The American Martyr

In The American Martyr by Richard W. Kelly, we are introduced to Brian Brample, a 16-year-old boy navigating his youth and struggling to find his foothold. Through a series of vignettes and scenes, we witness Brian's journey from a seemingly ordinary teenager to a young man forever changed by a decision from a government that seems not to care about the lives of young people. As Brian navigates his daily life, working as a waiter at a small movie theater, we see glimpses of his inner turmoil. He is aware of the darker aspects of the world, the terror and despair lurking beneath American life's surface. Despite this, he seems stuck in a state of numbness, unable to engage with the world around him fully until the government issues an order requiring sixteen-year-olds to be conscripted into the army for an unpopular war in China. Brian and some of his friends are enlisted, and they decide to stage the most daring protest through mass suicide in a shopping mall. But everything doesn’t go as planned, and Brian becomes the sole survivor. Now charged with treason and murder, his nightmare of going through the corrupt prison life is just about to begin.  

Richard W. Kelly is a great storyteller who delivers atmospheric writing and creates psychologically engaging and emotionally resonant imagery. One of the novel's most striking aspects is its depiction of the aftermath of tragedy. As the police and emergency responders arrive on the scene, we see a sense of chaos and disorder that is both heartbreaking and disturbing. The novel captures the raw emotions and reactions of those caught up in the tragedy, from the police officer who grabs Brian's hand to the medic who tends to his wounds. We are introduced to a cast of flawed and relatable characters, from Brian's father, Dale, who struggles to connect with his son, to Eric, Brian's best friend, who struggles to find his place in the world, and lawyer Iscariot Culberson, who takes on the fight for justice for Brian. The pathos is exacting, the court drama, government, corruption, and prison gangs. The American Martyr presents a great character arc, and Brian’s life is transformed unfathomably through prison life and his appreciation of the Civil Rights Movement. This narrative delivers at multiple levels, from the gorgeous prose to the unforgettable characters, from the vividly drawn setting to the exciting drama that fills the pages.