DIVISIBLE MAN

In this debut thriller, Will Stewart, a 30-something pilot for Essex County Air Services, wakes in a Milwaukee hospital room with a broken pelvis, lucky to be alive after his twin-engine airplane accident. He remembers nothing—but what’s more unsettling is the fact that he’s floating 6 feet above his bed, his body invisible. When the moment passes, Will initially chalks it up to a morphine-induced hallucination. Later, he’s not so sure, but he’s hesitant about testing himself further. For one thing, he doesn’t want to give his police-sergeant wife, Andrea “Andy” Taylor Stewart, anything else to worry about. However, Will can’t resist using his new powers, especially after he’s home from the hospital. With practice, he discovers that he and anything he’s wearing can vanish. When it happens, he finds that gravity has no effect on him. For a man who loves flying planes, it’s a huge rush: “I felt joy in its purest form. First solo flight joy. First time popping up through the clouds joy. First love joy.” Will perfects his floating technique a bit slowly, but it’s enjoyable to watch his growing mastery. Then disaster hits when gangsters kidnap Lane Franklin, the 14-year-old daughter of the air service’s office manager; they’re from the Milwaukee neighborhood where she and her mother used to live. A member of the gang later tells Andy that Lane was “selected by someone big, someone on top.” The cop joins the hunt to find her, and Will feels “the dawning of a brilliant, and possibly insane idea” involving his new abilities. If he can pull it off, he’ll save an innocent girl from a terrible fate.

Kirkus Reviews:

“Seaborne, a flight instructor and charter pilot, vividly evokes the world of charter airlines and those who populate them, particularly with his well-drawn character sketches. For example, he ably evokes the owner of Essex County Air Services, Earl Jackson, who sold his lucrative business and now “prefers to spend his days sitting in a tiny office crammed with maintenance manuals and pondering fuel purchases.” The book offers lots of information on aviation and law enforcement, but it’s nicely counterbalanced with warm human relationships, such as the one between Will and Andy. The novel’s latter half shows how Will’s practice sessions pay off, offering several satisfying outcomes. However, this second part lacks the plausibility that Seaborne so carefully constructs in the first, and more closely resembles an extended action sequence in a superhero tale, although, in this case, Will is still learning to control his powers. The thugs are standard issue, and with few candidates to choose from, the main villain’s identity isn’t hard to guess. That said, Milwaukee is well-described, from its boarded-up inner-city houses to its luxe mansions on Lake Drive. Altogether, this book is a strong start to a series, which will continue in Divisible Man: The Sixth Pawn. Well-written and engaging, with memorable characters and an intriguing hero.”

BookLife:

“Seaborne’s crisp prose, playful dialogue, and mastery of technical details of flight distinguish the story, which proves especially engaging in its first half. The disorientation of a hospital stay is adeptly described and exploited for suspense, and Stewart’s first real solo flight (aided by model airplane parts) is a legitimate thrill, a surprising burst of inventive fun that captures—not for Divisible Man’s last time—the dazzling surge of a flying dream. The action set pieces, especially flying scenes, remain strong throughout the novel … this is a striking and original start to a series, buoyed by fresh and vivid depictions of extra-human powers and a clutch of memorably drawn characters, like Stewart’s wife, Andy, a cop comfortable with a glock and capable of shutting people down with “a 40-millimeter anti-aircraft glance.” Even more than flight, that relationship—and that crack prose—powers this thriller to a satisfying climax that sets up more to come.”

Readers’ Favorite

FIVE STAR REVIEW - Author Howard Seaborne has a knack for tension in crafting this thrilling journey into a world of mystery and intrigue. The narrative viewpoint homes in on our hero with wit, pathos, and empathy, and we see Will’s inner workings and become all the more sympathetic to him whilst he’s navigating personal and professional challenges. The superhuman abilities he discovers are woven into this emotive realism in such a way that they feel grounded and logical, which is a masterful technique in speculative fiction that prevents the work from ever feeling too far-fetched or silly. The fast-paced narrative flows well with a lot of great developments, and the ensemble of dynamic characters around Will had me eagerly turning pages to see who he’d meet next. Overall, Divisible Man is a must-read for fans of suspenseful thrillers with a touch of the extraordinary.

Readers:

“Divisible Man is fantastic! This fast-paced adventure had me hooked at the first chapter after which I found the book difficult to put down. Seaborne has a style that reminded me of another favorite author - Richard Bach. Like Bach, Seaborne has a talent for producing a hero I want to meet in person and trade stories with over a couple drinks on the front porch. Refreshing, engaging and thrilling, Divisible Man was a great escape from the daily grind and I cannot wait to dive into the next volume DIVISIBLE MAN: THE SIXTH PAWN! Highly recommended!”

“I am really enjoying these. I am reading the fourth one now. The concept is original and the stories are engaging.”

“Couldn’t put it down! Love the characters, action and adventure - can’t wait for the next book!”

“Reading this novel was like watching an action-adventure movie --- if you want excitement this is for you!”

“I loved this book and I'll tell you why, with no spoilers. First, it's written in an engaging, self-effacing way, as though it's being shared by a good friend. Second, its ensemble of characters is made up of normal, likable, people trying to do their best in challenging situations. And third (and what makes Divisible Man unique) is a carefully measured dose of sci-fi/fantasy. What I admire most is how Seaborne resists the 'superhero' urge. His protagonist reacts to his new abilities with wonder, confusion and endearing awkwardness. We share his gradual awakening to what's happening to him -- while, at the same time, there are crimes to be solved and bad guys to be stopped! I look forward to future installments where I can get to know these characters even better, fight some crime, and tag along on a hero's journey to solve his own inner mystery.”

“Well written, and the perfect escape for people who really don't like fiction. There's enough aviation and insider law enforcement content to make you think you're learning something while you get lost in fresh characters. Oh yes, and then there's that emerging superhero thing...”