Someone Else First


Fiction - Drama
632 Pages
Reviewed on 02/12/2015
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Gisela Dixon for Readers' Favorite

Someone Else First by Joel T. Elliott is a social drama revolving around one family’s history over the span of several generations. It starts with Douglas McFarlane, a man from a mid-western family in Wisconsin, who is contemplating suicide. Though his thoughts of suicide were triggered by the fact that his wife, Helen, had just walked out of their marriage, his desire to kill himself goes deeper than that. It stems from a general unhappiness about the state of the society he is living in, and his anger and angst towards the '60s generation because he feels that they are responsible for a general breakdown in the morals and laws of society. His thoughts gradually change from suicide to homicide, based on something his Uncle James said to him during the Vietnam War: that the war granted him permission to do the impermissible. The book then delves into Douglas’ family and the past as we learn about what made him the person he is today. Someone Else First takes us on an in-depth journey into one family’s history that includes years of war, peace, intense social upheaval and change, service in the military, and more. It is ultimately a social commentary on an important period in American history.

Joel T. Elliot has written a captivating book with a well thought out and gripping plot. All of the characters in this book are well drawn and believable. The central protagonist, a man of strict principles who feels strongly that the social norms and standards are declining, is portrayed in a way that feels realistic. For me, after reading this book, it was easy to believe that people like him could truly exist and that is a testament to Elliott’s writing skills. I also liked how the book spans generations and shows us how our family and upbringing shape us into who we are. Overall, this is an enthralling read and a page-turner.

Natasha Jackson

When Someone Else First begins, Douglas’ wife Helen is leaving him. He has betrayed some trust that is yet to be revealed, but she does go to great lengths to hide his gun from him. It turns out Helen was right to hide the gun because when Douglas finds it in a fit of home and self-destruction, he contemplates suicide. But it is more than Helen leaving that sends Doug over the edge of sanity and his supposed morality. His life has been mediocre at best and Joel T. Elliot does a solid job of describing the ways in which Douglas feels he has failed in life. He believes, honestly believes, that his inability to get ahead in life is somehow due to the alleged moral decline of the country.

There is a lot that happens in Someone Else First from the moment Douglas decides to commit homicide before taking his own life all the way to the shocking last page. Whether on purpose or not, Joel T. Elliott does a great job of showing the inconsistencies or hypocrisy of what Douglas says and how he acts. His behavior much of the time isn’t what he would call moral if someone else behaved the same way, yet he still proclaims that as the reason for his actions. The story that unfolds, however, is quite interesting and delves into the trades made among politicians and law enforcement to get their jobs done. It isn’t pretty but it is an all too vivid reality that almost makes you want to empathize with Douglas. By the time you’ve finished Someone Else First, you will feel kind of dirty, ready to take on the role of vigilante and honestly sickened by some of the deals we have to make in the guise of safety.