Arthur Rosenfeld The Cutting Season

The Cutting Season

Arthur Rosenfeld

YMAA, Jun 2007, $21.95

ISBN: 9781594390821

In Florida, neurosurgeon Dr. Xenon "Zee" Pearl works to save the life of a severely beaten preadolescent boy when he sees the child's soul leave the body; distracted he slips and cuts an artery. Still shocked while in the operating room, Zee next sees the his nanny, Wu Tie Mei, dead for ten years, who tells him he is strong and faces challenges that he can handle.

Zee expects the late lad's father, Petrossov, and his Russian Mafia goons to come after him. Heeding his nanny's advice, he seeks master swordsmith Thaddeus Jones, but learns the man died, but his daughter Jordon creates the sword for him. As he and Jordon begin to fall in love, the Russians are coming and so is an abusive husband of a patient. Wu keeps visiting her Xenon encouraging him to be all he can be as in a previous life he was a warrior and will need that skill to help others. As Zee emotionally struggles between being a doctor healing people or a soldier fighting evil, he burns the candle on both sides leaves him question his sanity as his fighting efforts turn increasingly violent on his part.

This paranormal thriller contains an intriguing premise as the hero rationalizes his vigilante justice through the belief that he is morally right and to do nothing would be amoral. The story line is fast-paced, but is owned by Xenon as he is an avenging warrior acting as judge, jury and executioner. Mindful of how the self-claimed neo-moral high road led to Iraq, readers will be divided on Xenon's exploits, but regardless will find him fascinating while enjoying the fast-paced story line.

Harriet Klausner