Review: ‘Serenity’

Iowa City author Craig Hart has penned a taut thriller to open his new series. 'Serenity” is the first adventure in the story of Shelby Alexander, an aging athlete living in a small town with big trouble.

Unlike many heroes in the thriller genre, Alexander isn't an ex-cop (though he has a pal who is), ex-military, or an ex-counterintelligence agent gone solo. He's a former boxer willing to use his fists and wits to fix problems. His problem in 'Serenity” is a rural drug war enabled by a new lawman who doesn't have much time for Alexander.

Though 'Serenity” is fairly brief, Hart takes the time to give Alexander a life outside of his adventures. He has a daughter who badgers him about his health and his nonexistent relationship with his ex-wife. He also has a much younger lover, which may be his way of warding off old age. To Hart's credit, Alexander's paramour isn't merely a trope, but is a fairly well developed character in her own right.

On occasion, Hart writes overly formal or stilted dialogue. Here, for example, our heroes discuss their need to escape from danger:

'Look, Shel, just go. You might be able to make it. Like Stevens said, you can send help back. If you stay, we'll all die. It's our only hope.”

'I'm not leaving you, Mack. You'd be dead by the time I got help. I probably wouldn't make it anyway.”

While the dialogue could be snappier, the plotting and pacing are crisp, and 'Serenity” is a satisfying read as a result. Hart has a plan to release two more entries in the series in the coming months. Thriller readers should jump in now and follow Alexander's exploits.