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Bobby's Trace
Do ghosts mourn the living? Perry Chaplin is in mourning for his life partner, Bobby - a time of stress, notwithstanding. The more he drifts, the more he becomes unhinged until he's one room short of a rubber one. "Get a grip, Perry." So he takes his chances on a blind date, which further plunges him along the nightmare highway. He gets an unsought lesson in life-after-death that turns his bereavement into a horrific adventure. Come peek through Perry Chaplin's mysterious window. See what there is to see. Enter Our Lady of Perpetual Grace, where the holy water boils and the confessionals whisper. What lurks in the rectory's attic? What lies beneath the surface of life and death? What comes in Bobby's - in Bobby's trace? Do ghosts mourn the living? Perry Chaplin knows. Will you?
REVISED and EXPANDED for 2010
REVISED and EXPANDED for 2010
- GenresM M RomanceParanormal
122 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2008
1 person is currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
Edward C. Patterson
60 books35 followersEdward C. Patterson has been writing novels, short fiction, poetry and drama his entire life, always seeking the emotional core of any story he tells. With his eighth novel, The Jade Owl, he combines an imaginative touch with his life long devotion to China and its history. He has earned an MA in Chinese History from Brooklyn College with further post graduate work at Columbia University. A native of Brooklyn, NY, he has spent four decades as a soldier in the corporate world gaining insight into the human condition. He won the 1999 New Jersey Minority Achievement Award for his work in corporate diversity. Blending world travel experiences with a passion for story telling, his adventures continue as he works to permeate his reader's souls from an indelible wellspring.
Published Novels by Edward C. Patterson include No Irish Need Apply, Bobby's Trace, Cutting the Cheese, Surviving an American Gulag and Turning Idolater. Poetry includes The Closet Clandestine: a queer steps out and Come, Wewoka - and - Diary of Medicine Flower.
From my mind to your imagination . . .
Published Novels by Edward C. Patterson include No Irish Need Apply, Bobby's Trace, Cutting the Cheese, Surviving an American Gulag and Turning Idolater. Poetry includes The Closet Clandestine: a queer steps out and Come, Wewoka - and - Diary of Medicine Flower.
From my mind to your imagination . . .
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 9, 2013
2.5 Hearts
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
This book started so promising. I thought it would be a romance with a bit of hilarity on the side, but that was not the case.
Perry has lost his beloved Bobby and is still grieving him. He can’t seem to move forward, being stuck on the fact that his lover is gone. This is being quite harmful to him though both mentally and professionally as his boss is not impressed with the fact that is being completely useless at work. In an attempt to help him she recommends him to go see a priest to help him move one, while his colleague gives him the phone number for a friend of a friend of a friend…
Up until this point I thought so far so good. I saw the dots, made the leap and thought I knew where this story was headed. But as the plot unfolded and the story moved on, I’m afraid it lost me.
I didn’t like the fast way Perry moved from one obsession to the other. One minute he’s mourning Bobby, can’t see past his dead lover and the next he’s chasing Marling down after one night with him, one night he knew was all there was to it..? That made for an unlikable character.
I didn’t like the way Marlin was viewed and introduced. Here we had a young “player” he wanted to get tricks nice and easy and return to his day job, only his day lob entailed him being a priest… Ugh, that was awkward, the way this was handled. I’m not a believer but I felt unsettled with the -oh so casual- use of this notion. Then again I do not like when people use priesthood/Church/romance in such manner. You want to use a priest in your work, do a nice research and proper development of the character, and in the end make me care for him, because frankly right now my thoughts for this particular character a way too low.
And I didn’t like Bobby at all. The nerve of him after what he did, dying of AIDS (oh the cliché) after having cheated his lover with who knows how many men, to actually be jealous. I would have loved some spine from Perry when confronting him, but well I would have loved many things different for this read.
As it was, it had nothing to hold my interest and not one character made me care leaving me in the end with a shaking head wondering what was the point of it. At least I’ll keep the first part of this story with me, which I admit was intriguing.
Thommie
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
This book started so promising. I thought it would be a romance with a bit of hilarity on the side, but that was not the case.
Perry has lost his beloved Bobby and is still grieving him. He can’t seem to move forward, being stuck on the fact that his lover is gone. This is being quite harmful to him though both mentally and professionally as his boss is not impressed with the fact that is being completely useless at work. In an attempt to help him she recommends him to go see a priest to help him move one, while his colleague gives him the phone number for a friend of a friend of a friend…
Up until this point I thought so far so good. I saw the dots, made the leap and thought I knew where this story was headed. But as the plot unfolded and the story moved on, I’m afraid it lost me.
I didn’t like the fast way Perry moved from one obsession to the other. One minute he’s mourning Bobby, can’t see past his dead lover and the next he’s chasing Marling down after one night with him, one night he knew was all there was to it..? That made for an unlikable character.
I didn’t like the way Marlin was viewed and introduced. Here we had a young “player” he wanted to get tricks nice and easy and return to his day job, only his day lob entailed him being a priest… Ugh, that was awkward, the way this was handled. I’m not a believer but I felt unsettled with the -oh so casual- use of this notion. Then again I do not like when people use priesthood/Church/romance in such manner. You want to use a priest in your work, do a nice research and proper development of the character, and in the end make me care for him, because frankly right now my thoughts for this particular character a way too low.
And I didn’t like Bobby at all. The nerve of him after what he did, dying of AIDS (oh the cliché) after having cheated his lover with who knows how many men, to actually be jealous. I would have loved some spine from Perry when confronting him, but well I would have loved many things different for this read.
As it was, it had nothing to hold my interest and not one character made me care leaving me in the end with a shaking head wondering what was the point of it. At least I’ll keep the first part of this story with me, which I admit was intriguing.
Thommie
November 24, 2009
It took me about an hour and a half to read this book. And while that may not seem like a long time, I could have spent it vacuuming my car instead.
The underline story is a good one. A man loses his love and struggles with moving on and whether he was right in doing so. But the author could not leave well enough alone! Nope. He decided to add the supernatural. Not only did it read fake and out of context, but it wasn't even well explored. All of a sudden it's thrown at you and none of the characters react to it, unless you call crying for two minutes a reaction. I love reading about the supernatural but everything has its place. AND THIS WAS NOT IT! Not even the priest in the story was overly concerned with lights flickering on and off and the temperature dipping more than 20 degrees in less than a minute. There was just no tie-in between the two stories.
But let's move on and talk about grammar and spelling. Now I am not naive. Spelling issues appear in every book as no one can catch everything. But seriously, the errors that appear in this book a second grader can identify! This is an example of an author who would prefer to say he has self-published many books rather that say he has self published 2 or 3 excellent ones. He is the reason indie authors can't get respect.
The underline story is a good one. A man loses his love and struggles with moving on and whether he was right in doing so. But the author could not leave well enough alone! Nope. He decided to add the supernatural. Not only did it read fake and out of context, but it wasn't even well explored. All of a sudden it's thrown at you and none of the characters react to it, unless you call crying for two minutes a reaction. I love reading about the supernatural but everything has its place. AND THIS WAS NOT IT! Not even the priest in the story was overly concerned with lights flickering on and off and the temperature dipping more than 20 degrees in less than a minute. There was just no tie-in between the two stories.
But let's move on and talk about grammar and spelling. Now I am not naive. Spelling issues appear in every book as no one can catch everything. But seriously, the errors that appear in this book a second grader can identify! This is an example of an author who would prefer to say he has self-published many books rather that say he has self published 2 or 3 excellent ones. He is the reason indie authors can't get respect.
January 10, 2009
M. Night Shyamalan Beware
By Timothy Mulder (Los Angeles, CA)
Grief is a terribly destructive thing.
Grieving while being haunted by your dead lover... who won't let you get laid, or even date... well that's just no fun.
Bobby's Trace is a hauntingly beautiful exposition of one man's failing sanity in the face of prolonged grief. Touching and terribly heart wrenching.
Added to the mix is a mysterious ghostly twist... I don't want to give the plot away... making this trip through pain a psychologically straining thriller that M Night Shyamalan would be proud of.
Re-read it twice to more fully appreciate the subtleties.
By Timothy Mulder (Los Angeles, CA)
Grief is a terribly destructive thing.
Grieving while being haunted by your dead lover... who won't let you get laid, or even date... well that's just no fun.
Bobby's Trace is a hauntingly beautiful exposition of one man's failing sanity in the face of prolonged grief. Touching and terribly heart wrenching.
Added to the mix is a mysterious ghostly twist... I don't want to give the plot away... making this trip through pain a psychologically straining thriller that M Night Shyamalan would be proud of.
Re-read it twice to more fully appreciate the subtleties.
February 15, 2019
Do you believe? What do others leave behind and can they touch us after they leave this world?
Perry Chaplin may be finding out the answers to those questions after his life partner, Bobby leaves this world. Interesting read, some bad language, but a story that will make you think.
Perry Chaplin may be finding out the answers to those questions after his life partner, Bobby leaves this world. Interesting read, some bad language, but a story that will make you think.
April 20, 2009
A beautifully drawn exploration of a young man's grief at the loss of his partner and his eventual resumption of life. Quite a few unexpected thrills and chills, which I will not reveal and spoil.
As usual, author Edward C. Patterson captures the heart of the emotions of his character and renders a finely drawn absorbing tale.
As usual, author Edward C. Patterson captures the heart of the emotions of his character and renders a finely drawn absorbing tale.
February 19, 2009
After losing his life partner to AIDS, Perry Chaplin struggles to move on. Work provides little solace; hiding his lifestyle from his unsupportive boss had always been stressful but after the loss of Bobby, working as an simple computer programmer holds little meaning for Perry. A co-worker suggests he get out and play the field, but Perry is reluctant. In his funk, Perry begins to notice odd happenings – pencils once broken mend themselves, rapid temperature changes occur in hotel rooms, and long lost items suddenly appear. Convinced he is slowly losing his grip on reality, Perry takes the plunge to meet someone new and get on with life.
Perry meets Marlin, a young good looking secretive man uninterested in a relationship but with whom Perry has several common interests including their enjoyment of Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic operas. After sharing an engaging dinner, Perry begins to think perhaps there is life after Bobby and subsequently decides to spend the night with Marlin. However, more than just Bobby’s memory haunts Perry. When strange happenings grow in their intensity, Marlin and Perry both wonder what forces beyond this world have in store for them.
Bobby’s Trace is a beautifully engaging look at life after the loss of a loved one. In Marlin and Perry, Patterson creates characters struggling to find their way in the world – one who must find meaning in life after love lost, the other who has found meaning but is not accepted for who he is in the calling he has chosen to follow. Without giving away very satisfying plot twists, Patterson creates a supernatural haunting story of two lovers and religious intolerance. Readers of all genres will find something special in this novel.
Perry meets Marlin, a young good looking secretive man uninterested in a relationship but with whom Perry has several common interests including their enjoyment of Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic operas. After sharing an engaging dinner, Perry begins to think perhaps there is life after Bobby and subsequently decides to spend the night with Marlin. However, more than just Bobby’s memory haunts Perry. When strange happenings grow in their intensity, Marlin and Perry both wonder what forces beyond this world have in store for them.
Bobby’s Trace is a beautifully engaging look at life after the loss of a loved one. In Marlin and Perry, Patterson creates characters struggling to find their way in the world – one who must find meaning in life after love lost, the other who has found meaning but is not accepted for who he is in the calling he has chosen to follow. Without giving away very satisfying plot twists, Patterson creates a supernatural haunting story of two lovers and religious intolerance. Readers of all genres will find something special in this novel.
March 11, 2010
In "Bobby's Trace," author Edward C. Patterson has created a ghost story with some rather unusual twists. Protagonist Perry Chaplin is just back after a bereavement leave disguised as a vacation. His partner, Bobby, has been gone a month at the time the book's events occur.
Perry's co-worker, Mary, tells him to go on a blind date and gives him a phone number. His boss, Mrs. Wickersham, tells him to go to church and see a priest.
When Perry dials the number for the blind date, he sets in motion a series of events with entertaining twists and turns. Bobby doesn't want to be dead, Perry's date turns out to be more than he bargained for ... and all of the plot points converge in an unexpected and compassionate manner.
Perry's co-worker, Mary, tells him to go on a blind date and gives him a phone number. His boss, Mrs. Wickersham, tells him to go to church and see a priest.
When Perry dials the number for the blind date, he sets in motion a series of events with entertaining twists and turns. Bobby doesn't want to be dead, Perry's date turns out to be more than he bargained for ... and all of the plot points converge in an unexpected and compassionate manner.
December 12, 2016
The story itself was good but I found myself skipping through parts just to get things moving. I'm glad it was short or I probably wouldn't have finished it.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews