A Jolly Good Fellow [Paperback]

Stephen V. Masse (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 26, 2007

Two weeks before Christmas, Duncan Wagner gets into his car for another attempt at kidnapping the son of his most despised enemy, State Representative Win Booker.
When he drives into the wealthy Boston suburb, he is surprised to find the boy hitchhiking. So begins Wagners quest for revenge as he finds himself face to face with a real boy, and without a clue about how to run a kidnapping. Wagner, a self-styled charity Santa Claus, comes to realize that eleven year old Gabriel Booker is truly a runaway, much more curious than scared. Gabriel has no idea who Duncan Wagner is or could be.
In an old apartment in downtown Boston, the odd pair makes an unforgettable team, providing each other with what they have been missing in life. Author Stephen V. Masse captures the friendship with a blend of suspense and humor, showing that love is a resource which can bring redemption to the most damaged souls.

A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW received the Silver Medal in the 2008 Independent Publishers Book Awards, Best Fiction Northeast Region.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Stephen V. Masse was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Educated at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, he studied writing and historical biography, and was the author of a weekly column, Out of Control. His first novel, Shadow Stealer, was published by Dillon Press in 1988. When not writing, he restores and renovates homes in the Boston area, and serves as an ambassador in the Santa Claus Anonymous fundraising benefit.

Product Details

• Paperback: 220 pages
• Publisher: Good Harbor Press; 1st edition (November 26, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 097996380X
• ISBN-13: 978-0979963803
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,132,924 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Stephen V. Masse was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He wrote his first practice novel at age 13, handwritten into a school composition book.

Educated at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, he studied creative writing, and was author of a weekly newspaper column, "Out of Control." His first novel for children, SHADOW STEALER, was published by Dillon Press in 1988. SHORT CIRCUS (Good Harbor Press, 2010) is his second novel for children. SHORT CIRCUS was awarded a 2012 Pinnacle Achievement Award in Juvenile Fiction.

His latest novel for children is THE TASTE OF SNOW (Good Harbor Press, 2011), which was awarded Honorable Mention in the 2011 New England Book Festival, the 2012 New York Book Festival, and the 2012 London Book Festival.

In addition to children's books, Masse has written A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW, winner of the Silver Medal in the 2008 Independent Publisher Book Awards, as well as honorable mention in the 2008 New England Book Festival for best books of the holiday season.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining, suspenceful... just plain fantastic December 15, 2007

By Paul Vasta

Format:Paperback

I'm not your average book reader, and to be completely honest, this is one of the very few books I've read since I was forced to in high school. I started reading this book chapter at a time, but as I got going, I realized I couldn't put it down. I finished it as quickly as I could with some questions in mind, but as soon as I hit the last few chapters, the few skepticisms I had were squashed by one of the most elaborate endings I think a story's ever seen. All questions were answered and the story ties perfectly together- beginning to end. This is a story that should be read by EVERYONE. Christmas, winter--any time is a good time to read this book. And being that I see more movies than I read books, I enthusiastically hope to see this book played out on the big screen someday. Bravo, Stephen. Bravo!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Literarily Book Reviews: A Jolly Good Fellow October 23, 2008

By Shana Schmadeke

Format:Paperback

In A Jolly Good Fellow, Stephen V. Masse gives us a truly heartwarming story that manages to avoid feeling light and fluffy or resorting to holiday clichés.

Duncan Wagner is a lovable, bumbling criminal. Masse puts the reader right inside Duncan's head and it is impossible not to like him, as we see his mixed emotions about the kidnapping, the easy-going affection he quickly comes to feel for sweet Gabriel, how he acts tough and gruff to cover it up. This book may be about a kidnapping, but it isn't dark or menacing in any way. Duncan's half-hearted, often naive approach to the crime he is commiting prevents that, and it is obvious from the start that Duncan would never physically harm Gabriel.

The novel is narrated by Duncan in the first person. The highly readable narrative gives a distinct flavor to the book. Duncan's dialect evokes hard-scrabble, working class Boston perfectly.

Masse's plot is subtlely intricate and perfectly paced. Though I knew Gabriel wouldn't be hurt and would ultimately be returned to his parents, Masse kept me guessing until the end about Duncan's fate. Would he get the ransom money he sought? Or would he get caught?

A Jolly Good Fellow can be read and enjoyed regardless of the season and whether you celebrate Christmas or not. That said, it would make a perfect holiday read for anyone who loves a great story with characters you won't want to say good-bye to when you turn the last page.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Jolly Good Fellow is a Jolly Good Read October 9, 2008

By Bobbi Rightmyer

Format:Paperback

With just two weeks before Christmas, Duncan Wagner makes the decision to kidnap the son of his most despised enemy, State Representative Win Booker. When he drives into the wealthy Boston neighborhood to carry out his plan, he is surprised to find the boy - Gabriel - hitchhiking. This is where Wagner's quest for revenge begins as he finds himself face to face with a real boy and no clue about how to run a kidnapping. This story captures the true motives behind an unpredictable kidnapping

Gabriel doesn't appear upset by his apparent kidnapping and even after have several opportunities to escape he chooses to remain with Duncan. The boy begins to develop a close relationship with Duncan, and helps him in the kidnapping process. On the surface this sounds like a case of Stockholm syndrome, but underneath you discover a little boy who is only angry at his parents. Mr. Masse's description of the friendship between a young child and a lonely adult is heartwarming. Gabriel is a multi-faceted character, one who loves reading books and tries to eat a vegetarian diet, but he still wets the bed at night.

Stephen Masse does a great job of taking a man and a boy from very different backgrounds and developing them into heartwarming characters. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys good stories with unpredictable endings. A Jolly Good Fellow is the winner of the Silver Medal in the 2008 Independent Publisher Book Awards.