A Man in Control


Fiction - Mystery - Murder
207 Pages
Reviewed on 12/24/2014
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

Author Biography

Harry E. Gilleland, Jr. is an award-winning poet and novelist who lives with his wife Linda in Shreveport, Louisiana. At age 70, Harry is retired from his career as a Professor of Microbiology and now engages in creative writing full-time. Harry has published four books of poetry, a fantasy novella, and five prose novels. “A Man in Control” is Harry’s tenth published book and his second in the crime-suspense-mystery genre.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Valerie Rouse for Readers' Favorite

A Man in Control is based on the personal life of Dave Wynthers, a university professor who specialized in microbiology. Dave lost his wife Brenda in a tragic skiing accident. He blamed himself for her death due to the fact that they had just had a heated argument before she went on the ski slope. He took her death very hard and was advised by his brother Danny to seek counseling as a matter of urgency. Dave took a hiatus from his job in order to recover from the loss of his wife. He travelled to Mexico City. On his return to Denver, he spent a little time with Danny and his girlfriend Heather. Now ready to resume work, Dave got the news that Danny was killed. He learnt that Danny was in fact tortured. The police detectives informed Dave that the killing was a case of mistaken identity as Dave was the real target.

A Man in Control is a fast paced novel with a few interesting twists. Author Harry Gilleland Jr. did a good job in developing his main characters. What is interesting is that the author did not concentrate on just having one main character but several. This deviation from the norm entices the reader to dig deeper into the plot. I loved the fact that the plot shifted in focus from a hometown scenario to an international one. The romantic interlude introduced by the author was a welcome diversion. The various overlapping occurrences in the novel give it a realistic edge. As you know, life itself is not straightforward and neither is A Man in Control. The contrast between the name of the book and the plot is very ironic. I love the fact the person’s true nature in terms of being a relationship partner was exposed in the latter half of the novel. It makes you wonder whether he was always that way or not. I loved reading A Man in Control. The author was skilled enough to keep me enthralled in the storyline. I recommend it to all readers of suspense dramas.

Paul Johnson

David Wynthers, a microbiology professor, has always been in control of all aspects of his life. One day all that changes and his entire life is thrown into turmoil by the accidental death of his wife. Racked with guilt, Dave simply stops functioning. After several weeks of complete depression, he finally decides to take a year's sabbatical and work in Mexico City. Time passes slowly at first as he begins to heal. Soon the year is up and he returns to Colorado to restart his career. On his flight from Mexico City something happens and within days people start to die.

Dave soon elicits the help of beautiful Denver Police Detective Lorrie Morgan who is in charge of one of the murder investigations. They work together until they are stopped cold when the FBI swoops in and takes command. Suddenly Dave is no long in control, which is something he can’t stand. But things continue to escalate which causes a cascade of events for Dave to cope with – murder, mystery, terrorists, sudden wealth, a new love, and of course the FBI.

I found A Man in Control by Harry E. Gilleland. Jr to be a technically well written story. It starts off with a hook to grab the reader’s attention. The protagonist is a man that suffers great personal loss but struggles to regain control. The characterization is good. However, the story shifts in the last few chapters of the book to another central character. While I liked the ending, it did seem a little disjointed and an offshoot of the original story plot.

Jack Magnus

A Man in Control is a police procedural thriller written by Harry E. Gilleland, Jr. Dave Wynthers and his wife, Brenda, were celebrating their twelfth wedding anniversary with a stay at the ski lodge where they honeymooned, when they began to argue over a long-standing topic of dissension. Their efforts at having a family had long been unsuccessful, and Dave was determined to make something happen. Brenda stormed out of the suite and died after attempting a ski run that was far beyond her abilities as a skier. Dave was shattered and guilt-ridden over his wife’s death, and became unable to function in his capacity as a professor. When his department chairman offered him an early year-long sabbatical to work with a colleague in Mexico, Dave jumped at the chance. When the year was over, he reluctantly returned to Colorado, staying first overnight at his twin brother Dan’s house in Denver. He’s horrified to learn the next day that Dan had been tortured and killed by someone who may have confused his identical twin for himself.

Harry E. Gilleland, Jr.’s thriller, A Man in Control, is fast-paced and exciting. Dave is a complex and complicated character who seems determined to avenge his brother’s death, but is unconcerned about the potential risk to himself and the countless others he puts in jeopardy by his actions. His interactions with Detective Morgan, the Denver police officer in charge of the case, his brother’s attorney, and the FBI officials are well-developed and make this terrorist thriller engaging and suspenseful. I am a fan of the police procedural genre and particularly enjoyed Gilleland’s coverage of the investigation into Dan’s death and the undercover operation in which Detective Morgan plays a crucial role. I would welcome seeing the detective in a sequel to this novel. A Man in Control is a solid, satisfying read, with intriguing psychological undertones, and is recommended reading.