By Grady Harp - February 15, 2015
FIVE STARS
Florida author Garrett W Pomichter, born in New York, is a graduate of Florida Air Academy and Eastern Florida State College, and having served as a U.S. Army veteran he now couples professional journalism and political marketing, public and media relations specialist with writing and the depth of his experiences show in this fine brief novel.
There is something about film noir that still stimulates both filmmakers and writers to recreate the particular moody atmosphere of life in Los Angeles in the 1940s. Pomichter pulls this off like a pro in LUCKY.
From paragraph one he finds the core of this genre and from there carries it forward with great ease: `It was a cool September morning in 1945. The War was over. As the sun rose behind the California Mountains, a lonely bus traveled down the steep rocky California hillside road toward the City of Angels. Nearly four years ago, Will Marks had just graduated from the Los Angeles Police Academy. He was young. He was energetic. He was ready for almost anything. But war soon came to young America, and Will, like so many other energetic young men of just 19- years-old, answered the call to serve. The tall muscular teen stood in the long line outside the recruiting station, and joined the Army. He left the life he had, the career he planned and the home he knew behind, not knowing if he'd ever get them back again. This day, he's finally come home.'
As the author's synopsis shares the plot, `Will Marks has just returned home from World War II hoping restart his life as a L.A.P.D. cop, but when civilian life begins to take it's toll, Will is challenged to keep his nose clean and pay his dues. Near the end of his rope, a case nobody wants, a friend nobody believes and a dame with gams to die for all lead him on a perilous journey of self discovery he will never forget. Love, lust, and lamentation, travel beside Will "Lucky" Marks down a winding road of intrigue, mystery and murder. These events collectively conspire to twist the WWII veteran into just another L.A. Story gone bad or transform a war hero into a gritty and great L.A. shamus reminiscent of Sam Spade or Philip Marlowe.'
Pomichter stays on top of his game, collecting all the slang and phrases we associate with that era and building a story that holds enough of the era's humor to balance the tension. He is an author to watch. Grady Harp, February 15
