The Odd Sea

Frederick Reiken

If there has ever been a waste of pen to paper .... this novel is not it. This is a debut novel for Reiken, but there is nothing between the covers of this tale which reveal that. It is well-written with a broad and deep scope of characters. The Odd Sea is about the disappearance of a young boy, but more than that, it is the story of a family and how each member, and especially so the siblings, come to terms with their grief and loss. The reader is taken on a journey that is at times magical and at times painful, as your narrator begins a search for his lost brother that takes him through many years of his own life, and deep into the troubled life of his lost brother. There is at all times an air of mystery about his disappearance and Reiken gives you no clear answers.

This is definitely a novel worth seeking out. Reiken is a gifted writer and he hands you a memorable book in his debut. Go get it.