Follow Me On
The Woman in White Marble
A Novel by Dale Rominger
ISBM: 978-4917-4281-5 (Paperback)
ISBM: 978-4917-4282-2 (Hardcover)
ISBM: 978-4917-4280-8 (eBook)
The Woman in White Marble is available in hardcover, paperback and eBook for Kindle (also Kindle for Android and iPad- click Kindle for Android)), the Nook, Sony Reader, etc. The book can be purchased at the following:
Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk
Barnesandnoble.com & Barnes and Noble Nook
Waterstones
Powell City Books
iUniverse
Drake Ramsey is a Californian news reporter who wants to write the great American science fiction novel. Dumped by his girlfriend, Drake finds himself with nothing to lose, and he searches online for a secluded place to work. Alone in a dreary English coastal town, consumed by boredom and loneliness, he is lured up the road to the Skinburness Hotel, where he finds inspiration in the beer and the atmosphere. Drake senses this is the place to harness his creative genius, without any idea of what awaits him in the future.
After a few visits, Drake is befriended by the hotel manager—just as a member of staff is found mysteriously dead. Drake, ever the streetwise reporter, senses a story and begins to investigate. The last person to have seen the dead man alive is Zuri Manyika, a stunningly beautiful hotel guest. Now Drake must determine whether Zuri was involved, all the while wrestling with his undeniable attraction to her. Unfortunately, this is not the first death in the hotel—nor will it be the last—unless Drake finds a way to stop a killer on a quest for revenge.
In this eerie tale, an American news reporter suddenly immersed in a suspicious death investigation in a remote corner of England is about to discover that every mystery comes with an unexpected twist.
Recent Reviews
Dale Rominger is an accomplished writer who has enormous fun with this book. I appreciated his light touch, his perceptive and realistic detail, his irony, sarcasm and occasionally biting humour. “It’s perfectly clear that if you want to write a novel critiquing the socioeconomic political state of America, science fiction is the only legitimate way to go.” Silloth, his place of choice in the middle of nowhere in the North East of England, very close to the back of beyond, is realistically and chillingly ghastly, epitomised by the Silloth resident publicly chastising her son in a stentorian voice: ‘“You’re a filthy boy, wetting your trousers like that. You should be ashamed of yourself. How do you think I feel? I’m humiliated.” “Cut it off Mummy! Cut it off!” Welcome to Silloth.’
His protagonist is a journalist who is sure that his fluency, biting wit and shrewd perception of the human condition will stand him in good stead while he writes his space-odyssey, science-fiction, cliché-ridden romance (because that’s what sells). However, while this project is proceeding in fits and starts, he becomes involved in a private investigation unashamedly filled with all the clichés of that particular genre (definite echoes of Raymond Chandler: “Kelly is smart too, but a different kind of smart: the kind of smart you could take to the bank”). The science-fiction fiction becomes intertwined with the PI-supposed-fact fiction as the tongue-in-cheek, typically unlikely bunch of characters cheerfully challenge your willingness to suspend disbelief while the author has some fun with a wholly unlikely African connection and fulfils his typical-of-the-genre obligation to throw in some sex scenes. And just in case this wasn’t enough, the whole thing turns into a ghost story for good measure.
I found it a highly enjoyable, laugh-out-loud romp through the much-loved, clichéd elements of three popular paperback genres by a talented, observant, shrewd, bitingly funny writer - a highly entertaining read.
{By Peaceseekeron November 22, 2016}
Excellent! Rarely do you find a book written in first person POV—most authors like to stay in the save zone (3rd person POV), but not his author. His writing style hooks you from the beginning and provides a fresh reading experience. The main character thought he had found a small town where he could write a sci-fi novel and “Embrace the moment” in peace and quiet for the next six months. Then, all hell breaks loose—he’s caught up in the middle of Murder, Intrigue, and Suspense. 5 Big Stars.
{By M Le’Mont on October 16, 2016}
And his blog “M LeMont Recommends”:
Usually, I don’t read books for entertainment – I read them for homework. It’s all business with me. That’s how I roll. But recently, I read a book, The Woman in White Marble by Dale Rominger and found myself reading for entertainment. Shit, I got distracted, so now I have to read the book again for homework. I rated the book 5 Stars.
There is so much to learn from someone who knows how to write in first and second POV. That’s DANGEROUS terrain for most authors. But anyone who is serious about taking their game to a HIGHER PLANE should rad and study THIS book for technique and writing style. I’ve only said that about to other books; Shonda Rhimes, Year of the Yes, and Sheri McIniss, Devil May Care – a very short list indeed.
Author, Dale Rominger, has given us a uniquely penned tale. The protagonist, Drake Ramsey, is an author, who after being dumped by his girlfriend, heads to England to write a Proust-style Sci-Fi novel. While doing so, he's unexpectedly drawn into a murder scene accompanied by overtones of a ghost story. For me, the ghost story held sway over the murder and the author's Sci-Fi adventure. But then again, I am an avid paranormal reader and writer.
Rominger also throws in several well written sexual encounters, spicing up the narrative of the ghost and the other visitors staying at the haunted inn. This is a literary style read, so for those who miss literary and like drifting back to it from time to time, this will satisfy your longing for awhile. Being one who misses that particular genre, I found the story a delight :)
{By Loretta Wheeler on October 16, 2016}
I found this a thoroughly enjoyable read. Dale Rominger has managed to capture the atmosphere of the 30's gum shoe detective/reporter with a style that reminds me of Douglas Adams in his Dirk Gently series. The characters are well developed. Once you get started, you will be pulled into the story and carried along to the unexpected ending. I highly recommend this novella.
The Woman In White Marble was awared Editor's Choice award and Rising Star.
{By Turner42, Powells City Books}
Dale Rominger's latest novel is highly enjoyable - homage to both Chandler and Proust in one relatively short book. I'm looking forward to reading the next Drake Ramsey story!
{By P. W. Skerratt, Amazon}
Rominger has written a page turner with The Woman in White Marble. From the moment Rominger’s protagonist, Drake Ramsey, falls off the turnip truck in Silloth in northern England to write his epic sci-fi Proust-in-outer-space novel I was hooked. In only 171 pages I traveled through galactic outer space, a good ghost story and sex at tea time. I can’t wait to join Ramsey and his girl friend as they grab life by the tail in New Orleans. I’m just saying.
{By Gayle Madison, Amazon}
This eagerly awaited third book did not disappoint. In fact I enjoyed it so much I must read it again to at least try and pick up more of the many sideways references hidden like clues throughout a puzzle. More importantly for a good story I very quickly got caught up with these characters and the 'play within a play' aspect of the book and am hoping to get to know what happens to the main characters next (no spoilers here though!)
Rominger is treading on dangerous ground when he criticises 'The Archers' so roundly but it's payback time when Drake picks up a 'trashy novella' on Carlisle station and it's Alien Love his own first novella which - for the record - is far from trashy. There's even an oblique reference to Rominger's first book - a fascinating reflective travelogue written at 37,000 feet - on a train journey South. So with honours even, the plot unfolds and beneath it is laminated a critique of British versus American life which gives us all a glimpse of each other. Read it!!
{By CaroleAnn, Amazon}
Just finished this intriguing novel. I really liked the way the two stories intertwined and Dale Rominger weaves a lot of interesting facts and places into his narrative. The characters are very real and likeable and I was very interested in finding out what would happen to them. Also liked the American hero's comments on the English way of life and use of language.
{By Freddie, Amazon}
Dale Rominger’s second venture into fiction is great fun. It juggles genres, stories, nationalities, and a host of scattergun observations, most of which are completely unexpected (i.e. falling bullets!). There is lots of humour, some of which is at the author’s expense, and some of which pokes fun, like the science fiction storyline.
If you would like something completely different, and fun, then I would recommend The Woman in White Marble.
{By Amazon Customer}
A highly unusual mix of influences – detective story, Proust, science fiction, the paranormal, romance – combined to make a pager-turning story with a most satisfying ending.
{By Carla, Amazon}
I really enjoyed this book. The narrator is so full of himself! He has gone to a quiet place in order to write "the great Proustian sci-fi novel" -- a bizarre concept. It gets more bizarre as everything that happens in real life gets translated and exaggerated into an adventure for his space hero. The characters are great and the plot has some real twists to it. Couldn't put it down.
{By London listener, Amazon}
I really enjoyed this read. Overtones of Garrison's Keiller's 'Guy Noir', but definitely not a pastiche - a great entertaining story, with a real plot and an engaging story line.
{By Philip J Woods, Amazon}