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Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers' Favorite
Willow City by David R. Beshears is a science fiction story with a strong film noir flavor, adapted from Beshears' own screenplay. Set in a tightly controlled city-state, the novel follows Alan Thornton, a retired Master Sergeant, who returns to Willow City to investigate the mysterious disappearance of his brother Richard. What begins as a simple inquiry quickly unfolds into a tense journey through a city riddled with corruption, surveillance, and shifting loyalties. The novel starts with Thornton's somber arrival by train, immediately establishing a bleak atmosphere of suspicion and muted fear. Beshears captures the mood of a city where the government exerts quiet but absolute control, from ID checks to the presence of ever-watchful security officers. Thornton’s interactions with old friends and new acquaintances reveal a tangled web of power, involving the city’s authoritarian leaders and a shadowy crime syndicate. Each conversation is loaded with unspoken threats, echoing the slow-burn tension characteristic of classic noir.
Dialogue drives much of the story, giving characters like Thornton, Valerie Baker, and the influential Arthur Cain a chance to reveal themselves through guarded exchanges rather than exposition. The world-building is subtle yet effective, with details such as surveillance technology, propaganda posters, and dimly lit streets creating a vivid picture of a city caught between decay and control. David R. Beshears writes in a straightforward, cinematic style, fitting for a story born from a screenplay. Scenes are structured with a strong visual sensibility, making the action easy to imagine unfolding onscreen. While the novel emphasizes atmosphere and character interaction over fast-paced action, it maintains an underlying sense of danger that keeps the tension alive. Willow City will appeal to readers who enjoy atmospheric, character-driven mysteries set against dystopian backdrops. It blends the sensibilities of classic detective fiction with speculative elements, offering a portrayal of loyalty, resistance, and quiet defiance in a society where every move is monitored.
