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Beyond Salvation - Darcia Helle
Beyond Salvation
Darcia Helle
ISBN: 9781448694426
CreateSpace
Reviewed By Renee Washburn
Official Apex Reviews Rating: 
When teen runaway Sara disappears, her friends solicit the help of The Ghost, Michael Sykora, in finding her. A software designer by day and hit man by night, Michael has a well-earned reputation for disposing of degenerate rapists, murderers, and other criminals who manage to beat the system while their victims are left to suffer. Finding the lost is not something with which Michael has ever been tasked, but he agrees to do so as a favor for his close friend, Nicki - who shares an intimate history with Sara's friends.
As the search for Sara proceeds, Michael and Nicki are soon introduced to a dark underworld of religious cults and twisted perversity, not to mention the usual debauched criminal element, resulting in a tortuous journey through the dark depths of society's dregs - and the warped folkways and mores of those who reside there...
The follow up to No Justice, the initial installment in the Michael Sykora series, Beyond Salvation is every bit as riveting and compelling as its predecessor. Once again, author Darcia Helle proves her masterful ability to combine well-crafted suspense with inimitable characters to create an unforgettable story of struggle, pain, and ultimate redemption. No matter the challenges he may face, Michael's tenacity and resolve are sure to inspire readers who can relate to his personal crusade to provide justice for the nameless, voiceless masses victimized both by criminals and the flawed system that too often turns a blind eye to their crimes. Also, Helle writes with a keen eye toward the darker side of our collective human nature, offering up a stinging - yet accurate - commentary on the problems that continue to plague us as a society.
Another instant classic by a quickly rising literary star, Beyond Salvation is an immensely satisfying, rewarding read. Highly recommended.
Official Apex Reviews Interview: Darcia Helle (No Justice, Beyond Salvation)
Apex Reviews: Thanks for joining us for this interview, Darcia. We're looking forward to sharing more about your books with our readers.
Michael Sykora is almost too good to be true. Where does he come from - is he based on real-life people or events?
Darcia Helle: Michael Sykora’s character was sparked by a conversation I was having with my husband. We were discussing the circumstances under which an average person could or would kill. I think most of us agree that we would kill to protect our child or spouse, providing there was an immediate threat. But when does self-defense turn into revenge? And, if you know the threat is not immediate but that a criminal will kill or rape again in the future, is murder ever an acceptable option? My husband’s responses prompted Michael Sykora’s creation.
AR: Please share with our readers how Michael acquires the moniker "The Ghost."
DH: Michael is an elusive hit man with a narrow specialty. All of Michael’s jobs come through the only person who knows who he is and what he does. People on the street know he exists, know his reputation, though they’ve never actually seen him. He goes through his day unseen, like a ghost.
AR: Where does his passion for exacting redemptive justice come from?
DH: Michael and Isaac (Michael’s best friend) both suffered a horrible tragedy. Michael’s fiancé and Isaac’s wife and unborn child were brutally raped, beaten, and murdered by a repeat offender. Isaac dealt with the loss by going into law enforcement. Michael’s way of coping was to do whatever he could to prevent another person from going through what he did. Essentially, they both had the same goal but chose different avenues to achieve that goal.
AR: Is the criminal justice system truly as corrupt - and often inept - as you portray it to be in your books?
DH: I’d love to say it’s not, though my opinion is that our justice system is a mess. The U.S. has approximately 2.3 million inmates in our jails and prisons (not including juveniles). We make up less than five percent of the world’s population but we house twenty-five percent of the world’s prison inmates. We toss the mentally ill in with the guys who like to smoke a little marijuana on the weekend, and we toss those people in with the gangbangers and murderers. Prison teaches inmates to fight, to lie, and to be better criminals. We house them like animals, then we set them free, somehow expecting them to have been rehabilitated. Society is then shocked when the nonviolent criminal serves five years, only to murder someone upon his release. We have overcrowding and underfunding. Many prisons are now privately owned and have become a money-making business. Consequently, there is little to no incentive to keep people out of the prison system and every incentive to put them in.
Contrarily, as our prisons welcome new inmates, our court system allows criminals to walk free. A murderer sentenced to life is often walking the street in as little as five years. Only 2 percent of rapists are convicted and serve prison time. The victim has her entire past displayed on trial, while the law protects the rapist from having his past exposed, no matter how relevant to the crime. The recidivism rate for child molesters released from prison is approximately 13 percent (that we are aware of). Of the 551,000 registered sex offenders in the U.S., at any given time about 100,000 are missing. We are no better at tracking our sex offenders than we are at tracking our immigrants.
So, yes, our system has many flaws and victims often do not find justice.
AR: Your writing style is unique and powerful. Who have been some of your chief literary influences?
DH: I have always had a strong need to understand human nature. My characters are what drive the plot in my stories. Writing is a way for me to explore what a person would do in any given situation. That, more than anything else, is what influences my writing style.
As for author influences, I have probably been influenced to some degree by every author I’ve ever read. The authors whose characters come alive in a way that makes sense and feels real and three-dimensional– such as James Patterson’s early work, John Sanford, Tami Hoag, Janet Evanovich – were and are my biggest influences.
AR: What kinds of reactions have the titles received thus far?
DH: Fortunately, I have had very positive feedback so far! I had one reader favorably compare Beyond Salvation to the show Burn Notice. It’s always interesting to hear what a reader takes away from one of my stories.
AR: Do you perform extensive research prior to composing your books?
DH: I actually do very little research before I write. I read a lot of nonfiction, which helps me along the way. But, honestly, I often don’t have a clear idea of where the story is going. Therefore, I’m not sure what to research ahead of time. I go where the characters take me. Once I’ve completed the first draft I will go back and research things I need to fill in the gaps.
AR: What can we expect from future installments in the Michael Sykora series?
DH: I have an idea for the third book in the series and will be starting on that soon. I don’t want to give too much away for those who haven’t read Beyond Salvation. At the closing of that book, Michael took a slightly altered direction in his career. The third book will follow along that line.
AR: Have you considered having your books adapted for the big screen?
DH: I would love to see one of my books come to life in a movie! Right now, I am still self-published and doing my best to break into the writing world. One day perhaps my work will be well known and that option will be open.
AR: Please share more with us about your publishing company, Quiet Fury Books.
DH: QuietFury was my first computer screen name, way back in the early ‘90s and has followed me since. I am a true Gemini, with two distinct personalities constantly vying for dominance. QuietFury kind of summed that up for me. When I decided to create my website and self-publish, QuietFury Books was the natural choice. My books all have elements of mystery and suspense, as well as the dark and light side of human nature - the Quiet and the Fury in all of us.
AR: What's next for you?
DH: I am currently working on something a little different for me. The book is called Miami Snow. The plot was actually my brother’s idea and was something we were supposed to write together. I worked on the story on and off but could never nail my brother down long enough to get his input. I wound up putting it aside and it was left sitting in a drawer for many years. I decided to dust it off and give it life. The book is now complete. I’m working on some minor revisions and editing and hope to have it published in January.
AR: How can our readers learn more about you and your ongoing efforts?
DH: My website – http://www.QuietFuryBooks.com – is my own creation and I maintain it myself. I also have a blog – http://www.QuietFuryBooks.com/blog - where I post updates on my work-in-progress, as well as contest information and general nonsense.
AR: How can they contact you directly?
DH: My email is Darcia@quietfurybooks.com. I love to hear from readers and try to answer all of my email within a day or so.
AR: Any final thoughts you'd like to share?
DH: I want to thank you for the amazing reviews. I also want to thank all my readers for their support. Writing is a very solitary, personal endeavor. It’s also a form of therapy for me, since I spend the majority of my time at home due to chronic illness. After spending months creating a story and getting to know the characters, I get a little queasy when I send that book out into the world. I can honestly say that there is nothing like the feeling of knowing that someone has enjoyed that creation.
AR: Thanks again, Darcia, and best of continued success to you in all your endeavors!