ISBN: 978-193383638-6

Publisher: Medallion Press

Raymond L. Atkins’ stories have been published in Christmas Stories from Georgia, The Lavender Mountain and Fire Review amongst others. His columns regularly appear in the Rome News Tribune and Memphis Downtowner Magazine.  

He has many hobbies, some of which include reading, travel and working on his house in Georgia which he shares with his wife.

The Front Porch Prophet narrates the tale of a variety of characters, some funny others quite morbid.  

A.J. Longstreet was a childhood friend of Eugene Purdue. They grew up together amid the mountains of Sequoyah, Georgia and were involved in a great deal of mischief that included stealing a school bus.

However, a falling out years later left the two friends angry and they refused to speak to each other again. How is it that after all that time they are now finally putting the past behind them? All becomes clear as you read on. 

The opening to this book explains how Eugene has now got terminal cancer and within only a matter of months, he faces death.

Eugene tells A.J of his dreadful fate and asks his childhood friend a favour - to spend as much time with him as possible in the final phase of his life.

However what A.J doesn’t know is Eugene is about to ask him to kill him and put an end to his miserable existence. In other words, he wants his friend to agree to euthanasia.

“How the hell can you ask me to do that?” A.J replies and advices Eugene to shoot himself. He later tells his friend he’ll be back to keep him company but not to kill him.  

The relationship between Eugene and A.J and the fact poor Eugene has cancer keeps you hooked. I found I wanted to know what eventually happens to Eugene and how A.J copes with it.

There are moments where the fine line between life and death is talked of and how a friendship can change when one is faced with his own mortality. There are moments where a tear forms in your eye and you feel so much for these characters.

In the end these men show us how no matter who you are, family and close friends are the real things that matter despite past mistakes.  

A really interesting, intriguing book. Atkins plays with humour, wit and mortality within each chapter and introduces the quirkiness of the characters superbly.

This is ultimately a deep, emotional novel that questions friendship and life itself.

I loved the book and I have to admit the front cover is so eye-catching it just beckons you to open the first page.

The above review was contributed by: Jessica Roberts:  Jessica is a book reviewer for a local newspaper and has reviewed for a national women's magazine too. She has had various articles published in magazines and has now completed her novel. Jessica currently lives in West Yorkshire and enjoys walking in the dales and woodlands as part of her hobby as well as, of course, reviewing books. To read more of Jessica's reviews  CLICK HERE