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Crematorium
I didn't mean for any of this to happen. Dear God, I'm so sorry.
For the people of Central Lawn, hard work is no guarantee of success--Ethan Moris is proof of that. Despite his best efforts, he struggles to provide for his loved ones, and he worries the looming winter will prove deadly for his kind-hearted neighbor. When a local businessman finally recognizes Ethan's potential, he is offered a job at a crematorium. His prayers have been answered. Or so he thinks.
Ethan’s work ethic is paying off, and he is making more money than he ever dreamed of. But a nagging sense of guilt follows him day and night. Something sinister is happening in the rundown Crematorium, and all the money in the world won’t keep him from finding the truth.
Avoiding the watchful eye of his employer, he steals a piece of jewelry from among the ashes. It confirms his worst fear: he has destroyed the evidence of an unspeakable crime. Terror and righteous anger wage war within him. He longs for justice, but he doesn’t know who he can trust. As the conspiracy unravels, Ethan realizes he is alone, and if he reveals his secret, it will cost him his life.
For the people of Central Lawn, hard work is no guarantee of success--Ethan Moris is proof of that. Despite his best efforts, he struggles to provide for his loved ones, and he worries the looming winter will prove deadly for his kind-hearted neighbor. When a local businessman finally recognizes Ethan's potential, he is offered a job at a crematorium. His prayers have been answered. Or so he thinks.
Ethan’s work ethic is paying off, and he is making more money than he ever dreamed of. But a nagging sense of guilt follows him day and night. Something sinister is happening in the rundown Crematorium, and all the money in the world won’t keep him from finding the truth.
Avoiding the watchful eye of his employer, he steals a piece of jewelry from among the ashes. It confirms his worst fear: he has destroyed the evidence of an unspeakable crime. Terror and righteous anger wage war within him. He longs for justice, but he doesn’t know who he can trust. As the conspiracy unravels, Ethan realizes he is alone, and if he reveals his secret, it will cost him his life.
114 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 8, 2018
2 people are currently reading
3 people want to read
About the author
J.J. Carlson
18 books11 followersI was born and raised in the rural Midwest, surrounded by miles of cornfields. After graduating high-school, I enlisted in the United States Air Force, then rode a desk for four years before transferring to an elite Special Tactics unit.
In that unit, I was privileged to work with Special Operations Forces personnel from the Army, Navy, and Marines.
My training took me to exotic locations around the world, and I completed two combat deployments in Afghanistan.
After my second term of enlistment, I separated from the Air Force to spend more time with my family and go to college. While grinding through math, science, and academic writing classes, I resumed one of my favorite past times—storytelling.
Now, I write fiction full-time. Through writing, I share the tragedy, comradery, pain, and redemption I've seen throughout life. I hope to spark awareness and change through my novels, and I give a large portion of my proceeds to charitable organizations that fight human trafficking around the world.
In that unit, I was privileged to work with Special Operations Forces personnel from the Army, Navy, and Marines.
My training took me to exotic locations around the world, and I completed two combat deployments in Afghanistan.
After my second term of enlistment, I separated from the Air Force to spend more time with my family and go to college. While grinding through math, science, and academic writing classes, I resumed one of my favorite past times—storytelling.
Now, I write fiction full-time. Through writing, I share the tragedy, comradery, pain, and redemption I've seen throughout life. I hope to spark awareness and change through my novels, and I give a large portion of my proceeds to charitable organizations that fight human trafficking around the world.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 24, 2019
Loved this one! First reading of a Carlson novel. I would like to investigate more of his. He writes well and this is a good length. Suspense with an intriguing plot. I loved the power of the Word of God and the witness of Ethan upon the criminal characters.
July 30, 2019
J.J. Carlson's novella, "Crematorium" grabbed me from the first lines. A college-aged young man struggles to survive in a crime-infested inner city, hoping to land the job that will lift his disabled mother out of poverty. The story is well-written, with likeable characters, fast-moving scenes, and a satisfying ending. I shall definitely check out some of Carlson's other works. Highly recommended!
MY PERSONAL RATINGS [w/Key Below]:
Story Originality: 4/5
Story Inventiveness: 4/5
Characters: 5+/5
Descriptive Power: 5/5
True to Scripture: 5/5
Fictive Dream Strength: 5+/5
Proofreading: 5/5 (It was refreshing to read an independently published work that has little or no errors!)
Cinematic Flare: 5+/5 (Could see this as a film.)
Rated G/PG-13/PG/R/R+: PG (A finale fight scene; not overtly violent; threat/suspense strong.)
Overall Satisfaction: 5/5
Other notes: I liked that I learned a thing or two about the cremation process. And the book is balanced well in its overall storytelling. Each chapter was concise and just enough to keep reader happy and turning the pages. A spiritual thread is woven into the story, but it's mostly subtle. Enjoyed this novella--read it over a short span of time.
[MY KEY]
Story Originality: How creative was the concept from page one onwards?
Story Inventiveness: How surprised was I by the flow of the Plot? Any twists?
Characters: How real and how drawn was I to the story’s characters?
Descriptive Power: How well did the author control description, dialogue, etc?
True to Scripture: Were all elements true to Scripture’s worldview?
Fictive Dream Strength: How much was I immersed in the novel—wanting to read page after page?
Proofreading: How well was the book proofread (typos, etc)?
Cinematic Flare: How strong were key scenes (that I could easily see as a motion picture)?
Overall Satisfaction: What was my overall feeling/enjoyment level after reading the novel? Did I want it to end?
MY PERSONAL RATINGS [w/Key Below]:
Story Originality: 4/5
Story Inventiveness: 4/5
Characters: 5+/5
Descriptive Power: 5/5
True to Scripture: 5/5
Fictive Dream Strength: 5+/5
Proofreading: 5/5 (It was refreshing to read an independently published work that has little or no errors!)
Cinematic Flare: 5+/5 (Could see this as a film.)
Rated G/PG-13/PG/R/R+: PG (A finale fight scene; not overtly violent; threat/suspense strong.)
Overall Satisfaction: 5/5
Other notes: I liked that I learned a thing or two about the cremation process. And the book is balanced well in its overall storytelling. Each chapter was concise and just enough to keep reader happy and turning the pages. A spiritual thread is woven into the story, but it's mostly subtle. Enjoyed this novella--read it over a short span of time.
[MY KEY]
Story Originality: How creative was the concept from page one onwards?
Story Inventiveness: How surprised was I by the flow of the Plot? Any twists?
Characters: How real and how drawn was I to the story’s characters?
Descriptive Power: How well did the author control description, dialogue, etc?
True to Scripture: Were all elements true to Scripture’s worldview?
Fictive Dream Strength: How much was I immersed in the novel—wanting to read page after page?
Proofreading: How well was the book proofread (typos, etc)?
Cinematic Flare: How strong were key scenes (that I could easily see as a motion picture)?
Overall Satisfaction: What was my overall feeling/enjoyment level after reading the novel? Did I want it to end?
July 25, 2019
I enjoyed this book. The plot was very interesting and a bit different, something I always like. I , like Peter liked the way Ethan talked about Jesus and where are we really going after we die. Definitely worth the .99. Pick it up. It's a quick, enjoyable read.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews