The Dolphin
4/5
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About this ebook
* * * Honorable Mention, 2016 Los Angeles Book Festival * * *
A PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER SET IN NEW ORLEANS
Former child prodigy and aspiring psychologist, Sean Jordan, moves to New Orleans, putting his past behind him, until a conservative radio station in a bid for higher ratings outs him as a dangerous sex offender. When the thirteen-year-old daughter of the station’s nationally celebrated talk show host disappears, police scramble to take down Jordan, unaware that he too is a victim of the kidnapper, terrorizing the city on the eve of Mardi Gras. Jordan has a chance to save the girl but only if he meets the kidnapper’s demands. Refusing could cost him his life.
Agreeing could cost him his soul.
"In this debut thriller...Hallenstein certainly doesn't pull any punches...Stark and harrowing, with a troubled protagonist's inner turmoil magnified by a tangible evil." —Kirkus Reviews
"Suspenseful, powerful, thought provoking-straight from today's headlines. The Dolphin reads like a movie with no waiting to cut to the chase." —Dean Rowe, Member, Director's Guild of America
"Hallenstein demonstrates a remarkable gift for creating rich, engaging, and wholly human characters. In the sexually frank and terrifying world he creates, important social questions beg to be addressed." —Rebecca Pastor, Writer/Educator/Editor
"Hallenstein had me sitting on the edge of my chair...Not only is his prose terrific, his characters are unforgettable." —Amos Lassen, reviewsbyamoslassen.com
"A fine story, wonderfully told by a master craftsman..." —Ken Parry, Netgalley
"The Dolphin's going to make a terrific movie!" —Michael Denneny, International Award-Winning Editor
Craig Bennett Hallenstein
Craig Bennett Hallenstein is a psychologist, writer, and father of five, whose blog, Let’s Talk Sex, is a guide to conscious living and sustainable relationships. The Dolphin is his first work of fiction. Craig attended Beloit College and the California School of Professional Psychology, earning a PhD in clinical psychology and prompting a study of contemporary sexuality. Writing classes followed at Chicago Dramatists and the University of Iowa. His writing has appeared in publications as diverse as The Journal of Professional Psychology and The National Enquirer. Among his credits is a People Finders magazine cover story that was optioned by Dick Clark Productions for a made-for-TV movie. When not writing, Craig manages a successful career as a business broker and restores old houses in Chicago and New Orleans. His favorite holiday is Mardi Gras. The Academy Awards claims a close second.
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Reviews for The Dolphin
4 ratings2 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Dolphin by Craig Bennett Hallenstein follows Sean Jordan, an aspiring child psychologist who had been labelled a sex offender at age 15. He's spent years wracked by guilt over the choices of his youth. But is he really a sex offender? Sean moves to New Orleans trying to put the past behind him. Sadly, that wasn't to happen. As a ploy for ratings, a radio host LeGrande outs all of the local registered 'dangerous sex offenders’, which includes Sean. Thanks to this, when the radio host’s teen daughter disappears, Sean is accused. However, he becomes just as much a victim of the kidnapper. Sean is given a devil's deal. He has the chance to save the young girl if he meets the kidnapper's demands, but doing could cost his moral integrity. Refusing could cost his life. This was an interesting read. Intellectually, I know that not all sex offenders are paedophiles or rapists, but society is trained to think so. In fact, there are a fair amount of cases that are the result of consensual teenaged encounters. Sean’s is one such case. As a result, he’s lived his life on the Registry, dealing with all the prejudice and suspicions that result. I had never heard of the term 'dolphin’ before, regarding these types of sex offenders, many of whom shouldn't even bear the label or stigma. This was certainly a controversial topic to work with, and it’ll certainly give you something to think about. The setting of New Orleans during Mardi Gras was great. It felt vivid and immediate. ***Many thanks to Netgalley, and Storyville Press for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Sean Jordan moves to New Orleans with his wife and daughter to escape his past. But when a new shock jock outs him as a convicted sex offender, his life unravels rather quickly. The police look at him for a bomb that went off at the aquarium and the murder of a seven year old girl. With Mardi Gras coming quickly, the police need to make a speedy arrest. And Sean is not making it easy for them.A dolphin is described as an accidental capture when the law goes fishing for sharks. Every once in a while when hunting for a bad guy; a good guy gets caught in that net. But is Sean a dolphin?There is so much about Sean that comes out in this story. He tries to overcome all obstacles and rid himself of baggage that he has been carrying. As the police investigate further; there are more murders, Sean’s wife may leave him and there may be no place to turn.It’s is a suspenseful story to say the least. Not a mystery, but full of though provoking ideas. One has to fell not only for Sean, but also for the detective trying to solve the case(s) and also for the radio personality that as to deal with the new shock jock at his station. All around, a complex and exciting novel.