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Gramps
Gramps is a congenial older doctor with an almost magical touch with the sick children he treats. Doctor Hamilton is well beyond the formal retirement age, and as what is believed to be his seventy-fifth birthday approaches, there is concern that he will be retiring, leaving the hospital short of it's most capable doctor.
But Gramps is more than anyone realizes, and he isn't seventy-five, but in fact is considerably older. Those who dabble in magic, however limited their skills, tend to live extended lives. His unique abilities as a doctor reflect years of learning and experience plus an added ingredient that no one suspects. Something that was bequeathed to him by the remarkable Book he had acquired in his youth.
Then, unexpectedly, young Paul Hamilton, the son of Gramps' closest relatives, is kidnapped from his school and held for ransom. Neither the kidnappers, nor the FBI agents assigned to finding and saving young Paul, are aware that Gramps has several reasons for wanting Paul to be found unharmed. The kidnappers could never understand the trouble they have caused themselves as Gramps inserts himself into the rescue attempt, and using is unique abilities manages to bring the boy home safely.
But the FBI finds evidence that there are more members to the kidnapping group than originally suspected, who may still represent a threat. Gramps begins to worry that the real reasons for the kidnapping were not as believed, and that other members of the family might be at risk, including possibly himself from a group the police and Feds would never suspect.
The situation becomes more confusing when someone with powers much like Gramps' own abilities is spotted at the school that Paul attends, forcing Gramps to take more extreme measures to resolve the situation. The effort reveals more to Gramps about himself and his talents than he had ever been aware of before.
But Gramps is more than anyone realizes, and he isn't seventy-five, but in fact is considerably older. Those who dabble in magic, however limited their skills, tend to live extended lives. His unique abilities as a doctor reflect years of learning and experience plus an added ingredient that no one suspects. Something that was bequeathed to him by the remarkable Book he had acquired in his youth.
Then, unexpectedly, young Paul Hamilton, the son of Gramps' closest relatives, is kidnapped from his school and held for ransom. Neither the kidnappers, nor the FBI agents assigned to finding and saving young Paul, are aware that Gramps has several reasons for wanting Paul to be found unharmed. The kidnappers could never understand the trouble they have caused themselves as Gramps inserts himself into the rescue attempt, and using is unique abilities manages to bring the boy home safely.
But the FBI finds evidence that there are more members to the kidnapping group than originally suspected, who may still represent a threat. Gramps begins to worry that the real reasons for the kidnapping were not as believed, and that other members of the family might be at risk, including possibly himself from a group the police and Feds would never suspect.
The situation becomes more confusing when someone with powers much like Gramps' own abilities is spotted at the school that Paul attends, forcing Gramps to take more extreme measures to resolve the situation. The effort reveals more to Gramps about himself and his talents than he had ever been aware of before.
219 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 24, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 15, 2022
I'm disappointed
A problem here is that Mr Blink is such a good writer that this rating is based more upon what he can do rather than some absolute scale appropriate for most authors. To start, the story is too short. There is the problem of the sighted man in a village of the blind. He can so out maneuver those without his skill that it is almost too easy. So Gramps is a self taught wizard who has been by himself for two hundred years when he discovers a nephew with the same skills. He's also disturbed by his experience with other mages that mysteriously die because of apparent "hunters" seeming to be eliminating those with the "gift". With this as a foundation, the nephew is kidnapped, and Gramps seeks to rescue him before Gramps' worst fears become reality. Fun short story, but collapses at the end because Gramps is unbeatable. Editing is poor. There are wrong articles like "a" v "an". Nobody gets that wrong. Sometimes there are verb subject agreement problems. One amusing problem was the difference between murder and murderer. All these problems are clearly due to incomplete rewrites where the original writing was about an airplane, but later became about a cramped airplane. Overall, I wouldn't trashcan the book, but it is a disappointment in light of Mr Blink's prior writings.
A problem here is that Mr Blink is such a good writer that this rating is based more upon what he can do rather than some absolute scale appropriate for most authors. To start, the story is too short. There is the problem of the sighted man in a village of the blind. He can so out maneuver those without his skill that it is almost too easy. So Gramps is a self taught wizard who has been by himself for two hundred years when he discovers a nephew with the same skills. He's also disturbed by his experience with other mages that mysteriously die because of apparent "hunters" seeming to be eliminating those with the "gift". With this as a foundation, the nephew is kidnapped, and Gramps seeks to rescue him before Gramps' worst fears become reality. Fun short story, but collapses at the end because Gramps is unbeatable. Editing is poor. There are wrong articles like "a" v "an". Nobody gets that wrong. Sometimes there are verb subject agreement problems. One amusing problem was the difference between murder and murderer. All these problems are clearly due to incomplete rewrites where the original writing was about an airplane, but later became about a cramped airplane. Overall, I wouldn't trashcan the book, but it is a disappointment in light of Mr Blink's prior writings.
July 24, 2025
Enjoyable nice twists
Enjoyable reading time with good plot and characters. In the end and overall it was human characteristics. Not to give it away but if liked the overview of book this is worth the read. Yes could definitely be another book but did close most plots from the beginning. I have read several books by author and will read more of them if like the overview!
Enjoyable reading time with good plot and characters. In the end and overall it was human characteristics. Not to give it away but if liked the overview of book this is worth the read. Yes could definitely be another book but did close most plots from the beginning. I have read several books by author and will read more of them if like the overview!
February 6, 2022
Gramps
This a book that with its excellent writing will be a big hit. It has a great plot and storyline that I liked.
This a book that with its excellent writing will be a big hit. It has a great plot and storyline that I liked.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews