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Book Review By Harriet Klausner
The Upright Man by Michael Marshal



June, April 2004, 6.99, 368 pp.
ISBN: 0515136387

Only three people know about The Straw Men; two are on the run (Ward and John) while the third works as an agent for the FBI (Nina). The group believes they are the only ones not infected by a virus promoting social conscience which gives them the power to kill whomever they wish and are responsible for many of the atrocities that have happened throughout history. The members are wealthy, powerful and hold positions of authority in law enforcement & government and sometimes they work behind the series to further their agenda.

Paul is the Upright Man, a serial killer in his own right who procures victims for the Straw Men to kill. He also is Ward's identical twin brother, the man responsible for killing Ward's parents and John's daughter. Nina gets pulled into a case that is of interest to the group and brings herself, John and Ward to their attention. The group decides it is time for the trio to die. Ward, John and Nina meet in a forest in the Pacific Northwest for a final showdown with THE UPRIGHT MAN and members of The Straw Men.

There is nothing more frightening and none more dangerous than the sane person who believes he can kill with impunity because it is his or her right to do so. The antagonist and The Strawmen are evil, which make this a horror novel as frightening as that of King and Koontz because they wear the guise of humanity to hide their depravity.

Harriet Klausner


Plot & Themes
Tone of story - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
Time/era of story:
Spying/Terrorism Thriller Yes
Cloak & Dagger Plotlets:
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
descript. of violence and chases - 30 %
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40 %
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20 %
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10 %
Who's the terrorist enemy here?

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status:
Age: - 20's-30's
Ethnicity/Race

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 20's-30's
Profession/status:
Motive of antagonist - revenge
How sensitive is this character?
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters

Setting
United States Yes

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
Amount of dialog - significantly more dialog than descript
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