Slow Death
'Slow Death' by Jim Fielder, a non-fiction/True Crime reading novel, published in January of 2003. A New Mexico sex torture murder case, that expresses how to 'never lose faith' and 'how to fight back.' This novels' dominant way of looking at life is ' you can not give up no matter what, and you have to push through the odds. David Parker Ray is the main character/antagonist Cindy Hendy is the other main character/antagonist. Strong supporting characters are as follows Roy Yancy, Detective Jim Yontz, Jesse Parker, and the countless victims of David Parker Ray. David Parker Ray is who stands out in this story. The writer, although he can't really develop this character in the book, because of the fact that it is true, does slowly reveal the character in a way that we find out reasoning behind his actions as we read about his background. He is definitely not made with a cookie cutter, that's for sure. He is a real person, therefore he is very complex and there is a lot of background for this guy, because of his mental 'issues.' The same applies for David Parker Ray's partner in crime, Cindy Hendy. She is revealed throughout the novel, using dialog, actions, and reactions definitely. This character, is a real person of course, but is not as complex as David Ray. She is not even on the same chart as David Ray, not to take away from her complexity, but she is a lot simpler than her partner, which, in this case, would be considered a very good thing. The setting is pretty significant to the story, because of its remoteness. The story takes place in the town of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. Where the people are more strange than normal. The majority of the story takes place on David Ray's property. Which is a small trailer, called the 'Toy box', aka, the torture chamber. That is significant to the setting, because it shows the meanings and truth of David Ray. It is important because that was a big part of the novel, this elaborate set up in his back trailer shows the time David took to put something together, and how serious he was about what he was doing, spending thousands of dollars to build. A different setting wouldn't make this story impossible, because it is a true story. But, there is an importance to the 'trailers,' but it wouldn't make a difference as to where the trailers were exactly located. Major conflict occurring in this story, is sex/torture/murder. Years of these actions occur, without a word being spoken. Over fourteen bodies were suppossibly killed, but never found and the chilling details discussed throughout the story make the hairs on your body stand straight up. The Chamber of Horrors, Never Trust a Chained Captive, and If She's Worth Taking-She's Worth Keeping! are just a few of the major conflicts in this book. Not to even mention the MAJOR CONFLICTS that go on inside David Parker Ray's head! Irony? Dialect? Hard-hitting realism? Slowing of time during action scenes? If any of these catch your eye, this is a book to read. Irony occurs frequently all through the story dialect is majority of the book, allowing the readers to hear the words that come directly from Ray's mouth. Hard-hitting realism and slowing of time during sequences happen and draw you in to this novel like never before. A first person narrative story of torture, killings, mental insanity, fear, destruction, and truth. Recommendations definitely from me, this book is a shocking, revealing, and eye opening true story that is bound to have you gripping each page, dying to get to the next. Two thumbs up.
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