What would you be willing to do for love and success? And what is the price for blind ambition? These questions lie at the core of acclaimed author and noted speaker Norman Bacal’s intriguing and heart-pounding first novel, “Odell’s Fall.” Based structurally on Shakespeare’s tragedy, “Othello,” the novel is a lightning-fast-paced look into the hearts of darkness of its characters. It’s an edge-of-your-seat murder mystery packed with countless heroes and victims, plot twists and turns and insight into how the decisions we make define us. Tracing the career machinations of the members at TGO, a fictitious high-level law firm in Manhattan, it is sure to please both fans of the classic Shakespeare play and encourage others to give The Bard another look. This first book in a planned trilogy of novels, each based on different plays by Shakespeare, is a thrilling and, at other times, heart-breaking story of the dangers of deceit, and, ultimately, the power of love to conquer all.
Odell Moore is Bacal’s Othello, a trusted leader. The talented African-American lawyer, nicknamed “the General,” is a highly successful and powerful partner at this Manhattan law firm. Odell must cross racial lines to elope with and marry Dee Brabant, the novel’s Desdemona. This prize catch is the daughter of a Southern senator who opposes the marriage from the start and has a heritage steeped in discrimination. Meanwhile, the Iago-like figure is a young, ambitious and scheming underling named Jackson Sherman who is willing to do anything to succeed. He conjures up a plan to cause divisiveness in Odell’s marriage and catapult his own career at TGO. At first seemingly successful, the scheme eventually unravels and new truths are discovered by several of the key “players,” about their true selves and tragic pasts.
Bacal, the author of a previous best-selling work of nonfiction, a memoir titled “Breakdown” about the rise and sudden fall of top Canadian law firm Heenan Blaikie, brings his unique, insider’s knowledge of litigation and human behavior at the highest levels of the legal profession, specifically entertainment law. The author was the founder of the Toronto office of Heenan Blaikie and a managing partner for that firm for nearly two decades. His experience working with major film studios gives him the knowledge and perspective necessary to paint a highly believable storyline. Bacal’s literary voice is strong and meticulous, perfect for this literary endeavor. His ease with dialogue and narrative structure has created a modernization of “Othello” that is intricate, intense and illuminating. And it is a story that is never predictable. (The plot twists and turns are sure to have you staying up late reading “Odell’s Fall.”) Touching on topics like child abuse, racism, and the blind ambition that leads to treachery, this is a sweeping murder-mystery that will keep you guessing until the final page.
“Odell’s Fall” takes us deep and distant into the minds of each of the characters and examines their motives and actions. This is an auspicious and tantalizing first novel aimed at making Shakespeare more accessible and enjoyable for all. It’s a thought-provoking and pitch-perfect foray into the always mysterious and sometimes corruptible human heart and mind.
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Odell's Fall Is A Top of The Line Legal Thriller With Overtones of Shakespeare's Work!
Format: Kindle Edition Odell's Fall by Norman Bacal is an exciting book from start to finish. The reason why is apparent. It is because this legal thriller does indeed have it all within its select pages. The reader will not be able to stop reading once they start this novel, and that is because it is every inch a unique read indeed. The character of Odell Moore isn't your typical everyday man; if anything, he is the total opposite, and that is because everything about him is interesting in all the ways that he should be interesting. He is an African-American man and a successful lawyer in the City of New York. Odell Moore marches to the beat of his drum and has done so for a very long time. He is unique, and so is the life that he leads. If you love legal thrillers that leave one feeling breathless, it is this one, because it contains is a moving story that tells itself.Odell's Fall details the life of Odell Moore in a very realistic and dramatic way that grabs the attention and keeps it. Odell Moore is involved with the woman of his dreams. However, love, in this case, doesn't come easy, because it is a love that turns his life sideways. The woman that Odell loves is white, southern, and the daughter of one of Alabama's most elite citizens. Her father is a racist who has some viable connections to the KKK. Odell loves Dee a great deal. Nonetheless, their relationship is challenging and brings about real odds to his life that he never had before.Odell and his wife Dee, face a lot together as a couple. They not only confront her father's heated anger at the reality of their romance and forbidden marriage. Odell Moore's life is a story that contains jealous colleagues, a fight for power, and murder in the legal world too. Odell's Fall tells a story that is as old as time. Its strong Shakespearean overtones are what captivates all who read it.
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2019
Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2019
Odell's Fall by Norman Bacal is an exciting book from start to finish. The reason why is apparent. It is because this legal thriller does indeed have it all within its select pages. The reader will not be able to stop reading once they start this novel, and that is because it is every inch a unique read indeed. The character of Odell Moore isn't your typical everyday man; if anything, he is the total opposite, and that is because everything about him is interesting in all the ways that he should be interesting. He is an African-American man and a successful lawyer in the City of New York. Odell Moore marches to the beat of his drum and has done so for a very long time. He is unique, and so is the life that he leads. If you love legal thrillers that leave one feeling breathless, it is this one, because it contains is a moving story that tells itself.
Odell's Fall details the life of Odell Moore in a very realistic and dramatic way that grabs the attention and keeps it. Odell Moore is involved with the woman of his dreams. However, love, in this case, doesn't come easy, because it is a love that turns his life sideways. The woman that Odell loves is white, southern, and the daughter of one of Alabama's most elite citizens. Her father is a racist who has some viable connections to the KKK. Odell loves Dee a great deal. Nonetheless, their relationship is challenging and brings about real odds to his life that he never had before.
Odell and his wife Dee, face a lot together as a couple. They not only confront her father's heated anger at the reality of their romance and forbidden marriage. Odell Moore's life is a story that contains jealous colleagues, a fight for power, and murder in the legal world too. Odell's Fall tells a story that is as old as time. Its strong Shakespearean overtones are what captivates all who read it.
Odell's Fall Is A Top of The Line Legal Thriller With Overtones of Shakespeare's Work!
Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2019
Format: Kindle EditionReviewed in the United States on October 30, 2019
Odell's Fall by Norman Bacal is an exciting book from start to finish. The reason why is apparent. It is because this legal thriller does indeed have it all within its select pages. The reader will not be able to stop reading once they start this novel, and that is because it is every inch a unique read indeed. The character of Odell Moore isn't your typical everyday man; if anything, he is the total opposite, and that is because everything about him is interesting in all the ways that he should be interesting. He is an African-American man and a successful lawyer in the City of New York. Odell Moore marches to the beat of his drum and has done so for a very long time. He is unique, and so is the life that he leads. If you love legal thrillers that leave one feeling breathless, it is this one, because it contains is a moving story that tells itself.
Odell's Fall details the life of Odell Moore in a very realistic and dramatic way that grabs the attention and keeps it. Odell Moore is involved with the woman of his dreams. However, love, in this case, doesn't come easy, because it is a love that turns his life sideways. The woman that Odell loves is white, southern, and the daughter of one of Alabama's most elite citizens. Her father is a racist who has some viable connections to the KKK. Odell loves Dee a great deal. Nonetheless, their relationship is challenging and brings about real odds to his life that he never had before.
Odell and his wife Dee, face a lot together as a couple. They not only confront her father's heated anger at the reality of their romance and forbidden marriage. Odell Moore's life is a story that contains jealous colleagues, a fight for power, and murder in the legal world too. Odell's Fall tells a story that is as old as time. Its strong Shakespearean overtones are what captivates all who read it.
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Top reviews from other countries
Boris T.
One of the Best Murder Mysteries I've Read in Years
Reviewed in Canada on November 22, 2022Amazon Customer
Captivating! Kept me reading to the end.
Reviewed in Canada on November 21, 2019