Sequence of Self

Sequence of Self is a book of secrets. Mother of two, January Winston is a small-time, criminal mastermind. She and her fiancé, George Koche, are on the verge of getting away with a lucrative hustle. Rey Parsons is an angry, on-his-meds / off-his-meds ex-con whose greatest dream is a desk job. Jess is an investigator with the Tacoma Police Department and Ben and Sarah's godmother. Like the adults, nine-year-old Ben and his twin sister Sarah harbor a secret. In this violent, family, crime drama that explores the probabilistic nature of fate and how past, present, and future decisions all hold equal sway, six characters struggle with their own secrets as they attempt to lay claim to their own version of what was, what is, and what is to come. --- What reviewers are saying about Sequence of Self --- "Whereas no one in this story is innocent, the characters are reliable and well developed. The novel's complicated and challenging narrative structure will provide a nice change for readers. The book is written in a manner that is skillfully charged with stress, tension and strain – all great qualities of a crime story. Its language syncs perfectly with the problematic relationships of the book's protagonists." -- Portland Review ----- "Author Don Balch's characters are raw, gritty, seedy and realistic and he spins a powerful tale about betrayal, redemption and salvation. The redemption is shown when January sees the endgame of a better lifestyle for her and her children in the future." -- Indie Reader ---- "Sequence of Self appears to readers in the guise of a thriller, but incorporates enough psychological introspection to elevate it to the status of a versatile novel examining layers of action, reaction, and possibility: delightfully intricate approaches one normally doesn't anticipate from a story of intrigue and revenge. So if it's a quick, entertaining mystery you seek without depth and complexity, look elsewhere: there are plenty of genre writings that don't hold a candle of complexity to Sequence of Self - and therein lays its unique strength. All this is narrated in the form of 'sequences' that begin 722 days prior, with January trying to pick out a perp from a lineup. From the start, descriptions are exceptionally vivid in their sense of sight and impressions of atmosphere: readers almost feel like they are part of January: "Before she could brace herself, the room erupted: green light; deep ocean-green, and she faced off against five men, all of whom stood in this light, all of whom squinted into the window. The cop with the cough moved behind her as his hack turned grotesquely productive." Anticipate a thriller, a psychological drama, and a feisty protagonist determined to make better decisions and take control of her life: that's the heart of Sequence of Self, recommended for novel readers seeking far more than one-dimensional protagonists or conflicts." -- Midwest Book Reviews