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THE DAUGHTERS OF FREYA
By Michael Betcherman and David Diamond
Reviewed by Dan Shaurette
I recently came across a unique form of fiction; a mystery delivered right to my email inbox. This "email mystery" is called THE DAUGHTERS OF FREYA, written by Michael Betcherman and David Diamond. Besides being a suspenseful and fun read, the most fascinating aspect of the story is its presentation.
The story's narrative takes the form of a collection of email exchanges between the main characters of the story. However, the reader upon purchasing the story, has those same emails sent to their own inbox. This gives the reader a more intimate reading experience, as if being CC'd by the characters themselves.
"Email narratives" are not a new storytelling medium. However, I believe The Daughters Of Freya, which was released in 2004, was the first to actually be sent out as an email subscription.
The suspense induced by having to wait for the next email reminds one of a serial novel, but we need only wait a few hours to satisfy us. The emails are received over a three week period in real time. So, on average, the reader may receive three to five messages throughout the day. It only takes maybe five or ten minutes out of your day total.
One of the aspects I enjoyed about the nature of using email as the medium was the natural level of realism it brought to the story. Michael explained, "the guiding principle behind this concept is that we wanted readers to experience this story in exactly the same way that they actually use the internet. Just as in the emails that people get in their real life will occasionally link to external sites, our emails also link to external sites.
"So some of them are newspaper, magazine articles, or photographs of potential suspects that were created specifically for the mystery. But in order to enhance that aspect of email use, we would include websites that already existed just to further blur the line of reality and fiction."
Every good novel starts with a good cover; the website at EmailMystery.com is that cover. I think it looks good -- it brings you in. The website is more than just a subscription point, however. It also provides a place to read all of the parts of the story you've received. This is great for a quick review, but is also perfect in case you miss an email, or are not on your usual computer. A list of characters can also be found there, as they are revealed.
The story itself is well-written and the characters are introduced quite well through their communications. The story takes place in the Spring of 2004 in various locations around the United States and Canada.
The main character is Samantha Dempsey, a journalist who has been asked by an old friend to investigate a cult his daughter has become involved with.
The cult is a group of young women called the Daughters of Freya, whose leader, Simone Jorgenson, has convinced them that sexual liberation will save the world.
Samantha's initial article after meeting with Simone and the girls is that the cult really has no ulterior motives. But when a mysterious informant surfaces and claims the cult is not what it appears to be, the plot thickens.
The story has many twists and dangers, yet it is not overly-complex. The story is well-balanced between story, suspense, the characters and their personal dramas.
When the story ended, I found myself missing the emails. I believe this is partially because of the way one reads the story. There is an intimacy built between the reader and the characters because you really feel like you are involved in their emailed conversations.
Yet, I think this is also due to the fact that the characters are written so well that you feel connected, and miss them when their tale is done. A sequel is in the early stages of planning, and I am looking forward to that.
Before deciding to subscribe, you have the ability to flip through the first three pages of the story as it were. This is done by having them emailed to you. The subscription costs only $4.99 US ($5.99 Cdn), just under the price of a paperback novel. Each email comes to you at your convenience into your inbox. It's a wonderful story. a novel way of telling it, and I really enjoyed it.
If you would like to read or listen to my interview with Michael Betcherman, please visit shaurettenet.blogspot.com and check out "Is This Thing On?" episode #4.
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Michael Betcherman is a Toronto-based writer and filmmaker. He is currently working on a documentary on the wrongly-convicted. David Diamond is a writer and journalist based in Kentfield, California. His seventh book, coauthored with poker's Annie Duke, hit bookstores this September. To find out more about Michael Betcherman and David Diamond, visit The Daughters Of Freya website at emailmystery.com.
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
Format: Email Narrative
Publisher: Bumper Crop Productions, Inc.
Website: emailmystery.com
Price: $4.99 USD / $5.99 Cdn
Preview: Free preview of the story is available.
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