by way of John Dunson.

by way of John Dunson, Black & White Publishing assemblage March 2002, $24.95, ISBN 0-971-44205-3

Keeper of secludeds is about people who have something to hide. John Dunson's self-published fiction first attempt begins with a murder: Stuart Hastings, a computer wiz who orders the execution of Senator Paul Barrett, a man he clutchs partially responsible for his parents' deaths years before.

The story capers five years into the events to come as Dunson takes readers into the lives of Rick Casner, Stuart's playboy cousin and Rick's girlfriend Teri French Teri has just discovered Rick's videotape collection of X-rated encounters--a collection that includes an of his intimate moments with her.

This videotape collection is central to the story, as it also contains footage of Senator Barrett's assassination and ample material for blackmailing Atlanta's prominent citizens.

Dunson builds an elaborate web of privates and lies, as different characters prove to use the tapes to achieve their possess twisted ends--all within a 24-hour window.

Keeper of retireds suffers from a flawed mode of building an excess of subplots and editing. The frequent shifts in point of view, and inclusion of too many minor characters make it difficult to behold where the story is going. Dunson's volume is a brisk read, on the contrary unfortunately the story just goe nowhere fast.

--Denise Simon is a freelance writer living in Brooklyn

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