Reap the Whirlwind [Paperback]

Josh Aterovis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 5, 2003

"Nothing can stay the same forever. We get in trouble in life when we think it can and will. Everything changes, or as King Solomon said in the Bible and The Byrds sang in the 60’s, to everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven. It’s not a particularly easy lesson to learn, or a fun one for that matter. I learned it the summer between high school and college, and my life would never be the same."

Will's life is changing so quickly he can’t keep up. He's moving out of his parents' home for the first time, changing careers, making new friends, and falling in love with the person he least expected. In the process, he’s also learning a lot about himself. As if he doesn't have enough going on, his life-long best friend dies in what appears to be a drunken accident. But when Will receives a note hinting that it may not have been an accident after all, he finds that he can't rest until he knows the truth. With the help of Killian Kendall and his friends, Will begins an amateur investigation that will result in even more death. Will thought the biggest changes were behind him, but they had only just begun.

Reap the Whirlwind blends a coming-of-age story and mystery with a powerful love story. It is the winner of two Gay Writers Guild awards.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Aterovis' first novel, Bleeding Hearts, won well-deserved recognition, including the 2002 Whodunit Award. Reap the Whirlwind warrants special notice, too. -- Just About Write Magazine, May 2003

About the Author

Josh Aterovis, a twenty-something artist-author, was born and bred on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and lives there with his partner, Jon. Aterovis is a Latin pseudonym meaning "black sheep."

Whenever anyone asked Josh what he wanted to be when he grew up, he always said an author. It got him plenty of strange looks, but he never really expected it to come true; it was just one of those things a kid says. In 1999, Josh’s wishful dream became reality when he began to write a story and post it on the Internet. Bleeding Hearts resonated deeply with readers who encouraged him to seek publication, and in 2001, the story was published by Renaissance Alliance Publishing, Inc. Named the Best Whodunit of 2002 by the Stonewall Society, Bleeding Hearts became the first book in the Killian Kendall mystery series.

Reap the Whirlwind, his second book featuring amateur sleuth Killian Kendall, is available as of May 5th, 2003. Josh has completed four books in the series and is currently working on the fifth. He has won numerous awards for his writing and for his web site, which also features his well-received art gallery.

In Josh’s own words, "I want to make a difference in the lives of other gay people. I want to let them know that they are not alone and they are of worth. It was a message I never received until I was an adult, and I think it’s very important to hear, especially for teens struggling with their identity. In my writing, I wanted to present a lifestyle that wasn't morally bankrupt and was, in fact, quite normal. I hope my characters shine through as people first, with their sexuality of lesser importance."

Product Details

• Paperback: 260 pages
• Publisher: Regal Crest Enterprises; First Printing edition (May 5, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932300058
• ISBN-13: 978-1932300055
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,758,672 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Josh Aterovis has published four books in the Killian Kendall mystery series. His first book, Bleeding Hearts, introduced gay teen sleuth Killian Kendall, and won several awards, including the Whodunit Award from the StoneWall Society. He followed up by winning the Whodunit Award again the following year for Reap the Whirlwind. The third book in the series, All Lost Things, was a finalist for the 2010 Lambda Literary Awards for Gay Mystery. The Truth of Yesterday is fourth in the series.

Aterovis was born and raised on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where his books are set. He now lives in Baltimore, MD.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another well-done, award-winning whodunit, July 27, 2003

By 

Jack D. (New London, NH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Reap the Whirlwind (Paperback)

I have greatly enjoyed Josh's work, and Reap the Whirlwind is no exception. This is his best work to date. A roller-coaster ride of deep characters and wild events that spin almost out of control, this story holds together in its sheer grounding in the real, the possible, and the things we sometimes fear most in ourselves. With characters who are very real and well-developed, watching the growth of old characters and revelling in new ones makes this work worthwhile already... add the twisting plot that leaves readers breathless until the last page, and you have a masterpiece of fiction.

Josh raises the question of just how far a person would go to protect the ones they love? Would they murder in cold blood for them? This book looks at that and many other questions in a deeply moving, emotionally shocking story that leaves the reader yearning for more.

Keep the tissues nearby!

I am anxiously awaiting the next installment of the Killian Kendall series. Keep them coming, Josh!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good But A Little Too Cute, March 26, 2004

By 

"u-konn-dann" (Storrs, CT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Reap the Whirlwind (Paperback)

This has all the elements of a mystery with the required body turning up on time and the killing is resolved, but that seems a secondary function of the story and an effort to tie it in with Aterovis' first novel and a series he plans. The murder is almost window dressing for everything else. Essentially I read this as a character study, and a very good one, of a young man coming out, coming to grips with himself, and growing up.

Aterovis uses language well and expresses himself clearly, and his people become real. He paces the story nicely. He packs in details that let the characters and scenes come to life. Unfortunately, he is very conscious that he wants to build A Role Model with Will and a few of his other characters, and they are presented almost without flaws. They are a little too perfect, have all the `correct' ideas and views in everything, and lose credibility after awhile. There are a few scenes here that are like an old movie; gauze on the lens for that fuzzy look, heavenly choirs in the background, etc. The tendency to preach wears thin, and that's where Whirlwind looses points. I have a problem with perfect characters because people ain't. I hesitated between 3 and 4 stars for this reason, but there are no half points in this system. Still, Whirlwind is a good read and I won't hesitate to pick up another book from Aterovis... I just hope he tones down the PC stuff.

The author maintains a large, interesting and informative website worth visiting.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Book, a must read, June 30, 2003

By 

Deano (Birmingham, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Reap the Whirlwind (Paperback)

I stumbled upon this book a a while ago and was hooked on the first page, it is definitely a must read. But be very careful you could find your self falling for the characters as they are so well written you think you know them personally.

Buy it and you'll read it again and again wishing to be part of the story. Keep it up Josh!