I’m glad to know that some weren’t bothered and could enjoy the story as it was intended. And I did love the scenes between Justin and Walter so we’re in complete agreement there.

Based on my experience as a reader, when I see a specific product name I expect that there’s a reason why that specific product is being used. When the story doesn’t circle back and have the specific brand of the product become important it feels a bit like a distraction and unnecessary detail. I start to think of my own personal connection to the specific brand names, for example do I use or like them or not, instead of what the character is actually doing which is more important. I think the world you create in your stories can easily be considered quite “real” and doesn’t need the product names to make it seem more real.

For me as a reader, knowing a character is checking his email is real enough…I don’t really want to know brand of computer or site he uses unless he’s making a case against other choices. Otherwise it likely doesn’t really matter to the story whether it’s Gmail or Yahoo or Hotmail (though Gmail is obviously the smartest choice).

Thanks so much for the insightful review. You have no idea how much it means to an author when someone reads his work so carefully. By the way, this was written on my iMac, while logged into Firefox.

My intention for using so much more detail is to hopefully make the world I’ve created seem that much more real to a reader. Maybe I don’t need to be so detailed…something to ponder. I do appreciate your wonderful review.

This book is very interesting and I think it’s one you’d like. The setting is in Chicago and the very heartbeat of the city is infused into the story. Clearly the author has lived in Chicago and knows it intimately well. Additionally the characterization is unique and complex, which I think you’d really appreciate.

The details are distracting since they seem to be easy ways to describe items. On the one hand it makes the story pretty modern and on the other hand, I’m lost in all the product names. Small thing I realize and not all readers will care so perhaps it’d be something easily overlooked. As always, I’d love to see your take on it.

Thanks again for the comment and stopping by!

You said: “Donald’s struggle to pick up his life shown alongside the regret and fear of one of the attackers.”

That’s intriguing.

And this: “Justin knows his actions are wrong and he knows they’re wrong while doing them but is too weak to remove himself from the situation.”

Whoa. How tragic! So he drifts right into helping to commit a first-degree murder.

You said: “Too often, brand placements seem to be included for no real reason.”

Interesting! This bothers me, too, in fiction. I read on the assumption that everything in the story is there for a reason. If a mention of something conveys nothing or turns out to lead nowhere (not even to a “red herring”), then I get distracted and annoyed.

Excellent review! I love how your new site is taking off!