Stand Up Eight: a Novel Confession

by David Ratner

Stand Up Eight is a genuine, keenly felt coming of age story, subtly interwoven with a stunning murder mystery that will leave you both shocked, and grateful for the possibility of redemption. Daniel Waite was once notorious for a crime he didn’t commit. But now, he wants to confess, to tell us what really happened. To do that, he brings us back through the labyrinth of his past to meet his explosive father Jake, his tender but overmatched mother Betty, his rebellious runaway sister Nat, and his younger brother Eli, too innocent for the turbulent world around him. Along the way we encounter the glamorous Elsa DiCarlo, the angels of the night, and the enigmatic Blue Boy, a fantastical but very real co-conspirator who may have all the answers Daniel is looking for. The family is full of suspects, as well as potential victims of the crime, and Daniel is seeking out, in the story he reveals, the courage to unbury the truth he’s walled up for years.

160 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 8, 2021

Reviews

[Zane]

A great book with an interesting conflict.

[Sparrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is well written!
It immerses you in the characters' lives and makes you feel like you really know them, while holding you in suspense with the promise of an axe over their head. When the axe arrives, it still bites despite the anticipation.
The narrator manages to have the simple honest feel of the child they start out as, as well as the wisdom of the person looking back and retelling through hindsight. All of their emotions are relatable, and sometimes they find the words you never were able to.
Definitely recommend!