A book club gathered in a Zoom room with members in Canada, Boston, Los Angeles, other American cities, and as far around the globe as England, to discuss the murder-mystery thriller, Dishonor Thy Father, as their monthly selection. And while the novel is highly entertaining, a key element in the plot was the focus for much of the discussion.
That element is "honor killing," the fundamentalist Muslim practice of reclaiming family honor when a wife or daughter is perceived to be immodest in dress or behavior. The method of clearing the family name is for the father or husband to kill the daughter or wife!
Authors M.J. Anderson and Richard Rossner (who go by the pen name of M.J. Richards), read about an honor killing in Florida and wanted to do something to help raise awareness of this atrocity. They decided to write a fictional murder-mystery that had an attempted honor killing as the catalyst for the story.
Their novel, Dishonor Thy Father, spans three decades and two continents and boldly explores contemporary issues of ethnicity, sexism, spirituality, and social mores in today's complex and heated political environment.
Dishonor Thy Father begins as a 15-year-old Iranian girl is viciously attacked by her father for holding a boy's hand in public. In running to escape certain death, she undertakes a dangerous journey to a new land with unfamiliar customs, where she must hide the truth from everyone she meets.
Twenty years later, amid racial tensions in a Los Angeles hospital, a female Muslim doctor is murdered, sparking a controversial police investigation. The lead investigator, Detective Michael Tucci, finds himself compromising both his job and his life as he embroils himself in an affair with the beautiful Dr. Tara White, the victim's associate, who could be the killer's next target.
The authors of Dishonor Thy Father, Mike Robinson & M.J. Richards (pen name for M.J. Anderson and Richard Rossner), hope their story will bring attention to this issue through an exciting mystery-thriller. They believe that with more public awareness, a much-needed change in this this practice can protect vulnerable women throughout the world.
The multicultural novel sparked a lively and spirited discussion with this book club. Founded by Yasmine Mohammed, a former Muslim who started a non-profit organization (Free Hearts, Free Minds) to aid victims of honor killings and violence, the book club members found Dishonor Thy Father an important book to read. Yasmine said she found some of the opening scenes especially emotional, because they rang so true to what she knows can happen. As an author herself, Yasmine said she has a keen sense of plot but she was still totally unprepared and surprised by the shocking ending of Dishonor Thy Father.
Authors M.J. Anderson and Richard Rossner were guests of the online book club meeting and were delighted to discuss the origin and process of creating the novel with the group.
Anderson, Rossner and their collaborator, Mike Robinson, are available to be guests in other book club discussions as well as on radio shows and podcasts. They can be contacted through Potpourri Books at PotpourriBooksLA at g mail dot com. The book is available at Amazon on Kindle and paperback at www.DishonorThyFather.us and at other book retailers as well. Visit the website at www.DishonorThyFather.com
Reviews of the book have been exceptional:
"…a powerful, thrilling book that will keep readers guessing until the very last page… well-rounded characters and thought-provoking plot twists bring together an unforgettable narrative saturated with romance, mystery, perseverance, and commitment… five stars for its originality and command of language…" –Manhattan Book Review
"A persistently suspenseful crime drama…provocative commentary on how the past can haunt one's present." –Kirkus Reviews
"From beginning to end, Dishonor Thy Father is an intuitive and riveting novel...that explores sexism, racism, and bigotry through a fresh lens..." –San Francisco Book Review
"This dramatic, fast-paced novel tells a dangerous tale... in living, cinematic color!" –Phyllis Chesler, Author, Women and Madness
"...an intricate murder mystery with edge of your seat suspense...abounds with twists and turns, leading to a stunning final reveal!" –Paul Bernbaum, Writer/Producer, Hollywoodland starring Ben Affleck
"…A heck of a thrilling read!" –Robert Lloyd Lewis, Producer, Dexter
"Unique and relevant...cleverly crafted with sexy characters and a thought-provoking premise." –Fern Field, Producer, Monk
"… a fascinating thriller with romance that takes the reader on a journey across cultures and continents." –Carole Isenberg, Associate Producer, The Color Purple
"Though this story is fictional, thousands of women across the globe are real life victims of honor violence and honor killing every year. Hopefully Dishonor Thy Fatherwill help shed some light on this atrocity that is rarely addressed." -Yasmine Mohammed Ex-Muslim, Human Rights Activist, Author of Unveiled, Founder of Free Hearts, Free Minds
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Dishonor Thy Father - About the Authors
Mike Robinson is a novelist, screenwriter, and literary editor, based in Los Angeles. His novels include The Enigma of Twilight Falls trilogy, The Prince of Earth, Skunk Ape Semester, and The Atheist.
M.J. Richards is the pen name for the screenwriting team of M.J. Anderson & Richard Rossner. They are writer-producers of film and television with several movies and TV Series to their credit. M.J. wrote multiple episodes of Friday the 13th – the Series. Richard Rossner co-hosts several podcasts, including The Dark Side Of and Unexplained Mysteries.