Police Detective Feels Sorry For Killer in John Roynesdal's Mystery, 'Living In Darkness'

John Roynesdal's mystery, "Living In Darkness", explores the world of hate-crimes and their consequences and posits the disturbing question: "Can revenge be justifiable?"

(PRWEB) June 19, 2005 -- The killer would be ecstatic, since he, a.k.a. The Executioner, blames the victims for what happened. What’s going on? The police pleading on behalf of murderers? Has our worst nightmare come true? John Roynesdal, in his recent mystery novel, Living In Darkness, tests his reader’s faith in the system, leaving him to experience the horror of the crimes and the lies and distortions of others involved in the case and, in the end - after hearing the confession - to judge the culprit for himself.

“I was planning on just beating them up, and then turning them in to the cops,” says the executioner, “but because of what they did, well, I just snapped.”

When the reader finds out the reason, he, too, might sympathize with the detective, Paul Noa, of the Special Division Detective Team, Honolulu Police Department. Even detective Carnegie of the SDDT, listening to the killer’s confession, realizes: “There was no fear in his eyes. No remorse. Nothing. They seemed empty of light.” And the close friend of the team members, Juliana Smith, who runs a shelter for young gay runaways in the basement of her church, wonders about the killer: “He burned down my church. Why? What possible reason could he have had?”

Young gay runaways, homophobic church-goers blind to the realities that surround them, and a notorious gang - The Gang Of Four – terrorizing Honolulu make up part of the fabric of Roynesdal’s mystery, "Living In Darkness." The main thread is the investigation itself that the team undertakes to find the executioner and stop him before he strikes again. The team of four detectives, which include George Maikai’moku, and Nick Keone, investigate leads that take them from the monied heights of Tantalus (the volcanic slope that overlooks Honolulu) to the sordid depths of Hotel Street in Chinatown, and the world of the young gay runaway.

In a recent review, G. A. Bixler of IP Book Reviewers said, “Mr. Roynesdal has created a number of heart-wrenching minor characters that become all too real to the reader. 'Living In Darkness' is a suspense-packed exciting ‘whodunit.’”

Lillian Brummet of Bookideas.com said, “This book promotes freedom and a willingness to live and let live regarding sexuality. The story line definitely brings awareness to the hateful and disgusting crime of gay-bashing.”

For more information about this work, or for a book to review, visit Roynesdal’s Website, www.carnegiemysteries.com, or address him directly at arnoldp003@hawaii.rr.com.

Title of book: Living In Darkness.
ISBN#: 1-4116-2670-2
Pages: 261
Price: $13.00
Publisher: LuLu.com.
Available at Amazon.com, BN.com and Borders.com

Contact:
John A. Roynesdal

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