‘Proclivity’: Midwest author sets up series but doesn’t instill need to read more

A good portion of Kris Kaiser's self-published debut thriller, 'Proclivity,” takes place in Iowa, including key scenes in Swisher and Cedar Rapids. Kaiser explained why in a note he included in the review copy: 'I wanted to do a quality, fast-paced thrilled set in the good 'ol Midwest. Seen too many moves that bounce around the globe ...”

It's a solid idea. Rather than focusing on international hot spots or major cities in the United States, 'Proclivity” brings intrigue and action to small towns and back roads. The story, which centers on a man who has been having visions since he unwittingly took part in a nefarious drug test, has appropriately high stakes and a twisty plot driven by desperation and uneasy alliances for the good guys and bad guys alike.

Kaiser does ask the reader to keep track of several plot threads, a challenge complicated by his decision to move around in time throughout much of the book. By and large, this device works, allowing Kaiser to fill in his back story in dribs and drabs, but occasionally it is more confusing than intriguing.

The many moving parts sometimes slow the narrative to a sluggish pace, even late in the book as Kaiser ratchets up the action. Also, his decision to unfurl a nearly 400-page adventure that closes with almost no resolution of any kind - the book is intended to be the first entry in a series - may not sit well with some readers. The book's cliffhangers and nods toward possible romance in a second book are not enticing enough to leave the reader eager for more. In the sequel, he may want to consider a different sort of ending if he wants to instill a proclivity in readers to seek out his work regularly.