Suicide Plunge

by Philip W. Arnold

Billy Frank has just one goal in life; to restore his family honor by winning the most dangerous horse race of all, the Suicide Plunge. With little time to train and riding a horse that has just recovered from a serious injury, Billy figures he has nothing to lose..except his life. Can Billy overcome the apparent betrayal of those he loves the most? Can he conquer the stigma of being an 18 year old Native American growing up in a white man's world? This high octane novel is a fast paced adventure that will keep the reader in suspense until the last page is turned.

101 pages, ebook

First published January 12, 12

Reviews

[M.J. Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

For an Englishman like myself there is a whole world of difference between my experiences and those of a young native American boy. For that reason I should have struggled to empathise and understand young Billy, our hero in this short story. It is testament to the author's skill that I had no such issues.
This is a short story which is both engaging and entertaining. It tugs at your heart strings and plays with your emotions, as well as firing your imagination and raising your adrenalin. It's not a book I would usually pick to read and I'm so glad that I did.
Stuck in his own dreary existence, living with ghosts from his family's past, home town prejudices/contempt, and having a pretty dim view of himself, Billy Frank finds one chance for redemption and glory; the Suicide Plunge, an aptly named, dare-devil horse race which only the bravest of the brave attempt, and survive.
What follows is Billy's story, his adventure. It is a battle to regain his honour and dignity, and it is filled with ups and downs, relayed perfectly by Mr Arnold. The writing is good. The pitch and language are excellent (even for us foreigners) and the character development is great. I particularly liked Billy's uncle.
All in all a wonderful story I thoroughly enjoyed and I sincerely hope that readers give this one a chance.

[Kyle Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every day is a school day...
This short and enthralling tale from Philip W. Arnold deals with a subject that I knew absolutely nothing about - The Suicide Plunge.
I won't give away any details for fear of spoilers, (you can read the book's description for that - something I rarely do), but it's a fascinating event, made more fascinating in Arnold's work by his intertwining of the event with an accessible and engaging coming of age story.
While listed as a Young Adult work, SUICIDE PLUNGE has enough lyricism, heart and adventure to appeal to any age demographic. Arnold's clean prose and no-nonsense approach to tackling the drama and the dialogue pays off in dividends. There is a poetic verve to his style, but it never overshadows the real meat of the adventure - a boys attempt at overcoming his past and owning his present.
SUICIDE PLUNGE is a refreshingly authentic look at the plight of the young that shows an inherent understanding of youth and it's challenges on Mr Arnold's part. There's real emotion on display here, and few will fail to be moved by the time the stories conclusion rides around.
Highly recommended, for young and old.

[Kshitij · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short story. But it has a big heart in it. Suicide Plunge is about Billy, a young lad who is determined to prove his worth in his native tribe. Parts of the book remind me of the Red Dead Redemption, a PS3 game I enjoyed. I’ve not read western stories and it’s my first book on the topic and the way author has described details, it surely has generated my interest in the genre. Young Adults would just love it, the reason being they can easily connect themselves to the protagonist and appreciate his emotions- his passion for race, his love for girl, and his resolve to come clear of bad reputation . The author surely has love for the subject, and it’s been visible in every little detail put forward whether it’s about cow herding, or wolf hunting, or introducing us to an empathic horse named Samson.

You’d like Suicide Plunge if you want to try something different but if you love horses... here's a little treat awaiting you.

[Hayleigh Sol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Billy is an eighteen-year old young man trying to find his place in a world where honor is of paramount importance. Within Billy’s Colville tribe, his family’s honor has been maligned for years after his father allegedly threw a horse race when Billy was young. Now a man, Billy’s dream is to race in the Suicide Plunge and restore honor to the family name.

This is the second book I’ve read by this author and, again, I found his protagonist well developed and appealing, even if not always likeable. Arnold’s world-building is well executed, as well; I found it easy to imagine the steep drop off the cliff and the river that make up the race venue, the cattle farm where Billy works and trains, and the lands he and the seasonal hands ride and maintain. The dynamics of Billy’s relationships with his uncle, father, and horse, Samson, round out and add emotion that resonates to this coming-of-age story. Overall, this was an engaging tale about a young man’s search for honor and his (and Samson’s) ability to persevere through hardship.

[VT · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one grew on me a bit. 2.5 stars. Review to follow on blog.

[D.A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Philip W. Arnold's, Suicide Plunge
By D. A. Rhine


Don't be leery because this is a self-published book. Throw your preconceived notions out the window and read it! I can't imagine a reader being disappointed. Not only is it a clean, well-written book, but it also causes a reader to do what many authors strive to accomplish, it makes a reader feel—it made me feel. It evoked various emotions as I read about a young man named, Billy, who fought to find his place in life, with the help of his Uncle Blake and newfound friends.

It's not a story I normally would have chosen to read. And that's a shame, because had I not agreed to review this book, I'd have missed an enjoyable and emotional tale.

Suicide Plunge takes the reader to places and events many of us will never see in real life—a cattle ranch, nestled deep in the backcountry on the west coast, through wild woods teeming with animals, and to a special, traditional Native American horse race called, the Suicide Plunge.

Mr. Arnold has a simple, straightforward writing style, but uses clever phrasing to describe feelings and images that both humored me and concisely depicted scenes for me. Early on, I found myself chuckling when Billy's Uncle Blake says, "The United States Marine Corps was the only wife I needed for twenty years. After that, no lady would have me." His description of the race while uncomplicated was perfect. "Both rider and horse careened down the hill like a tumble weed caught in a hurricane."

I don't see this book being limited to any particular age. It's clean enough for a parent to read to an upper elementary school child, and interesting enough for an old fogey like me.

If you like adventure, horses, learning a bit about traditions, and the beauty of nature, immerse yourself in Philip Arnold's, Suicide Plunge. You may purchase a copy from Amazon.com or from Smashwords.

[Stuart Keane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suicide Plunge is one of those rare novellas that tackles a rare subject. Novellas sometimes benefit from this, using an unfamiliar topic to enhance a story that, as a horror author, I might normally miss. I stumbled on this whilst chatting with the author and I'm glad I didn't miss out. The novel is about racing the Suicide Plunge (no spoilers), an unusual event involving horses and a lot of adrenaline. Sounds strange. However, from the very first page, it's clear that this book is going to be enthralling and entertaining in droves.

Haunted by his past, his heritage and his future, our hero Billy is a man with decisions to make. Barraged by the locals for a mistake/travesty that his father committed, Billy must make the decision to move on in life or stay and defend his families name. If he does stay and fight, it could have massive consequences for everyone around him. Then there's the small distraction of a girl...

Many will consider this a YA novel and, in context, it's written as such. However, there's a very adult core to this story, one of tragedy, hope and family loyalty. Yes, these traits are common in YA novels of all shapes and sizes but in Suicide Plunge they effortlessly teeter on the adult fringe, providing entertainment for old and young alike. This not only makes a great story but a thoroughly accessible one too and in the process garners a little respect for walking the fine line between YA and adult.

5* - Great story, wonderful characters, a heart-tugging storyline and genuine warmth spiked occasionally with cold stabs of terror. Despite the 100 odd pages of material on hand here, the story crafted within feels like something a lot longer, which is a testament to the authors ability. Mature, well-written and addictive, you'd be hard pressed to read a better novella about a Native American hero this year. Excellent!

[Lawrence Ambrose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give the basic story concept, its narrative voice, and its main characters - particularly the protagonist's Uncle, who is superb! - five stars. For me, it had the feel of sitting around a campfire and listening to a Native American tell a tale (which I've actually done, years ago). Some nice turns of phrase, and good to-the-point prose. This would make an excellent 90-minute movie on Hallmark or perhaps the History Channel, in my opinion.

I rate the story's execution as three stars. There is a certain redundancy, I think, in having the protagonist (Billy, an 18 year old native of Washington State’s Colville Indian tribe) fall off a horse twice because of a wolf-encounter. The romance with the young veterinary assistant (or she is an actual vet?) seems a bit patched in. The events leading to the conclusion felt a bit manipulated/forced to me. The story could use another once-over with an eye toward correcting some grammar and format issues.

After consulting my calculator, I averaged the three and five to get the four-star review. :) With a bit more polishing, this little gem of a story - the kind of "mini-epic" that Native American stories at their best often seem to favor - might very well end up on your TV set one evening. In any case, I enjoyed reading it and you may as well.

[Lea Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of a young Native American man, his troubles, and the horse that becomes his. In the beginning of the story, the young man allows himself to be trapped by the opinions of narrow-minded people and his own self-loathing. Just when he thinks he has found a way to redeem himself, by competing in the traditional Suicide Plunge race, events conspire to prevent him from doing so. A twist at the end of the story leaves the young man and the entire town forever changed - for the better.

Suicide Plunge is not a long read. The story is filled with genuine emotion and realistic situations, painted in words and phrases that make the settings come to life. I see room for an even more expansive telling of the story, for Mr. Arnold does use abridging sentences and statements more often than descriptive paragraphs. I wouldn't recommend this book to those readers who cannot abide grammatical or punctuation errors. But it is a story with heart.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I am not connected with the author or publisher in any way.

[M.K. Theodoratus · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Engaging Read with Plenty of Plot Twists to Keep the Reader Guessing

Suicide Plunge is an intriguing coming of age tale, sure to entertain. Growing up is always hard to do, but it's especially difficult for Billy Frank whose father brought shame to his family when he appeared to throw a previous year's Suicide Plunge. The Plunge is a race down a steep incline and across a river important to the Confederated Tribes of Eastern Washington state, and one of the highlights of the year. Billy dreams of regaining respect for his family by winning the Suicide Plunge.

Arnold creates a suspenseful tale that has enough plot twists to keep the reader guessing. Overall the characters and settings are well drawn, but the manuscript could have done with tighter editing. An entertaining coming of age tale that'll keep you guessing.

[Jacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very clean and well written book. the characters are easy to identify with and the setting pulls you in. I wouldn't say it's a YA book by any means as both younger and older readers would appreciate the Billy's story and plight. I enjoyed the Native American context - which was different from what I typically read. The author has a clear command of the story, the arc and the dialogue is well done too. Like all books, it's not going to be for everyone but the shortness of the book actually makes it even more approachable. If you have any affinity for well thought out characters, horses, compelling sports/games, and family matters, you will enjoy this book quite a bit. I would recommend this to most readers easily.

[Lorraine Loveit · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is not my normal go-to genre. Having said that, I found it a quick and easy read. The narrator Billy, a young Native American, tells of his family’s past and how it still affects him. The one defining feature in this tale is Billy’s love of horses. The title theme of the Suicide Plunge, a dangerous horse race, features throughout the story.

While reading this descriptive and emotional novel, I thought I knew what was going to happen but several events occurred which I didn’t see coming, especially the spine-tingling ending. Well done Mr Arnold! I would definitely read other work by this author.

[Rachael Isaacson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful, educational and entertaining! The Suicide Plunge is a story of a young native american boy, the stigma of shame he faces, and the ultimate horse race of his people, known as the suicide plunge.

Before reading this book, I didn't think the subject matter would be something that would grab my attention. But Arnold has the gift of storytelling, and making the reader connect with his characters. I loved the pace and dialogue, as well as the plight of the books hero in a culture where honor is everything.

I am so glad I discovered this author, and will be on the lookout for his next book.

[Richard Ferguson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whenever you think you've got this story figured out, it takes another surprise turn. The strength of the characterization and the emotion it ignites in the reader make it a powerful tale. I'd recommend it for both teens and adults.

[Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book that, although it is classified as a young adult book, will be a great read for all ages.