PAYSON HEIGHTS by Joseph A. Wellman

iUniverse, Inc.
2021 Pine Lake Road
Lincoln, NE 68512
www.iuniverse.com
Genre: Social/Power Politics/Sex/Fiction
Rating: Good
ISBN: 0595427243, $17.95, 257 pp.

Real estate, power, politics, social issues and sex are at the heart of Payson Heights. After reading this book and recalling past scandals in the Catholic church, a priest is the last person to whom I would confess . . . anything. What would you think of a priest who records confessions and then blackmails the confessors? Does it happen? . . . possibly and if so, what a sad state of affairs.

I reviewed Mr. Wellman’s The Darkness of Mid Day in January of this year and stated that he is a good writer. He tells his intricate stories in an intriguing manner which keeps them moving forward. I do believe, however, that he has a preoccupation about women who were once prostitutes, decided to change their lives, and then have to confess the ‘error of their ways’ to have a meaningful relationship with a man. Several women characters in his novels have this little problem. Oh, the agony of it all.

According to the back cover of this novel, "Payson Heights has been selected as a finalist for the 2007 Allbooks Review Editor’s Choice award for fiction." I’m not sure just what that is, but I wish Mr. Wellman the best of luck in his writing endeavors.

Reviewed by Kaye Trout - March 7, 2007