The Footsteps of Domingo Rhodes

Brandon Collier’s The Footsteps of Domingo Rhodes is, at first glance, a simple thriller. With swift pacing through most of the novel, simple language, and a rare forthrightness, Collier spins a twisted web that is easy to follow, with characters that you want to root for. In thriller fiction such as this, it is hard to find an author who balances an ease of language with high tension and intrigue. Although some of the sentences are rough in their construction, the heart of the story is never lost – as is often the case with writers who attempt overly complex language for their subject matter. Collier never gets lost in his delivery, opting to tell his multi-layered story as simply as possible; choosing several times to remind his reader of the main conflict in such a way that feels more like he is holding his audience’s hand gently, than just repeating already known facts for the sake of page length. His distinct style allows for the reader to get closer to the characters and the action, rather than feeling as if they are held at arm’s length by the author. And as the metaphorical path Domingo Rhodes takes is one of self-discovery and self-reflection, it is vitally important that the reader feel a kinship to him as he takes steps towards necessary change.

Witty and relevant, Collier’s novel is a quick read with enough twists to keep one engaged right to the end.