One of the great pleasures to be derived from reading fiction is that of discovery. There are so many different genres to be explored. And while I’m delighted when certain reliable writers put out new books, there’s something especially exciting about finding compelling novels written by writers who are complete unknowns.
One recent find is “The Wowzer” by Frank Wheeler Jr. According to Wheeler’s biography, he was born in Memphis, and his father was a preacher. He has lived many places. At the moment he teaches at a community college in Nebraska. Just 33 years old, this is his first book.
The story unfolds in rural Madison County, Ark. The “Wowzer” of the title is a predatory monster of legend that reputedly lurks in the wilds of the Ozarks. This jagged tale is narrated by Jerry, a corrupt Madison County sheriff’s deputy.
Madison County has a thriving illegal agricultural industry; marijuana cultivation. Jerry and his boss, Sheriff Tom Haskell, are charged with enforcing the laws there. They spend lots of time providing protection for the criminals running these marijuana operations.
It will not take the reader long to discern that Deputy Jerry is a very peculiar fellow. Sheriff Haskell expects Jerry to fulfill official, lethal duties. Jerry seems to lack an essential trait that most of us possess; a conscience. He doesn’t appear to have one.
And while Jerry seems quite fearless, he is utterly terrified of dogs. He won’t go near them. Whenever he meets someone he silently evaluates them in cop speak like this: “Evelyn Bowden, white female, 5’ 7”, 140 lbs, white hair that used to be blonde, faded blue eyes.”
About 10 pages in to “The Wowzer” we have the realization that Jerry, this rustic sociopath, loves Maggie, an emergency room doctor. This odd pairing was the result of a chance meeting. Jerry explains that “three years ago I pulled her out of a burnin’ car.” And he has told Maggie: “Well. You see. The Wowzer lives up in them woods. He’s real big an’ like a panther, but it’s hard to say for sure, ‘cause hardly anyone ever sees him.”
Maggie’s brother John is a psychiatrist over at Huntsville. When Jerry was a teenager, he was involved in an incident that required professional care. At that time, John wrote a diagnosis of “conduct disorder” on Jerry’s chart. Four years later, John had yet another opportunity to study Jerry.
Jerry is concerned that John will tell Maggie the facts about his violent youth. When Jerry’s dark history is eventually revealed to her, she runs as far away from him as she can. Then he searches for her and when he finds her, he starts to stalk her. Is this love? Or is Jerry acting like that primitive predatory monster; the Wowzer?
But things are not as they appear. Deputy Jerry is this creepy stalker who could be on the verge of doing something horrible. He is playing this nervy high stakes game with his boss, Sheriff Haskell, and by extension, with the criminal syndicate.
As the author metes out each stray clue about Jerry’s tortured past we feel conflicted. We begin to sympathize with this stone cold killer. That is quite a feat.
“The Wowzer” is a profane, violent, strangely captivating romance. Jerry is unlikely, amazing, even absurdly impossible — this cuddly sociopath. The book was published by Thomas and Mercer, Amazon.com’s new mystery imprint.
Vick Mickunas of Yellow Springs interviews authors every Friday at 1:30 p.m. and on Sundays at 11 a.m. on WYSO-FM (91.3). For more information, go online to www.wyso.org/programs/book-nook. Contact him at vick@vickmickunas.com.
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