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Arnold James Isbister is a noted visual artist and author from western Canada. He is a First Nations member of the Plains Cree, was a Maximum Security Guard and did work in a Forensic Psych Centre also known as the Centre for the Criminally Insane. Gaining insight and knowledge from both 'worlds' he gives credibility, authenticity by painting the characters and institutions in a way the reader can visualize and identify with.
His life experiences, love of Art and eclectic collection of literature make up his persona as a writer that is unique. The psychological narrative, surreal imagery he provides in words is difficult to categorize into a style or placed into a genre. He offers or draws involvement, interest in the reader like a passer-by who listens in to an intimate story being told in secrecy. His stories are engaging, intertwining but not convoluted, with a continuity that keeps the reader reading.
His writing is based on or originates from real life and true events so we are never too sure of what is factual and what is fictional; keep in mind, "fact is stranger than fiction" when you read his work.
Mr Isbister continues to write using his culture as a basis for exploring other worlds in his imagination and melding truth into fiction. He has a variety of kids and Young Adult stories he has developed in addition to the next Novel he is currently working on.
Watch for a 'companion', maybe a sequel to "Stirbugs & Screws".
Reviewed by Joana James for Readers' Favorite
"Stirbugs & Screws" is a cleverly woven novel that gives us a peek into life as a guard in a high risk Psychiatric Centre and on an Indian Reservation. The story unfolds from two angles. On the one hand we see a young boy leaving a home and a best friend whom he loved, to return to the Indian reservation where his parents grew up. On the other hand, we see a man dutifully serving in a place others would find difficult to work in for extended periods. He develops a unique relationship with a serial killer who was an inmate at the Centre. Later as the story unfolds, several uncanny connections between the characters are made.
The book holds a bit of mystery and suspense. The elements are cleverly developed and brought together expertly. The characters are also well-developed and the story held my interest. The look into the minds of the serial killers and other inmates at the Psychiatric Centre made the story all the more interesting. The suggestions of a supernatural entity at work caused hair raising experiences and for this reason I believe that this book would appeal to both lovers of mystery and suspense and the paranormal. The book is unique in its subject matter and it is near impossible to figure out how it would end. I am still not convinced of what I read even though I went over the final chapter a few times. I strongly believe a sequel will be a success. There is a bit of profanity in the book but it is not over the top and I believe that any mature lover of mystery and suspense could enjoy it.
