William Bertram’s Reviews > Little Heaven > Status Update
William Bertram
is 25% done
"Micah and The Englishman had been pointing their guns at each other for the better part of three and one half ours. During this time, they had walked across the street to the coffee shop to discuss the ethics and motivations of ruthless killers. Then over to the barbershop for a shave and a haircut. Then, at the insistence of The Englishman, to the only high-end tailor in the ghost town to replace Micah's pants."
— Aug 04, 2025 06:54AM
Like flag
William’s Previous Updates
William Bertram
is 25% done
I'm starting to have serious doubts about the capabilities of the three assassins. Flaws as necessary for relatable characters, but why are they not able to assemble a camping tent?
“I’ll sleep outside!” Eb yelled, hurling a pole into the trees. “Bugger it all! I’ll sleep outside like a dog! Ellen helped the men get their tent up. She worked quickly but deftly, shooing the men aside so she could work unencumbered."
— Aug 05, 2025 06:41AM
“I’ll sleep outside!” Eb yelled, hurling a pole into the trees. “Bugger it all! I’ll sleep outside like a dog! Ellen helped the men get their tent up. She worked quickly but deftly, shooing the men aside so she could work unencumbered."
William Bertram
is 25% done
I think we can only deduce that since Micah fought in the Korean war would have gravitated toward an M1911 since both America and Korea used this pistol, and it was already chambered for .45 ACP, which Micah seems to prefer. He would likely already have training and experience with the M1911.
Maybe his preference for the TT will be explained later.
— Aug 04, 2025 10:41AM
Maybe his preference for the TT will be explained later.
William Bertram
is 25% done
I also have to wonder why a professional like Micah who, by his own admission, relies more on combat reflexes than marksmanship, would select a pistol like the TT that is known for accidentally releasing the magazine.
Even if that were not a known defect, why the TT? Micah was in the American military:
"Micah’s commander. Beechwood was the classic southern dandy."
1953 was the Korean war, and Korea use the M1911.
— Aug 04, 2025 10:22AM
Even if that were not a known defect, why the TT? Micah was in the American military:
"Micah’s commander. Beechwood was the classic southern dandy."
1953 was the Korean war, and Korea use the M1911.
William Bertram
is 25% done
Just in case anyone wondered about this.
"Both guns were highly modified. Russian Tokarevs bored out to chamber .45 rounds."
"He exited the gun shop with three boxes of 7.62 mm cartridges."
Micah, a professional assassin specializing in pistols, renders his weapons incapable of firing 7.62, then buys 7.62 ammo for them. LOL.
I think this is an obvious mistake, since the Tokarev's original configuration is 7.62.
— Aug 04, 2025 09:59AM
"Both guns were highly modified. Russian Tokarevs bored out to chamber .45 rounds."
"He exited the gun shop with three boxes of 7.62 mm cartridges."
Micah, a professional assassin specializing in pistols, renders his weapons incapable of firing 7.62, then buys 7.62 ammo for them. LOL.
I think this is an obvious mistake, since the Tokarev's original configuration is 7.62.
William Bertram
is 25% done
I'd also like to point out the similarities between Micah Shughrue and the character Anton Chigurh from the movie No Country for Old Men. Aside from their names being similar, both are apex assassins guided by a seemingly incomprehensible moral code.
“A thing is only done once Micah Shughrue has rendered it so, and it is he alone who concludes when those ends have been met."
— Aug 04, 2025 07:04AM
“A thing is only done once Micah Shughrue has rendered it so, and it is he alone who concludes when those ends have been met."
William Bertram
is 25% done
The storytelling and writing are good so far, but the book suffers from excessive monologuing. Trained killers who want to have an entire conversation before doing the deed. I've read about this technique, referred to as "slowing down time," or "stretching the tension." Action seems to be a better fit for characters who have structured every aspect of their lives to be "the ultimate assassin
— Aug 04, 2025 06:30AM