Could be his job as a janitor at an insane asylum, could be the meaninglessness of existence, could be the unwanted cilantro on his tacos. Whatever the reason, Jim has elected to commit suicide. But before he can do the deed, a mysterious resident at work equips him with a dog and a bag of ash, and throws him into a secret game known as Cryptofauna. Cryptofauna is played by Operators, persons of special abilities who battle one another to influence important events around the world. To become an Operator, Jim must survive being stranded in the Pacific Ocean, pass a bizarre examination by leprous French monks, and pluck the existential splinter from his troubled soul. If there's time, he must also stop a rival player from ending all life on the planet. Underwater Norwegian lairs, obsession with a decent pair of socks, and shapeshifting animals obsessed with AM radio all make up the strange world of Cryptofauna, which might help Jim discover a reason to live, assuming he doesn't die in the process.
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[Jim grabbed a can of root beer for his suicide]***
(Independently Published, 5 May 2018, 239 pages, ebook, copy from the author and voluntarily reviewed)
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This was an original and refreshing read. I don't quite know what to make of it. The novel is short at 289 pages and I raced through it so it feels like the book is much shorter. The world in the novel is quote unique and something I've never come across before. I was impressed by the characters; they were well drawn, unique and lovable. I felt like I was reading the exploits of a group of my friends. The book is crazy at times and so much happens I barely had time to take a breath. I was engaged and engrossed from the first page. I look forward to reading more by the author.
