Francis Frick is the typical Scrooge of the business world. He rules his empire with an iron fist, close-minded and ignorant to the happiness of others. The only thing that matters is money and making more money. His own needs and wants come in a close second. Francis is the king of his self-induced pitiful existence.
One night, Bee, a white-robed entity chooses him to be her next project, “knowing that if action ever did occur, it would be an action that didn’t matter, and that was all that mattered to her.” Bee is something of an enigma, part angel, part devilish child – I could never put my finger on her for sure. She could be one of the Fates assisting her progeny on his life journey, or not. And, that is her allure.
Nevertheless, Bee initiates the call to adventure and Francis has no choice but to participate in the pantomime of Bee’s choosing. With Bee, there’s a reason for everything. You just have to trust her instincts.
The old man disappears from New York in a series of strange and unusual experiences, each fraught with danger and life-threatening consequences. Bit by bit, the reason for his time travel reveals a path to redemption if he makes the right choices.
Magical realism is my favorite genre. Unlike most fantasy stories that occur in a fictional land, the magical part occurs in the normal world. Such is the case with Francis Frick. Imagine being thrust into the past and into a place where you had the opportunity to right a wrong. Would you do it? What if you had some magical help?
I have had the pleasure of reading most of Mark Sasse’s novels which like his characters have grown in expression, bursting with life lessons portrayed from living in an unsure world. The author’s descriptions are rich and vibrant placing the reader at the scene of the crime as it is being committed. His imagination is limitless!
The fact that Sasse has lived in various parts of the world figure prominently in his writing. His novels always make me think and weigh out the decisions of his characters. There is always a lesson, and I like that in a novel. It’s like a gift that keeps on giving.
The holiday season is the perfect time to acknowledge the magic that exists in your own life. A Man Too Old for a Place to Far is the perfect Christmas story and at $.99 is a steal. Stay tuned; there will be a sequel to this novel published in 2018. I can’t wait! ❤
*I was given an advanced reader’s copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review which follows*