About Doctor Ferrel by Day Keene
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book by “Keene”, as so many Gunard Hjertstedt wrote, defines the, now labelled, “Pulp” novel. It’s stewed and steamed in sexual situations, death and intrigue.

The plot charges in very well and drags near the end. The pacing works well for the ending.
The characters are very well written. The book has the doctor character so0 well written, the tension pours from the pages. The reader wondering just what will he do next. Also the writing of the inner thoughts of the doctor versus what is presented to the public presents the reader well with the hidden demons many carry and not known.

The setting is excellently produced. Which brings up the next…

– The Florida setting: Hjertstedt nails early ’50s Florida. Though this book could be sexually stirring to some, it’s hard not to almost break a sweat as the heat is so well included. The heated part would be hard for newcomers to Florida to read. The unfortunate inclusion of air conditioning was yet to occur. Heck, television sets were not a common element found in Florida homes.

Seems Hjertstedt was combining the cities of Palm Harbor and Safety Harbor to create Palm City. The Phillipe Park mentioned is very real still today. As Hjertstedt wrote the park in the ’50s is just as it was then…and should still be today. Government contractors has upended that.

There’s a minor detail of the municipal police responding to another city’s problem on U.S. 19. Palm County, as Pinellas is referred here, Sheriff’s office would be next to respond to a Clearwater incident.

The bait shack has me envisioning that area being south of Gulf to Bay, where the trailer park was for decades, next to the McMullin-Booth cross-over.

The draw back is unfolding more of the indecent the book is based on and who all were involved.

Bottom line: I recommend this book. 8 out of ten points.

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