Pursuit of the Thunderbird
Tom and Lovey Part II
In the intriguing paranormal novel Pursuit of the Thunderbird, a memorable duo is driven to thwart an ancient terror.
In G. R. Jerry’s paranormal novel Pursuit of the Thunderbird, an immortal preacher and a shape-shifting woman solve mysteries across the country.
Tom is a preacher whose personal history of death and rebirth stretches back to the early 1800s. After losing his mentor, Red Deer, Tom finds an ally in naïve, headstrong Lovey, who can shapeshift into a black panther. Tom and Lovey are pursued by an ancient evil as they chase clues regarding Red Deer’s location. They also encounter the ghost of a friendly farmer and travel through time.
This is the second title in a series, but Tom and Lovey’s previous adventures together are not often referenced herein. They are on a self-directed quest to find Red Deer, but—beyond Red Deer having been Tom’s mentor—not much is shared about this quest. Instead, Tom spends considerable time recovering from previous events that, for the audience, remain obscured; he reminisces about his time with Red Deer, both through telling Lovey about it and by remembering while he’s asleep. The book’s progression is thus overtaken by vague memories, flashbacks, and secondary stories. And while excitement does come in spurts, the action scenes are too few and far between.
Tom and Lovey’s endearing but uneven burgeoning relationship is also centered; as they travel the country and handle paranormal mysteries together, they become closer. Tom assumes a somewhat paternal role, while Lovey makes inappropriate jokes (hinting at her desire for greater intimacy). Tom cares for Lovey when she first begins shifting, making sure that she has unripped clothes ready and food nearby. He covers for her when she makes mistakes that affect the locals. Tom also attempts to correct Lovey’s meandering speech pattern before deciding that it’s a complement to her affable personality and shouldn’t be suppressed. But the duo’s history together is also underexplained in this volume, including the details of how they met.
Tom and Lovey encounter a bevy of people—many of whom have similar-sounding, but still quirky, names. These people are often unimportant to Tom and Lovey’s quest, though, leading to distractions. Further, the evil force that is pursuing them is referenced with several different names; it has a tendency to possess other people, too, leading to a busy tale. And while the sense that Tom and Lovey are in constant danger remains acute, the frenetic conclusion underattends to this drama; it shifts attention to Tom and Lovey’s future instead, implying further conflicts with the evil force.
In the intriguing paranormal novel Pursuit of the Thunderbird, a memorable duo is driven to thwart an ancient terror.
Reviewed by
John M. Murray
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