The Detroit Electric Scheme, Dan Johnson, Minotaur, $24.99.
Will’s life keep careening out of control. He discovers his ex is a heroin addict; he’s blackmailed by whoever found the bloody clothes he tried to discard the night of the murder; and when he asks for his neighbor, Wesley’s, help, Wesley is severely beaten for his troubles. Relentlessly beaten, thrown back in jail, released, and held captive what’s also apparent is that Will is in the grip of alcohol as much as his ex is in the grip of heroin.
This book was unexpected. In a typical historical novel, there would be more detail of life as it was lived. Johnson is instead concerned, in an interesting way, with business and the way it was conducted at the turn of the century, specifically, of course, the automobile industry. He captures the raw excitement and uncertainly of an exploding industry, and makes clear the creativity that was involved in setting into motion the giants we know as Ford, GM, and Chrysler.
You’ll be rooting for Will as he heads down his path of destruction, and along the way he discovers he can be friends with a homosexual; he helps his ex kick her heroin habit; and he himself kicks his drinking habit, though he realizes it will be difficult for him socially. There was only one plot turn I was able to figure out; the actual denouement was quite a surprise, and the ending is as bleak as the rest of the book. He reminds me a bit of Mitchell Bartoy, who wrote two excellent books about post WWII Detroit, though he’s slightly less bleak. I’d be interested to see where he takes Will next. It’s also interesting in today’s context: the resurgence of the electric car and the semi decline of the giants. This is a sharp, unique and original novel.
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