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Swept Away
Writer Dennis McCutcheon is facing the loss of his job at a small Pennsylvania university while coping with the aftereffects of a bitter divorce. But when his alma mater Wayne State University offers to produce one of his plays, Swept Away, the news seems like the solution to all his problems.
From there, Dennis falls almost immediately into a love affair with a beautiful married woman, only to suddenly find himself mugged on a Detroit street, then suspected of killing his lover's husband. His luck is coming at a price, and he begins to suspect he may be the pawn in a clever murder plot centering on sex and money.
Filled with pop culture references, and spiced by possible paranormal activities, Arnie Johnston's Swept Away is a raucous and unpredictable adventure unfolding amid Detroit neighborhoods and landmarks, a page-turning story questioning all the while America's preoccupation with fame and fortune.
From there, Dennis falls almost immediately into a love affair with a beautiful married woman, only to suddenly find himself mugged on a Detroit street, then suspected of killing his lover's husband. His luck is coming at a price, and he begins to suspect he may be the pawn in a clever murder plot centering on sex and money.
Filled with pop culture references, and spiced by possible paranormal activities, Arnie Johnston's Swept Away is a raucous and unpredictable adventure unfolding amid Detroit neighborhoods and landmarks, a page-turning story questioning all the while America's preoccupation with fame and fortune.
- GenresFiction
256 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 1, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 2, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this just-published novel. It is a murder mystery, with real danger for the protagonist, Dennis McCutcheon, a playwright, actor, and teacher at a fictional Pennsylvania university, who is appropriately concerned and uncomfortable at his chances for tenure. His office mate and good friend, Eileen Moriarty, is a film scholar who has achieved tenure. The first part of the book is a marvelous sendup of the academic world, which provides an endless supply of comic material with the oh-so-clever senior faculty.
Unexpectedly, he gets a notice from his alma mater, Wayne State University, that they would like to do his recent play, Swept Away. The action moves to Detroit, all proceeds well with the play but complications abound. He is mugged and injured at night just after a successful and well-received opening. The action picks up more speed, entanglements emerge, and there is real physical danger until the final pages.
The book is always amusing, and often very funny with clever repartee and dialogue, frequent references to films and other plays, and direct quotes that fit the moment. There are serious portions about the art of creative writing, but this is mainly a tight murder mystery with momentum and tension that carries to the final pages. Yet, the novel is so much more, as every page is carefully written and demands that the reader slow down and enjoy the craft and the sharp dialogue. The setting in Detroit is thoroughly explored with many locations serving as background for the changing scenes, so much so that it makes me want to know the city of Detroit better. This book is a delight, and you will not regret adding it to your library. Sit back and get swept away……
Unexpectedly, he gets a notice from his alma mater, Wayne State University, that they would like to do his recent play, Swept Away. The action moves to Detroit, all proceeds well with the play but complications abound. He is mugged and injured at night just after a successful and well-received opening. The action picks up more speed, entanglements emerge, and there is real physical danger until the final pages.
The book is always amusing, and often very funny with clever repartee and dialogue, frequent references to films and other plays, and direct quotes that fit the moment. There are serious portions about the art of creative writing, but this is mainly a tight murder mystery with momentum and tension that carries to the final pages. Yet, the novel is so much more, as every page is carefully written and demands that the reader slow down and enjoy the craft and the sharp dialogue. The setting in Detroit is thoroughly explored with many locations serving as background for the changing scenes, so much so that it makes me want to know the city of Detroit better. This book is a delight, and you will not regret adding it to your library. Sit back and get swept away……
May 20, 2021
Good book
I enjoyed listening to this book. I think other people will like to read this book too. Very good i
I enjoyed listening to this book. I think other people will like to read this book too. Very good i
July 20, 2021
If you enjoyed Richard Russo's "Straight Man" or "Moo" by Jane Smiley, you'll love Arnold Johnston's "Swept Away". Set in the worlds of academia and theater, this fine book shines and bright and amusing light on both. Brimming with witty dialogue, likable characters, and a complex plot, it has all the characteristics of a bestseller—smart, engaging and enticingly readable. A winner in every sense.
June 12, 2021
Not many authors make me laugh out loud, but the banter in this novel had me in stitches. I thoroughly recommend not only as a good murder mystery but as escapism.
July 29, 2021
When Dennis, a playwright, gets an invitation to return to Detroit to see his play performed at a college, he gets attacked and becomes involved in a murder mystery.
This novel develops the characters well and the banter between Dennis and his office mate, Eileen is humorous. The mystery is developed slowly and carefully, but builds to a very exciting climax.
I really enjoyed reading this book.Thanks to Goodreads giveaway for this ebook. I would definitely read more by this author, especially if it involves Dennis and Eileen.
This novel develops the characters well and the banter between Dennis and his office mate, Eileen is humorous. The mystery is developed slowly and carefully, but builds to a very exciting climax.
I really enjoyed reading this book.Thanks to Goodreads giveaway for this ebook. I would definitely read more by this author, especially if it involves Dennis and Eileen.
October 2, 2021
Liked this one, but didn't love it.
Read
June 26, 2021I received an ARC in a Goodreads giveaway.
This novel was trying to do a lot of things. It seemed to start as a satire of academia, which thankfully was brief, then turned to a ghost story, then turned to a mystery, then a play, and then maybe a romance? There’s nothing wrong with any of those things, but it didn’t fully gel together for me. I was a lot more interested in the play than anything else. Those characters and that plot could make for an interesting novel. Even though I struggled to follow the plot, the dialogue was often snappy and I enjoyed the comic one-liners.
This novel was trying to do a lot of things. It seemed to start as a satire of academia, which thankfully was brief, then turned to a ghost story, then turned to a mystery, then a play, and then maybe a romance? There’s nothing wrong with any of those things, but it didn’t fully gel together for me. I was a lot more interested in the play than anything else. Those characters and that plot could make for an interesting novel. Even though I struggled to follow the plot, the dialogue was often snappy and I enjoyed the comic one-liners.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews