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Mystery, romance, or fantasy, Black’s character-driven stories combine imagination and experience to weave dramatic plots with believable characters in descriptive contemporary settings. Even her fantasies give the impression of possibility, remote though it may be. In all her publications, a four-legged character is included, though sometimes it’s a cameo appearance.
The author of multiple novels, anthologies, novelettes, and short stories, Black has received awards from Readers’ Favorite, Literary Titan, International Impact, Page Turner Book Awards, KCT International Literary, and Rave Reviews Book Club, as well as accolades from Kirkus Reviews. Click on her website publications link, www.storiesbykaren.org, for a complete list of published works.
Black lives in the United States with her husband, and two alien creatures disguised as cats. One of them, her muse, is rumored to be ET’s second cousin. The rumor, however, has not been confirmed.
Reviewed by Isabella Harris for Readers' Favorite
One Random Act of Violence by Karen Black is a crime thriller that begins with a solo robbery at a small-town farmer's market. Adam, the robber, was initially driven by theft intentions, but he suddenly recognized Darla, his former partner, whom he blames for his son's death. This put Anna and Darla in a more daring situation than the rest of the victims. Anna and Darla are taken hostage by Adam and forced on a journey through the wilderness, with only Adam knowing where it will end. With Anna's quiet courage and Darla's guilt-driven impulse, they must find a way to survive and escape this ordeal. After reports were made to the police, skillful officers also set out on a mission to track down and rescue the hostages.
One thing I loved about Anna's character was how courageous she was, especially when she calmed down the children during the robbery; this made her stand out as a remarkable person. The characters are well developed with unique features like Anna's inner thoughts, which served as a guide throughout her journey, and Darla's feeling of guilt, which influenced most of her decisions. I liked how detailed Karen Black's writing style was, especially with the descriptions of the characters. The book maintained a fast pace from the first page, with slightly slower chapters in the middle, and gradually built up toward the ending, which kept me engaged and invested. One Random Act of Violence explores themes of loss, survival, and moral strength. I recommend it to readers who are fans of intense thrillers that blend crime, suspense, and psychological drama.
