by working for a local steamboat company, the Floating Palace. Her best friend and co-worker is murdered and the story takes off into a fast pace "who-dunnit". I liked how the author keeps the language local, it gave a better feel to the setting and characters. Surprise ending, which is always a bonus!

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting thriller set in post Katrina New Orleans. Interesting look at black life in New Orleans.

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never read anything by this author before and was halfway through the book before I noticed she is Black. Not that it makes any difference, but it lends authenticity to how the protagonist felt. I was fortunate in being born and raised Caucasian, so it was enlightening to read how a Black person felt in a daily routine, at least an inkling, anyway. The characters were fully fleshed out and very realistic. The plot was convoluted and had plenty of twists and turns. The "outside" child" was revealed at the end and it was a surprise. I definitely recommend this book as a very good story and well worth your time and effort to read.

[Alisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took a few chapters to get good but after a while I really got into it! Though I wasn't a fan of everyone at the beginning trying to one up each other in their job and I'm thankful that that wasn't part of the main plot of the story.