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Mr. Abernathy
In 1944, Willy Horvitz was a brilliant young physicist, coerced into leading a Nazi research effort to design a revolutionary new weapon. Haunted throughout his life by the tragic loss of his mother, Willy hoped the loss wouldn’t be repeated if the personal secrets of those he held dear were revealed.
In 2008, Parker Dundee is a brilliant young professor. Sifting through the possessions of his recently deceased father, he discovers the man was more than a mid-level State Department bureaucrat. The deeper Parker gets into the labyrinth of his father’s work, the more attention he draws from sinister quarters.
Tying them together is the elusive “Abernathy”; a name known only through enigmatic references in scattered documents. His identity and secrets are of high interest to the CIA, Russian thugs, and a strange band of men known only as The Joneses.
Determined to know who his father really was, Parker must first try to solve a larger and more dangerous puzzle: who was Mr. Abernathy?
In 2008, Parker Dundee is a brilliant young professor. Sifting through the possessions of his recently deceased father, he discovers the man was more than a mid-level State Department bureaucrat. The deeper Parker gets into the labyrinth of his father’s work, the more attention he draws from sinister quarters.
Tying them together is the elusive “Abernathy”; a name known only through enigmatic references in scattered documents. His identity and secrets are of high interest to the CIA, Russian thugs, and a strange band of men known only as The Joneses.
Determined to know who his father really was, Parker must first try to solve a larger and more dangerous puzzle: who was Mr. Abernathy?
207 pages, Paperback
First published October 10, 2008
26 people want to read
About the author
Tony Delgrosso
1 book27 followersTony Delgrosso is a freelance writer and lives in Western New York.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 12, 2010
Very clever mystery that takes place in both 1944 and 2008. Espionage, intrigue, physics, and Russian thugs all play a part in the "solution," if you can call it such. The elusive Mr. Abernathy is key to unraveling exactly what is, or what was, going on.
I read quickly the first time because I wanted to know what was going on and how everything would tie together.
A second read made me realize how amazing this book truly is and I can't wait for Mr. Delgrosso's next published works (because I know there will be many more).
Highly recommend this to everyone!
I read quickly the first time because I wanted to know what was going on and how everything would tie together.
A second read made me realize how amazing this book truly is and I can't wait for Mr. Delgrosso's next published works (because I know there will be many more).
Highly recommend this to everyone!
October 14, 2009
Tony Delgrosso has created believable, likable yet mysterious characters and very interesting situations, both current and historical. He continually ramps up the suspense, making it difficult to put the book down. And the twist at the end is oh so satisfying.
Mr. Abernathy is a lovely story and very well written, and I can't wait for Mr. Delgrosso's next book.
Mr. Abernathy is a lovely story and very well written, and I can't wait for Mr. Delgrosso's next book.
April 19, 2013
Ingenious and haunting metaphysical/sci-fi concept. Didn't see the ending coming, couldn't put the book down. Characters not as fully fleshed out as one would hope, but the propulsion of the plot kept me reading anyway.
September 8, 2009
I don't write enough reviews on BookReads. Sometimes it's too easy to just click the stars and move on. But I'd been planning to plug this book on my own site, and figured it'd be worth adding my two cents here as well.
I was excited to see Delgrosso release this book after following it in episodic form on his website. After a topsy-turvy few months earlier this year, I finally had a chance to sit down and read it through over the course of a weekend this past summer.
Delgrosso takes some of the classic thriller elements (Secret Nazi research, time travel, and [maybe?:] UFO technology) and crafts an enjoyable, engaging book out of them. The structure of the story -- alternating between the past and the present -- pace the mystery, giving us enough at each step to want to know more, without revealing too much so that we lose interest.
If you're a compulsive figure-it-out-before-the-end reader, then "Abernathy" will give you a chance to second-guess the author along the way. At one point, I "got" a big reveal before it happened. But only once. Delgrosso follows the magician's dictum of "Hide in plain sight" and lets the story lead you where it will.
One of the things I like best about this book is how easy it was to read and enjoy for its own merits. Delgrosso doesn't overload what is, in essence, an enjoyable science fiction/mystery with a heavier hand or commentary. And he doesn't let the science overshadow the story itself.
Although there are some unanswered (or unresolved) questions in the story -- I loved Delgrosso's take on the classic Men In Black mythology, and I loved it that he didn't spoon feed us an explanation -- it's ultimately satisfying. And I respect that he didn't build in an obvious sequel . . . although I'll read it if he ever writes it.
You can pick it up through http://www.misterabernathy.com/ (I was lucky enough to get an autographed copy direct from Delgrosso last year, so maybe you can too if you ask nicely enough.)
I was excited to see Delgrosso release this book after following it in episodic form on his website. After a topsy-turvy few months earlier this year, I finally had a chance to sit down and read it through over the course of a weekend this past summer.
Delgrosso takes some of the classic thriller elements (Secret Nazi research, time travel, and [maybe?:] UFO technology) and crafts an enjoyable, engaging book out of them. The structure of the story -- alternating between the past and the present -- pace the mystery, giving us enough at each step to want to know more, without revealing too much so that we lose interest.
If you're a compulsive figure-it-out-before-the-end reader, then "Abernathy" will give you a chance to second-guess the author along the way. At one point, I "got" a big reveal before it happened. But only once. Delgrosso follows the magician's dictum of "Hide in plain sight" and lets the story lead you where it will.
One of the things I like best about this book is how easy it was to read and enjoy for its own merits. Delgrosso doesn't overload what is, in essence, an enjoyable science fiction/mystery with a heavier hand or commentary. And he doesn't let the science overshadow the story itself.
Although there are some unanswered (or unresolved) questions in the story -- I loved Delgrosso's take on the classic Men In Black mythology, and I loved it that he didn't spoon feed us an explanation -- it's ultimately satisfying. And I respect that he didn't build in an obvious sequel . . . although I'll read it if he ever writes it.
You can pick it up through http://www.misterabernathy.com/ (I was lucky enough to get an autographed copy direct from Delgrosso last year, so maybe you can too if you ask nicely enough.)
September 21, 2009
Hopefully I'll remember to come back and write a full review when I'm not sitting in my car at the college parking lot between classes. Meanwhile, I will simply say that the last thirty pages gave me goosebumps. This book was a blast to read, and I don't just say that because I adore the author. Pleeease go buy a copy or three!
March 7, 2010
This is an excellent book. An easy read, with many twists and turns. I found myself really feeling for the characters and caring about how they end up. This book has everything: mystery, romance, science, and Nazis. Loved the ending.
I highly recommend this book.
I highly recommend this book.
July 24, 2009
An intriguing read blending sci-fi and a bit of alternate history. I liked the storyline, even if it was a bit predictable, and I liked the characters. I'm really glad I got to read it.
Want to Read
January 19, 2010Just ordered.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews