Guest Review from Mark Moore: The Telltale Tattoo
The Telltale Tattoo by John L. DeBoer is likely not the usual book review you will find here. C.D. Travenor was kind enough to allow me to be a bit adventurous in the genre and review an author and book that I truly enjoyed.
I initially read The Telltale Tattoo as an amateur critique on a writing workshop page. Of the many books I critiqued, it is the only one I have not only purchased for myself, but also for family members. The following review should explain why.
The Telltale Tattoo is not my usual genre. It’s a crime thriller/suspense novel wrapped in the trappings of a war drama. John follows a few different character threads throughout, but the meat of the story focuses on a singular event at the beginning of the book and murder perpetrated by U.S soldiers during Vietnam and all the subplots that are created from that event.
It’s here, in the subplots, that you find the greatness of John’s storytelling. You really get to see the ramifications that spiral out from one mistake in a war zone several decades after the fact. In a sense, I feel like the story is more like chasing a fugitive than uncovering a mystery. John takes you on a globe spanning hunt for justice. It brings in shady business deals, old war buddies with inner demons, altruistic private investigators. There’s even a romance or two! It’s filled with close calls and gradually revealed truths.
John gives you breadcrumbs throughout to keep you following the path to the eventual conclusion. I wouldn’t say there are any great twists or turns but there didn’t need to be. The story stands as is and anything else would have felt like a gimmick.
The Telltale Tattoo is simply put, solid. It stays within its bounds and delights you along the way. It’s one of those stories that has a broad audience appeal. I feel like anyone can pick it up and enjoy it from cover to cover.
Writing: 10/10.
Superb writing. John could teach a master class in the pristine and proper approach. He neither says too little or too much and his punctuation is always on point. His writing is as close to perfect as one could get without becoming robotic.
Character: 8/10.
Character and setting introductions are usually short, but you’re quickly invested in them.
Nguyen Chinh is likable and we see some development from where he begins the story and where he ends. Similarly, Taggert grows into a character you love to hate. Clay Archer is perhaps the most interesting character throughout and I would have read a book solely about him and his escapades. I’ll leave out some of the other intriguing people to avoid spoilers.
John is careful not to fall into any predictable stereotypes either. As he represent different cultures, you can tell there was meticulous research and/or personal experience that has helped him craft their personalities. No one feels like a hollow tool.
Setting: 10/10.
Telltale Tattoo makes strong use of who and what we already know. Everything is grounded. In some ways, he reminds me a lot of a writer in a very different genre: Rick Riordan. He puts you in places that are real but it isn’t used as a gimmick. The locales (and there are many of them) pop-culture, and commercial enterprises he uses are all relevant. They are not used just to sprinkle some reality onto the story.
This may be the strongest part of the book because the setting is used in a way where if you visit these places, they will evoke emotion in you. You will remember parts of the story. I’d go as far as to say his handling of setting is brilliant.
Even the timing. Bridging the story from the 1970’s to today. It makes everything more important, more focused.
Plot: 8.5/10.
The plot of the book is solid. The story is grounded and you are invested from the first chapter. You immediately feel for the opening character and you want to see a resolution. The timing is essential to creating a thirst for justice in the reader that is long overdue. It enhances your distaste for the antagonist. Afterall, how could they get away with it for so damn long?
Furthermore, the twists and turns you take throughout don’t feel unnecessary. They add to the overall continuity and construction of the story. Everything feels like it is there for a reason. Everything works together to make a cohesive story with several spiderweb strands reaching out from a central point.
Overall: 9/10.
I give this a 9 out of 10 because I never wanted to put it down. What I read transported me to a different time and place and to me that is the best thing a book can do. The construction of the story is that of a master at their craft. I have no additional critiques to offer and I strongly recommend you give The Telltale Tattoo a shot even if, like me, it’s not your genre of choice.
Mark Moore is the author of Rise: Birth of a Revolution. You can learn more about him on his website: https://marksmoorebooks.com/
