Book Review: Out of Such Darkness, by Robert Ronsson

This could have been a very good novel. Ronsson writes with flair and style, the descriptions are sharp and vivid, the dialog witty and in tune with the characters. The narrative voices—especially that of Cameron Mortimer—are engaging, and the story moves along at a brisk pace. More important, the story has something to say, draws parallels between 1930’s Germany and America at the beginning of the 21^st century, and relates the inside lives of individuals with larger historical events. It’s actually a pretty good story, and interesting.

The problem for me is that the author seems to trying to tie his book to Cabaret, as though hitching it to its wagon. I have no problem with the book drawing inspiration from the play, or its having a character who is haunted by the ghost of Cabaret’s MC, or even marketing the book as having been inspired by the play; but there appears to be a deliberate marketing effort going on within the story itself, that left me cold. I would consider reading another book by this author that didn’t contain that element.