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An award-winning fiction writer and poet, I'm the author of five Martin Preuss mysteries: An Uncertain Accomplice (2018), The Forgotten Child (2017), Guilt in Hiding (2016), The Baker’s Men (2014), and Crimes of Love (2011). Book #6 in the series is under way.
I'm also the author of The House of Grins (1992), a novel; and two books of poetry, In Praise of Old Photographs (2005) and New Year’s Tangerine (2007). My poetry and fiction have appeared in numerous print and e-journals.
Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite
The Forgotten Child by Donald Levin is a great treat for fans of sleuth novels and gritty investigations. Meet retired detective Martin Preuss, a man who enjoys spending his time with his handicapped son, Toby. Although he is about to settle into a new way of life, he is irresistibly pulled back into the intense life of a detective when a friend asks him to investigate the case of a boy who disappeared forty years ago. But this isn’t the only case that comes his way as an old colleague needs his help in locating a missing man, father to a troubled little girl. Preuss is about to lift the lid on dirty secrets and hideous crimes. Is he ready for what awaits him?
Donald Levin is a great story teller, using a voice that is clear, a tone that is light and compelling, and a pacing that forces readers to keep on turning the pages. From the very beginning of the story, the reader meets the protagonist and under sad circumstances. The background story comes out clearly and it adds depth to character. The Forgotten Child has a compelling setting in Detroit in the 1970s. The narrative is engaging and the author keeps it deft and balanced, punctuating the narrative with engaging and exciting dialogues.
The conflict is well developed and I enjoyed how it reflects on the personality of the main character. The red herrings and the unexpected twists make the story irresistible. This author knows how to keep readers engaged by creating characters that are likable, crafting scenes that are focused and emotionally charged, and developing a conflict with a powerful premise and an intensity that propels the story forward towards a satisfying end.
