Summary:
Famed detective, Victor Lightning, solves one crime
mystery after another, with wild and humorous action involving
quick reflexes and a ready tranquilizer gun-always landing the
perpetrator safely in police custody.
Advance Praises:
"I really like how Victor Lightening keeps tranquilizing people.
All the characters say super funny things. It's so cool that no matter
what place Victor is, he can find a clue. I think kids who like detective
stories would like this book."
-Isaac, age 8
"Look out Raymond Chandler. There's a new kid on the block
and he actually is a kid. Philip Marlowe meet Victor Lightning, and for
readers of noir crime novel adventures meet the boundless energy of
young author Erik McShirley.
"Erik's tales of Victor Lightning is an angular, rock-um sock-um
tumble down an old-school private eye rabbit hole all delivered from
the wild prespective of a new-school child. Talk about a fresh slant on
a shop worn genre. The beauty of it all is that you never for a moment
forget that it's from the prespective of a young mind churning out
gum-shoe exploits. With that firmly in mind there is much to enjoy in
Erik's take on things. His spare style gets to the point in a hurry with
loads of action usually ending with the bad guy behind bars.
"Erik's tales start at night in the midst of some pivotal action. Not
much warm-up: you're thrust directly into the flames. These stories
have something of a common rhythm and format in how suspects are
introduced, almost as if his stories are meant to be the foundation for
a TV crime series script. But the use of language is unlike anything
I have read before and there are loads of surprises. The word "BANG",
however, does get used quite a bit. Perhaps that's the word that
might sum up best what Erik McShirley has delivered at such a young
age - a lot of BANG for your reading buck! I can't wait to see where
both Victor Lightning and Erik wind up over the next few years. Check
him out now so you can say you knew him when. Apparently this
young author's career has started with a BANG!"
-Dan Manas, Filmmaker, BestLightProductions.com
"I think children and adults would like this book because it
has comedy and is good clean reading. I love that Victor Lightning
is smart and in any situation he can find the solution to the
predicament. I think it's great how Erik was able to give each
thief his own personality. It's a great story."
-Abby, age 11
"Erik provides an entertaining and exciting story about a
detective who values justice and safety for even the criminals he
captures by not using a lethal weapon. Victor Lightning is a
likeable character who always gets 'his man' and rights the
wrong that occurred in each chapter. I enjoyed the humorous
remarks of all the characters and the exclamations pronounced
with every defining moment, such as the discovery of a clue or
the unmasking of the villain.
"The detective adventures of Victor Lightning are right on
target for a Dick Tracy style storyline. Erik is able to capture
the reader's imagination and guides you through 'seeing' what
it is you are reading. A remarkable children's book written by a
child, for readers of any age to enjoy!"
-Kira Turner, Preschool Teacher
"My friend Erik Mcshirley is a young author with a grasp
of life and understanding that he is able to transfer to the written
word. I look forward to more of his writing in the future."
-Tug Hawkins, Pharmacist