1-800-Henchmen by Katherine Wielechowski
In this fourth installment of Katherine’s 1-800-Henchmen series, things take a much different turn from what a reader finds in the first three novelettes. Things get quite serious for our hero, Alfie Vihar, as well as for those around him.
This series consists of four novelettes that follow Alfie Vihar for a short period of time. While looking for a way to make some money so he can travel after graduating high school, Alfie answers an ad and suddenly finds himself working for a company that rents out personnel to assist clients, good or evil, to accomplish their goals. In the beginning, Alfie is quite green and has a rough time keeping up with the other members of his team, but as they are a team, everyone chips in to train him and his competence grows. Alfie also grows as a person through the series.
At home, Alfie is surrounded by a family that is very close and cares about on another deeply. Alfie’s best friend, Tessa, is actually more of a member of the family than an outsider. Alfie can go to Tessa with anything and she is always there to help. The biggest problem that Alfie faces is how to keep his family from knowing that he is a henchman. He faces danger on a regular basis, so he tells his family that he is working for a company that does athletic training in order to explain the bruises he sustains from training, He also tells them that he often has to go on business trips to explain his absences. As time passes, the missions that Alfie’s team go on become more complicated and so does Alfie’s personal life.
So far, Alfie has been pretty happy-go-lucky as he goes about the business of putting super villains out of business. However, in Four Horsemen, things take a turn for the worse and the stakes are raised to the breaking point. Alfie has to take a second look whether continuing on is really worth it. The stakes are high and so is the action in this last of the four 1-800-Henchmen series.
As always, Katherine does a great job continuing the familiar brilliant character development and engaging story lines that have been a thread through the entire series. Even the most minor character has a level of personality that a reader can relate to, or find endearing. Four Horsemen ups the ante for Alfie and his team, not to mention those that he cares the most about and the action is palpable. Not only is the action fast paced, but there is also the added dimension of high tension as Alfie has to figure out how to get the job done and not risk everything.
I recommend reading the entire 1-800 Henchmen series in order so one can really appreciate the brilliance of this up and coming author.
On another note, I am both happy and saddened by the recent news that Katherine will be leaving the local area to take a new job in the city working in the publishing business. I am happy for her, but at the same time sad because I will not be able to hear her wonderful and witty writing at our twice-monthly Central Nebraska Writers Guild meetings, not to mention the great munchies that she brings along.
I am sure that the other members of the CNWG will join me in wishing Katherine all the best as she embarks on her new adventures, and our hopes that she will stop in every now and then and share the amazing writings that we have come to enjoy and love.
Well, there it is…
Qapla’!
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