REVIEWS

Watch things fall apart in this dark, intriguing book

Slip & Fall by: Nick Santora State Street Press, 2007 ISBN: 068112749X 329 pages

Slip & Fall is an amazing, surprising ride from beginning to end.

It’s not your standard fiction paperback size. A bit larger and wider, your first glance suggests a textbook for criminology, psychology, sociology class.

I always approach a book by turning it and reading the back cover; I like to know what I should expect. But there is no synopsis, just accolades from critics on how good the book is. A short blurb about the author indicates Nick Santora is a writer and co-executive producer of "Prison Break". He also has writing credits from "The Sopranos", "Law & Order" and "The Guardian". OK, by now I was getting the drift of what was to come.

From there, I started the prologue which sets the tone for the rest of the book. And it ain’t pretty.

The first few sentences hooked me. The book is written from the main character’s point of view. Robert R. Principe, aka Prince, endures as a likeable guy from beginning to end. Each emotion, event and word authenticates this lawyer. You walk in his shoes, you feel his heart beat, you fall into the character. A surreal experience like this is rare.

Though Prince did not follow his father’s blue collar example, when he graduated from law school he opened a practice in his home neighbourhood. His goal was to give back to his father by helping other blue collar men. Unfortunately, this sentiment leaves him almost broke. When desperation takes the place of common sense, he turns to his mob cousin and hatches a brilliant but fraudulent scheme. Every thread of integrity, honesty and ethics which he chose to uphold as a lawyer becomes replaced by lies, sneaking around and unsavoury behaviour. He is thrown into a nightmare in which he sees into the darkest pit of the human psyche. Ending up at the bottom of the river would have been bliss compared to what finally happens in his life.

I have been at the end of my rope financially and have prayed for miracles. And yes, I have made a deal now and then with the devil. Though I would never cross the line as Robert did, I do understand why he did it. At the end he realizes that when he slipped and fell, he could have looked to his father and his wife who both would have moved heaven and earth to support him and save him.

Slip & Fall is a great ride down into the deepest and darkest crevices of the soul.