Mystery in (garbled)

By: Marks, Norman

Daniel is on his way home after a successful presentation at a prominent conference when he is attacked. Stunned. Kidnapped off the streets of Chicago in broad daylight.
When he wakes, he finds himself in a strange world where the main characters have taken on the looks and personalities of famous actors in the gangster movies of the 1940's. To get home, he must save their business from a competitor that has stolen their technology. If he fails, well he doesn't dare think about that
Along the way, he meets a peace-loving people, the original inhabitants of this odd place. His captors invaded their world by force, and they are now servants and slaves. One is a beautiful young lady of indeterminate age who captures his imagination.
This is a book of imagination, mystery, science fiction, and some romance.
Here are some excerpts from recent reviews (not all of which were posted on Amazon):
"This book was definitely different from anything I usually read, and I mean that in a good way. The story takes a strange science fiction idea and commits to it completely. From the opening chapters, there's this weird old-Hollywood atmosphere running through everything that gives the book its own identity., I love a good mystery novel, and this one had an interesting twist that most books in this genre seem to lack. The main character, Daniel, isn't some action hero or chosen one. He's basically thrown into a situation he doesn't understand and has to figure things out step by step... This book was one of the strangest reads I've picked up in a while, but I mean that as a compliment. It fully commits to its bizarre science fiction premise and never backs away from it. The old Hollywood influence running through the story gave it a personality that made it stand out from a lot of formulaic sci-fi novels."
"Mystery in (garbled) is a surreal thriller that follows Daniel after he is kidnapped in Chicago and taken into a distorted alternate world where identity, power, and reality itself feel artificially constructed. What stood out most to me is how quickly Daniel is forced into a survival objective that has nothing to do with his original life, immediately pushing him into a conflict he does not understand or control."
"Overall, this was a surreal kidnapping thriller that blends identity confusion, ethical conflict, and alternate-world survival through Daniel's forced involvement in a fractured society."
"The chapter where Daniel wakes up after being attacked was honestly the moment this book hooked me. The descriptions of him opening his eyes into that strange soft white environment, trying to figure out whether he was dead, dreaming, or trapped somewhere completely unfamiliar created a really eerie atmosphere right away. I especially liked the detail where he keeps trying to orient himself while surrounded by silence and soft light, only to realize there are no doors, windows, or anything recognizable around him. That scene felt genuinely unsettling in a quiet way. The introduction of the golden-haired woman also added to the strange tone of the story. Her calmness while explaining that "the Master borrowed you from your world" made the entire situation feel even more disturbing because she spoke as if kidnapping someone across realities was perfectly normal."
"Readers who enjoy offbeat mysteries, classic film references, and imaginative sci-fi concepts will probably have a good time with this one. A creative and entertaining read with a premise that feels fresh, funny, and different."
"Reading Norman Marks' Mystery in (garbled) felt less like reviewing an ordinary corporate thriller and more like navigating a surreal corporate dreamscape... What I absolutely loved about the novel was its witty, highly imaginative premise; watching corporate dynamics unfold among characters who resemble Humphrey Bogart or Edward G. Robinson adds an intensely entertaining, noir-infused flavor to standard corporate espionage."

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0D1JPD24N
• ISBN13: 9798322057734
• Release Date: April 2024
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 166 Pages
• Weight: 0.51 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.0" x 9.0"